DR. BRIAN STEWART

Position: Associate Professor
Degree: Ph.D. (1990)
Institution: University of California at Los Angeles

Specialty: Geochemical processes on Earth and planetary systems using radiogenic isotopes as tracers for natural physical and chemical processes
Research Group(s): Geochemistry; Environmental Science

Office: SRCC-413
Phone: 412-624-8883
Email:  click here
Research Web Page: n/a
Research Lab Group Page: n/a
Curriculum Vitae:  click here

Courses Offered:

Research Interests:

Dr. Stewart's research is directed toward understanding processes in earth and planetary systems using radiogenic isotopes as tracers for natural physical and chemical processes occurring on all scales. Some of these projects include: (1) Sr and Nd isotope systems as paleohydrologic indicators in lacustrine sediments of Owens River system in California (including Owens, Searles and Panamint Lakes and Death Valley); (2) radiogenic isotopes as tracers for weathering, cation exchange, and atmospheric input into the soil-vegetation-atmosphere system; (3) studies of ancient sedimentary and soil systems as indicators of Precambrian atmosphere composition; (4) the application of Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotope systems to differentiated meteorites and their bearing on nucleosynthesis and the early history of the terrestrial planets; and (5) isotopic studies of magma chamber processes.

Recent/Significant Publications:

Watanabe, Y., Stewart, B. W. and Ohmoto, H. (2004) Organic- and carbonate-rich soil formation ~2.6 billion years ago at Schagen, East Transvaal district, South Africa. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta v. 68, p. 2129-2151.

Doran, P. T., Clifford, S. M., Forman, S. L., Nyquist, L., Papanastassiou, D. A., Stewart B. W., Sturchio, N. C., Swindle, T. D., Cerling, T., Kargel, J., McDonald, G., Nishiizumi, K., Poreda, R., Rice, J. & Tanaka, K. (2004) Mars chronology: assessing techniques for quantifying surface processes. Earth Science Reviews v. 67, p. 313-337

Schatzel, S. J. and Stewart, B. W. (2003) Rare earth element sources and modification in the Lower Kittanning coal bed, Pennsylvania: implications for the origin of coal mineral matter and rare earth element exposure in underground mines. International Journal of Coal Geology v. 54, p. 223-251.

Pretti, V. A. and Stewart, B. W. (2002) Solute sources and chemical weathering in the Owens Lake watershed, eastern California. Water Resources Research 10.1029/2001WR000370.

Stewart, B.W., Capo, R.C., and Chadwick, O.A. (2001), Effects of precipitation on weathering rate and base cation provenance in volcanic soils, Kohala Peninsula, Hawaii, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 65, no.7, 1087-1099.