EARTH Systems Laboratory

I currently serve as Co-Director of the EARTH Systems Laboratory along with Dr. Ron Schirmer (Anthropology).

The EARTH Systems Lab is a ~2,000 square foot research and teaching space located on Minnesota State University, Mankato campus in Carkoski Commons room 150.

Our Mission

  • Provide analytical capabilities, technical expertise, and training in Geography, Earth Science, Anthropology, and Archeology
  • Support an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to research & learning by integrating a diverse mix of faculty and students in a shared research space

Laboratory facilities

Dedicated space for processing soil-sediment cores and a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction particle size analyzer.
Fume hood, convection drying ovens, and refrigerated storage.
Double-sided, 18-foot long, stainless steel work tables with sinks
Dendrochronology workstation and research space
Floor band saw and drill press and Ro-tap sieve shaker with wet sieve kit and full suite of sieves
Archaeological botanical flotation system, Barnstead water purification system, and stainless steel work space with double sinks
Open research space with adjacent teaching space

  • An array of standard laboratory equipment such as stirring plates, hot plates, vortexers, balances, mixers, mortars and pestles, glassware, hydrometers, and computer workstations
  • Full suite of Bartington Magnetic Susceptibility sensors and meters including: MS2B bucket sensor, MS2C core sensor and rack system, and MS2E point sensor
  • Emriver Em2 stream table
  • Diamond Pacifics TC-14 trim and slab saw
  • Buehler MetaServ 250 rock grinder-polisher
  • Eppendorf 5810 centrifuge with multiple adapters
  • Array of microscopes

Field equipment

  • pulseEKKO ground penetrating radar system
  • Bucket augers and extensions with mud, sand, and regular augers
  • Multi-stage soil core sampler: 2″ diameter in 12″, 24″, and 36″ lengths
  • Backsaver soil sampler with extensions
  • Surveyor’s levels, tripods, and rods
  • Sokkia Cygnus total station, tripod, and survey prism and rod
  • Archaeological sifting screens
  • Abney levels
  • Soil thermometers
  • Soil moisture meters
  • GNSS GPS units 
  • DJI Phantom 4 Pro drone