Grant from Pennsylvania DCNR will Help Create Geophysical Map of the State

Lawrence Malinconico, associate professor of geology and environmental geosciences, studies the levels of gravity

Lawrence Malinconico, associate professor of geology and environmental geosciences, received a grant for $59,261 from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) a year ago and since then his research has been grounded in gravity.

The grant, which will probably be extended through December 2008, supports the collection of gravity data to complete a database of readings and eventually create a map of the geophysical nature of the state of Pennsylvania. The map project, which is part of DCNR’s Pennsylvania Geological Survey, will show minute differences in the Earth’s gravitational field. According to Malinconico, these differences are caused by variations in the underlying geology of the state, specifically horizontal differences in rock densities.

Malinconico and his team of student research assistants have been collecting and reviewing existing data about gravitational fields in the state, identifying gaps in the data, and then taking new readings to fill in the holes in coverage.

• Geology major William Hudacek ’10 (Long Valley, N.J.) wrote a first-person article about his research experience this summer.

In extensive field work, the researchers use a gravity meter which compares the known and unknown values in different locations to produce a new reading. Malinconico has been performing this research for about 10 years; however, the grant will play a significant role in completing the database and extending the scope of research projects that can be performed as a result of the gathered information.

Once completed, the gravity map of Pennsylvania will be a useful tool other researchers can potentially use to look for economically viable geological products such as oil and natural gas.

This past summer, Hudacek and geology major Matt Harhen ’08 (Duxbury, Mass) were involved with the collection of additional data. They focused on the area north and west of Northampton County. Hudacek worked as an EXCEL student while Harhen was supported by funding from the grant.

Students who have worked with Malinconico in the past as EXCEL and then honors thesis students include Sarah Gately ’03 and Amy Spooner ’06. This coming year, geology major Joanna Morabito ’08 (Yorktown Heights, N.Y.) will be using the gravity data to look at gravity anomalies across the state.

In Lafayette’s distinctive EXCEL Scholars program, students conduct research with faculty while earning a stipend. The program has helped to make Lafayette a national leader in undergraduate research. Many of the more than 160 students who participate each year share their work through articles in academic journals and/or conference presentations.

Malinconico joined the faculty in 1989, serving as department head until 1997. He earned his Ph.D., master’s, and bachelor’s degrees from Dartmouth College. Malinconico has served as a consultant for a variety of clients, including the U.S. Geological Survey, the government of Kuwait, the Illinois Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, and several companies and institutions. He has received more than 30 grants totaling more than $1.3 million for research, curricular innovation, and facilities improvement. He is a member of the Geological Society of America, the American Geophysical Union, the Council for Undergraduate Research, the National Association of Geology Teachers, and Sigma Xi.