Richard A. Socki, Senior Scientist; Project Manager / Alt. Group Manager
Stable Isotope Analysis
ESCG / Jacobs Technology
richard.a.socki@nasa.gov
Wk: 281-483-9932
Fax: 281-483-2696
M.S. Geochemistry, Northern Illinois University, 1984
B.S. Geology, Chemistry, Northern Illinois University, 1980
Rick Socki has been employed for 24 years as a research geochemist with the Engineering and Science Contract Group (ESCG) at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX, where he has built and maintained a state-of-the-art stable isotope laboratory. The main focus of his research is the application of stable isotopes to understanding planetary surface and near-surface processes by studying terrestrial and laboratory analogs. To this end, his work has included understanding the mechanism and fate of methane formation/transport in several terrestrial hot spring environments within the Great Basin of North America by studying carbon and hydrogen isotope fractionation. Further research has focused on understanding the kinetics of carbon and oxygen isotope fractionation during carbonate mineral formation under low temperature (cryogenic) conditions. Prior to his work at ESCG he was a project manager for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5 CERCLA program. Before this he was employed as an isotope geochemistry research associate at Louisiana State University.
Socki, R.A., Fu, Q., Niles, P.B. and Gibson, E.K., Jr. (2011) "Carbon isotope measurements of experimentally-derived hydrothermal mineral-catalyzed organic products by pyrolysis-isotope ratio mass spectrometry." 42nd LPSC, Abst. #2218, LPI, Houston, TX (CD-ROM).
Socki, R.A., Sun, T., Bish, D.L., Harvey, R.P., and Tonui, E. (2009) "Oxygen and sulfur isotope composition of sulfate-rich evaporite mounds at the Lewis Cliffs Ice Tongue, Transantarctic Mountains, Antarctica." AGU Annual Meeting. Abstract #13D-0547.
Socki, R.A., Niles, P. B., Blake, W., Jr. and Leveille, R. (2009) "Covariant C and O isotope trends in Arctic carbonate crusts and ALH 84001: Potential biomarker or indicator of cryogenic formation environment." 40th LPSC Abst. #2218 LPI, Houston, TX (CD-ROM).
Socki, R.A., Niles P., Gibson E.K., Jr., Romanek C.S., Zhang C., and Bissada K.K. (2007) "Distinguishing biogenic versus abiogenic sources of methane from C isotope signatures: Applications to interpreting potential Martian data." GSA Annual Meeting, Abstracts Denver, CO.
Socki, R. A., Perry, E. C., Jr., and Romanek, C. S. (2002) "Stable isotope systematics of two cenotes from the northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico." Limnology and Oceanography, 47 (6), 1808-1818.