Dr. Giles Marion

Title: Associate Research Professor
Affiliation: Division of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences
Location: DRI Reno
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 775.673.7349

Professional Interests

Dr. Marion is currently refining a computer model known as FREZCHEM (FREeZing CHEMistry), which simulates and predicts the behavior of substances at extremely cold temperatures. His interest in thermodynamics led him to develop FREZCHEM, which allows researchers to look at and predict geochemical processes at sub-zero temperatures. The potential applications are numerous, including examining the possibility of life on other planets, mine reclamation in cold regions, gas hydrate stability in oceans, and commercial refrigeration processes.

Marion is currently working on a project for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), adding acid chemistry to the model to make it applicable to the behavior of acidic solutions in extremely cold conditions. This research will aid NASA’s understanding of Europa, a frigid moon of Jupiter where patches of ice and frozen sulfuric acid may overlay a briny ocean. Future work includes the use of FREZCHEM to examine microbial life in extreme environments, iron chemistry on Mars, and gas hydrate chemistry on Earth, Mars, and Europa.

Research Areas of Interest and Expertise

• Soil Chemistry
• Global Climate Change
• Biogeochemical Process Modeling
• Planetary Geochemistry

Research Projects

• Martan Geochemical Applications with FREZCHEM