Sue M. Rimmer
Professor
B.S. 1975, Southern Illinois University
M.S. 1978, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Ph.D. 1985, The Pennsylvania State University

The research interests of Sue Rimmer and her students focus on understanding the controls on organic carbon accumulation in and maturation of organic-rich shales. Over the past few years, much of this research has dealt with Devonian-Mississippian shales, but recent work has also included Ordovician, Pennsylvanian, and Cretaceous shales. In these studies, we focus on organic petrology and geochemistry (inorganic, organic, and stable-isotope geochemistry) in order to interpret organic facies, depositional environments, and burial histories.

Recently, we have been developing a new approach to the isotopic analysis of organic matter, a maceral-specific approach. With NSF funding, we are currently building a density-gradient centrifugation facility here at UK which will focus specifically on preparing pure maceral components for isotopic analysis.

Other research interests include topics related to coal depositional environments, coal maturation, trace elements and mineral matter in coal, and maceral geochemistry.

Some current and recent Devonian projects:

• significance of inertinite (fossil charcoal) in marine black shales; implications for paleo-oxygen levels (currently funded by NSF; Rimmer et al., 2004, 2005; Hawkins M.S. thesis, 2006)

• assessing the relative importance of terrestrial organic matter in Devonian-Mississippian marine basins (currently funded by NSF; Hawkins, M.S. thesis, 2006; Rimmer et al., 2004)

• evaluating C-N-P relationships, redox-sensitive trace elements, stable isotopes, sedimentation rates, and organic petrology and geochemistry in a transect of Devonian cores from Kentucky, through Ohio, to New York (currently funded by NSF; Rowe et al., 2003; Carmo and Rimmer, 2004; Rimmer et al., 2005)

• evaluating the relative importance of paleo-productivity (based on C/P ratios), paleo-redox conditions (based on C-S-Fe systematics, Mo, V/(V+Ni), Ni/Co, and V/Cr), changing sediment influx (based on Ti/Al, K/Al, and Si/Al), and changing organic input (terrestrial vs. marine input) in Devonian black shale deposition (Rimmer, 2004; Rimmer et al., 2004)

• variations in organic geochemical composition (Rock-Eval analyses) and petrographic composition in Devonian-Mississippian black shales of central Kentucky (Thompson, M.S. thesis, 2004)

• relationships between pyrite size and morphology and organic facies (partial funding by KY NSF-EPSCoR; Hawkins et al., 2001, 2002)

• influence of organic petrographic composition on stable isotope composition (previously funded by NSF; Goodnight, M.S. thesis, 2004; Rimmer et al., in prep.)

• application of density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) in the geochemical and isotopic analysis of organic matter (Goodnight, M.S., thesis 2004; previously funded by NSF). Current NSF funding to establish DGC lab at the University of Kentucky.

• micro-fluorescence, geochemistry, and maturation of the dispersed organics, including vitrinite suppression in oil shales (Rimmer et al., 1993; and work in progress).

• role of clay surface area in the accumulation of organic matter in marine basins (partial funding by KY NSF-EPSCoR, Toth, M.S. thesis, 2004; Toth and Rimmer, 2004, in prep.).

Some current and recent coal research projects:

• influence of intrusions on the geochemistry and vitrinite reflectance of coals (Stewart et al., 2005; Rimmer et al., 2005; Cooper et al., in press).

• effects of rapid heating (due to intrusion) on maceral geochemistry (microprobe study in progress with collaborator Maria Mastalerz, Indiana University) (Rimmer et al., 2005).

• influence of maceral composition on stable isotopic composition of coal (Rimmer et al., 2006).

• influence of depositional environments on inorganic and maceral composition in coal seams (e.g., Blue Gem seam, Rimmer et al., 2000; Lower Block seam, Padgett et al., 1999).

de la Rue, S.R., Rowe, H.D., and Rimmer, S.M., 2007, Palynological and bulk geochemical constraints on the paleoceanographic conditions across the Frasnian-Famennian boundary, New Albany Shale, Indiana. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 71, p. 72-84.

Cooper, J.R., Crelling, J.C., Rimmer, S.M., and Whittington, A.G., 2007, Coal metamorphism by igneous intrusion in the Raton Basin, CO and NM: Implications for generation of volatiles. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 71, p. 15-27.

Rimmer, S.M., Rowe, H.D., Taulbee, D.N., and Hower, J.C., 2006, Influence of maceral content on d13C and d15N in a Middle Pennsylvanian coal. Chemical Geology, v. 225, p. 77-90.

Stewart, A.K., Massey, M., Padgett, P.L., Rimmer, S.M., and Hower, J.C., 2005, Influence of a basic intrusion on the vitrinite reflectance and chemistry of the Springfield (No. 5) Coal, Harrisburg, Illinois. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 63, p. 58-67.

Rimmer, S.M., Thompson, J.A., Goodnight, S.A., and Robl, T., 2004, Multiple controls on the preservation of organic matter in Devonian-Mississippian marine black shales: Geochemical and petrographic evidence. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, and Palaeoecology, v. 215, p. 125-154.

Rimmer, S.M., 2004, Geochemical paleoredox indicators in Devonian-Mississippian black shales, central Appalachian Basin (U.S.A.). Chemical Geology, v. 206, p. 373-391.

Schultz, R. B. and Rimmer, S.M., 2004, Geochemistry of organic-rich shales: new perspectives. Chemical Geology, v. 206, p. 163-165.

Rimmer, S.M., Hower, J.C., Moore, T.A., Esterle, J.S., Walton, R.L., and Helfrich, C.T., 2000, Petrography and palynology of the Blue Gem coal bed (Middle Pennsylvanian), Southeastern Kentucky, USA. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 42, p. 159-184.

Padgett, P.L., Rimmer, S.M., Ferm, J.C., Hower, J.C., Eble, C.F., and Mastalerz, M., 1999, Sulfur variability and petrology of the Lower Block Coal Member (Pennsylvanian) in southwest Indiana: International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 39, p. 97-120.

Toles, C., Rimmer, S. M., and Hower, J.C., 1996, Production of activated carbons from a Washington lignite using phosphoric acid activation. Carbon, v. 34, n. 11, p. 1419-1426.

Hower, J.C., Taulbee, D.N., Rimmer, S.M., and Morrell, L.G., 1994, Petrographic and geochemical anatomy of lithotypes from the Blue Gem coal bed, southeastern Kentucky. Energy and Fuels, v. 8, p. 719-728.

Rimmer, S.M., Cantrell, D.J., and Gooding, P.J., 1993, Rock-Eval pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance trends in the Ohio Shale, eastern Kentucky. Organic Geochemistry, v. 20. no. 6, p. 735-746.

Robl, T.L., Rimmer, S.M., and Barron, L.S., 1992, Organic Petrography of Mississippian and Devonian shales in east-central Kentucky. Fuel, v. 71, p. 267-271.

Rimmer, S.M., 1991, Distributions and associations of selected trace elements in the Lower Kittanning seam, western Pennsylvania, U.S.A. International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 17, p. 189-212.