Department of Geology
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455

Office: 112 Tillman Hall

Phone: Voice (309) 298-1377 

Phone: Fax (309) 298-3399

LA-Melim@wiu.edu

Fall Semester 

Geology 115 Introduction to Oceanography

This class is offered in two sections, a classroom section and a web-based section. Both sections use the class website available to registered students through WesternOnline.

Geology 340 Stratigraphy and Sedimentation

The class website is available to registered students through WesternOnline.

General Honors 104 Marine Geology (2004, 2008)

The class website is available to registered students through WesternOnline.

Geology 110 Introduction to the Earth (2007)

The class website is available to registered students through WesternOnline.

Geology 115 Introduction to Oceanography (2007)

This class is offered in three sections, two classroom sections and a web-based section. All sections use the class website available to registered students through WesternOnline.

Geology 450 Geology of National Park 

My research has focused on understanding the diagenesis of carbonate rocks using a combination of macroscopic, petrographic and chemical studies. Different projects have looked at dolomitization, marine-burial diagenesis, pressure-solution, effects on porosity and permeability, and meteoric systems. All carbonates are of interest with past and/or current projects in the Devonian, Permian, and Neogene. 

I have recently branched out to the geomicrobiology of cave deposits, mainly pool-related features such as pool fingers. Cave deposits are complex systems that have long been assumed to be controlled entirely by abiologic chemical conditions. Recent work has shown, in contrast, that microbes are ubiquitous and often significantly altered their local chemical environment. The problem, therefore, is to determine which features are truly inorganic versus those either precitipated or mediated by microbial activity.

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Origin and timing of pressure solution in Ocean Drilling Program Leg 166 sites 1003 and 1007. Funded by the American Chemical Society-Petroleum Research Fund. 

Geomicrobiology of speleothems, mainly pool deposits in caves in the Guadalupe Mountains, New Mexico. Collaborators: Diana Northup, Penny Boston, Mike Spilde, J. Michael Queen. Partially funded by the WIU University Research Council. 

Characterization of marine-burial diagenesis in Neogene and older carbonate sediments. Collaborators: Gregor Eberli, Peter Swart, Hildegard Westphal, Axel Munnecke.  

Diagenesis of Devonian carbonates, Canada. Collaborator: Eric Mountjoy.

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Melim, L.A ., Brehm, A., Rust, G. Shannon, N. and Northup, D., 2006, The unknown crust beneath your feet: Cave pool precipitates of Lower Cave, Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico,   in Raatz, W., Land, L., and Boston, P., editors, Caves and Karst of Southeastern New Mexico, New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook, 57th Field Conference. (Publication date, Sept 27, 2006)

Melim, L.A., Swart, P.K., and Eberli, G.P., 2004, Mixing-zone diagenesis in the subsurface of Florida and the Bahamas: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 74, pp. 160-169.

Melim, L.A. and Scholle, P. A., 2002, Dolomitization of the Capitan Formation forereef facies (Permian, West Texas and New Mexico): Seepage reflux revisited: Sedimentology, v. 49, pp. 1207-1228.

Melim, L.A., Westphal, J., Swart, P.K., Eberli, G.P. and Munnecke, A., 2002, Questioning carbonate diagenetic paradigms: Evidence from the Neogene of the Bahamas: Marine Geology, v. 185, pp. 27-54. 

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., Melim, L.A., Soroka, D.S., Kleina, L. G., Lavoie, K.H., Hose, L.D., Mallory, L.M., Dahm, C.N., Crossey, L.J., and Schelble, R.T.  2001.  Cave biosignature suites:  Microbes, minerals and Mars.  Astrobiology Journal, v. 1, pp. 25-55.

Melim, L.A., Shinglman, K.M., Boston, P.J., Northup, D.E., Splide, M.N. and Queen, J.M., 2001. Evidence of microbial involvement in pool finger precipitation, Hidden Cave, New Mexico: Geomicrobiology Journal special issue on "Geomicrobiology of Caves",v. 18, pp. 311-330. 

Eberli, G.P., Anselmetti, F.S., Kenter, J.A.M., McNeill, D.F., and Melim, L.A., 2001, Calibration of seismic sequence stratigraphy with cores and logs: in Ginsburg, R.N, editor, Subsurface Geology of a Prograding Carbonate Margin, Great Bahama Bank: Results of the Bahamas Drilling Project, SEPM Special Publication, pp. 241-266.

Melim, L.A., Anselmetti, F.S., and Eberli, G.P., 2001, The influence of pore type on permeability of Neogene carbonates, Great Bahama Bank: in Ginsburg, R.N, editor, Subsurface Geology of a Prograding Carbonate Margin, Great Bahama Bank: Results of the Bahamas Drilling Project, SEPM Special Publication. pp. 217-240.

Melim, L.A., Swart, P.K., and Maliva, R.G., 2001, Meteoric and marine burial diagenesis: in Ginsburg, R.N, editor, Subsurface Geology of a Prograding Carbonate Margin, Great Bahama Bank: Results of the Bahamas Drilling Project, SEPM Special Publication, pp. 137-162.

Warzeski, E.R., Melim, L..A., and Ginsburg, R.N., 2001, Composite logs and geophysical logs: in Ginsburg, R.N, editor, Subsurface Geology of a Prograding Carbonate Margin, Great Bahama Bank: Results of the Bahamas Drilling Project, SEPM Special Publication, pp. 187-192.

Melim, L.A., 2000, review of Diagenesis: A Quantitative Perspective by Melvyn R. Giles, published in Episodes, v. 23, pp. 135-136.

Melim, L..A., Eberli, G.P. and Walgenwitz, F., 2000, Diagenesis of the Miette Buildup, Devonian, Canada: fabrics and variability: in Homewood, P.W. and Eberli, G.P., editors, Genetic Stratigraphy on the Exploration and Production Scales: Case studies from the Pennsylvanian of the Paradox Basin and the Upper Devonian of Alberta: Bull. Centre Rech. Elf Explor. Prod, Memoir 24, pp. 269-284.

Northup, D.E., Dahm, C.N., Melim, L.A., Spilde, M.N., Crossey, L.J., Lavoie, K.H., Mallory, L.M., Boston, P.J., Cunningham, K.I., and Barns, S.M., 2000, Evidence for geomicrobiological interactions in Guadalupe Caves: Journal of Cave and Karst Studies, v. 62, p. 149-160.

Swart, P.K. and Melim, L. A., 2000, The origin of dolomites in Tertiary sediments from the margin of Great Bahama Bank: Journal of Sedimentary Research, v. 70, p. 738-748. 

Melim, L. A. and Scholle, Peter A., 1999, Diagenesis of the Capitan Formation forereef facies (Permian, West Texas and New Mexico), in Saller, A. H., Harris, P.M., Kirkland-George, B, and Mazzullo, S., editors, "Geologic Framework of the Capitan Reef", SEPM Special Publication #66. 

Melim, L. A. and Massaferro, J. L., 1997, Geology of the Bahamas: Subsurface Geology of the Bahamas Banks, in Vacher, H. L. and Quinn, T. M., eds., Geology and Hydrogeology of Carbonate Islands: Amsterdam, Elsevier, Developments in Sedimentology, v. 54, p. 161-182.

Eberli, G. P., Anselmetti, F. S., Melim, L. A. and Kenter, J. A. M., 1997, Facies, diagenesis and petrophysics of a prograding carbonate platform margin, Neogene, Great Bahama Bank: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists-SEPM (Sedimentary Geology Society) Joint Convention, Core Conference, Calgary, Canada. p. 471-490. 

Eberli, G. P., Swart, P. K., McNeill, D. F., Kenter, J. A. M., Anselmetti, F. S., Melim, L. A. and Ginsburg, R. N., 1997, 3. A synopsis of the Bahamas Drilling Project: Results from two deep core borings drilled on the Great Bahama Bank, in Eberli, G. P., Swart, P. K., Malone, M. J., et al., eds., Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program: College Station, TX, Ocean Drilling Program, Initial Reports, 166, p. 23-41.

Melim, L.A., Spilde, Michael, and Northup, Diana E., 2006, Geology of a Mystery Microbe: Reticulated Filaments in Speleothems, presented at National Speleological Society Convention, Aug. 7-11, 2006, Bellingham, WA.

Northup, D.N. and Melim, L.A. 2006 "The SEM Database project" presented at the 1st Karst Information Portal Workshop, Carlsbad, NM, Jan. 20-21.

Melim, L.A., 2005,Stromatolites in the Dark: Microbes and the Giant Pool Fingers of Hidden Cave, New Mexico. Presented at New Mexico Tech, October 27, 2005.

Melim, L.A., Haggitt, K.M. and Wamsley, M., 2004, The Importance of Sediment Composition and Early Diagenesis on the Later Development of Pressure Solution in Periplatform Carbonates, ODP Leg 166, Sites 1003 and 1007, APPG Bulletin Vol. 88 (2004), No. 13 (Supplement).

Brehm, A., Rust, G.L. and Melim, L.A., 2004, Controls on shelfstone distribution, Lower Cave, Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico: Preliminary results: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, Vol. 36, No. 3, p. 9, North-Central Meeting, St. Louis, April 1-2, 2004. (Poster presented by A. Brehm, geology major.)

Rust, G.L., Brehm, A. and Melim, L.A., 2004, Pool meringue: A new speleothem found in Carlsbad Cavern, New Mexico: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, Vol. 36, No. 3, p. 9, North-Central Meeting, St. Louis, April 1-2, 2004. (Poster presented by G.L. Rust, geology major.)

Melim, L.A., 2003, Virtual Field Trips for Undergraduate Sedimentary Geology:  Two Birds with One Stone, Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, v. 34, p. 364, Annual Meeting, Seattle, November 2-5, 2003.

Melim, L.A., Swart, P.K., and Eberli, G.P., 2003, Mixing-zone diagenesis, separating fact from theory. 2003 Bathurst Meeting, Durham, England, July 8-10, 2003.

Melim, L.A., 2003, Dark-zone Cave Stromatolites: The Pool Fingers of Hidden Cave, New Mexico, U.S.A. Invited talk July 2, 2003, Institute of Palaeontology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany.

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., and Melim, L.A., 2001, Unique evaporites in caves: comparison to surface-derived deposits: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, v. 33, p. 451, Annual Meeting, Boston, November 4-8, 2001.

Melim, L.A., Spilde, M.N., Boston, P.J., Northup, D. E., and Queen, J.M., 2001, Origin of porous layers in pool fingers, Hidden Cave, new Mexico: Recrystallized moonmilk?: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, v. 33, p. 254, Annual Meeting, Boston, November 4-8, 2001

Wamsley, M.K., Maxeiner, K.A., and Melim, L.A., 2001, Pressure solution in Ocean Drilling Program Leg 166, sites 1003 and 1007: distribution and controls: Geological Society of America Abstracts with programs, v. 33, p. 230, Annual Meeting, Boston, November 4-8, 2001.

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., Soroka, D.S., Kleina, L.G., Lavoie, K.H., Melim, L.A, and Hose, L. D., 2000, Pendulous Microbial/Mineral Formations in an Active Sulfide-dominated Cave and Possible Lithified Speleothem Analogs in an Ancient, Inactive Cave: Geological Society of America, Global Meeting, Earth System Processes, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, June 24-28, 2001.

Boston, P.J., Spilde, M.N., Northup, D.E., and Melim, L.A., 2000, Cave Biosignatures: Minerals, Microbes, and Mars: Geological Society of America, Rocky MountainóSouth-Central Sections, Joint Annual Meeting, April 29-May 2, 2001.

Shinglman, K.M., Melim, L.A., Boston, P.J., Northup, D.E. Spilde, M.N., and Queen, J.M., Evidence for Microbial Involvement in Pool Finger Precipitation, Hidden Cave, New Mexico. Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Reno, Nevada, Nov. 9-18, 2000 .

Melim, L.A., 2000, Have we solved the dolomite problem and not noticed? presented at 31 ^st International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 6-17 2000, Invited keynote speaker.

Melim, L. A., Westphal, H., Eberli, G.P., and Swart, P.K., 1999, Questioning Carbonate Diagenetic Paradigms: Evidence from the Neogene of the Bahamas and Florida: Paleoceanology of reefs and carbonate platforms: Miocene to Modern, Aix en Provence, France, p. 143-145.

Melim, L. A., Westphal, H., Eberli, G.P., and Swart, P.K., 1999, Marine burial diagenesis?Mimicking Meteoric Diagenesis: Sediment 99, Bremen, Germany.

Melim, L. A., Northup, D.E., Boston, P. J., Queen, J.M., and Allen, C.C, 1999, Evidence for bacterially-mediated precipitation of pool fingers, Hidden Cave, Guadalupe Mountains, NM: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, Official Program, v. 8, p. A92.

Melim, L. A. and Swart, P. K., 1998, Recognizing marine-burial diagenesis: Criteria and examples from Quaternary to Neogene platform to slope carbonates, Bahamas and Florida: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, Salt Lake City, UT, Abstracts on CD-ROM, #455, 5 pages.

Swart, P. K., Melim, L. A. and Eberli, G. P., 1998, The interaction of fluid flow and the oxidation of organic material: A new method for driving carbonate diagenesis: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Annual Convention, Salt Lake City, UT, Abstracts on CD-ROM, #643, 3 pages.

Melim, L. A., Eberli, G. P. and Mountjoy, E. W., 1997, Does Moldic Porosity Contribute to Permeability? Evidence from the Neogene of Great Bahama Bank and Questions and Implications for the Devonian of Canada: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists-SEPM (Sedimentary Geology Society) Joint Convention, Calgary, Canada. p. 192.

Melim, L. A., Eberli, G. P. and Walgenwitz, F., 1997, Evidence for Early Marine Dolomitization of the Devonian Miette Buildup, Alberta, Canada: Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists-SEPM (Sedimentary Geology Society) Joint Convention, Calgary, Canada. p. 192.

Melim, L. A. and Swart, P. K., 1996, Paleo-Mixing-Zone Diagenesis in Three Cores from the Bahamas and Florida: Implications for Mixing-Zone Diagenesis Models: Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Program, v. 28, p. A-338.

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