Dr. Rinat Gabitov is an Associate Professor in the Department Geosciences at Mississippi State University (MSU). His research interests lie in the area of experimental geochemistry. The focus of Gabitov’s research is to understand the fundamental controls on elemental and isotope partitioning between minerals and fluid, to use that knowledge to: i) Assess the risks of environmental contaminations and develop mechanism for immobilizing of pollutants; ii) Better interpret current geochemical proxies, and to identify and develop new proxies for reconstructing paleoenvironment.

Education

• Ph.D., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2002-2005 Dissertation: Partitioning of trace elements and stable isotopes between calcium carbonates and fluid.
• M.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2000-2002
• Thesis: Solubility of fluorite and diffusion of its components in granitic melts.
• Diploma (BS+1 year), Moscow State University, Department of Geochemistry, 1994-1999
• Thesis: Solubility of fluorite in the water vapor: Experimental and calculating results.

Experience

• Associate Professor (tenured), Mississippi State University, 2019-present
• Assistant Professor, Mississippi State University, 2013–2019
• Visiting Researcher: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), 2017-present
• Visiting Researcher: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2013-2015
• Staff Research Associate II, University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles, 2012
• Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California (UCLA), Los Angeles,2009–2012
• Postdoctoral Scholar, California Institute of Technology, 2006–2009
• Postdoctoral Fellow, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and RPI, 2005–2006

Research Interests

Immobilization of radionuclides: Structural information for phosphate minerals strongly indicate that uranium and many of its mobile fission products can be efficiently immobilized through sorption/uptake by these minerals. Aiming at creation of a new engineered backfill material, I investigate the mechanism of this sorption/uptake at a range of temperatures, starting from the temperatures of thermal peak of nuclear waste package (~300°C) to ambient conditions. Quantitative understanding of these mechanisms will permit to optimize the composition of a new backfill mixture of improved efficiency .

Teaching Areas

• Survey Earth Sci I (GG 1113)
• Intoduction to Geochemistry (GG 4633/6633)
• Mineralogy (GG 4114/6114)
• Petrology (GG 4123/6123)
• Hydrology (GG 8613, Distance Learning)
• Rocks and Minerals (GG 8133, Distance Learning)
• Topics in Geochemistry (GG 8990)
• Earthquakes (ESS 008), at UCLA

Honors/Professional Activities

• Member of Geochemical Society
• American Geophysical Union
• Reviewer (Grants): United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF); European Research Council (ERC); NSF-OCE (Chemical Oceanography, Marine Geology and Geophysics); NSF-EAR (Geobiology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry); Russian Ministry of Science and Education (2013)
• Reviewer (Journals): Earth-Science Reviews, ACS Earth and Space Chemistry, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Earth and Planetary Sciences, Biogeosciences, American Mineralogist, Chemical Geology, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, Minerals, Materials, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems.

Graduate Students

• Anh Ngyen (MS, PhD) 2016-2022 (now in SePRO Corporation)
• Angel Jimenez (PhD) 2018-2022
• Noah Van Hartesveldt (MS in collaboration with LANL) 2018-2019 (now in Arcanum Alloys)
• Timothy Palmer (MS, PhD) 2016-present (also in The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality)
• Brittany Garner (PhD) 2016-2017 (now Southern Nuclear)
• Jeremy Weremeichik (PhD) 2015-2017
• Jonney Mitchell (MS) 2013-2016
• Aleksandra Novak (MS) 2014-2016 (now in ExxonMobile)
• John Paul Jones (PhD) 2013-2014

• Jiménez-Arroyo, Á., Gabitov R., Migdisov A., Lui J., Strzelecki A., Zhao X., Guo X., Paul V., Mlsna T., Perez-Huerta A., Caporuscio F., Roback, R. (2023) Uranium uptake by phosphate minerals at hydrothermal conditions. Chemical Geology 634, 121581.
• Gabitov R.I., Sadekov A., Dyer J., Perez-Huerta A., Xu H., Migdisov A. (2021) Sectoral and growth rate control on elemental uptake by individual calcite crystals. Chemical Geology 585, 120589,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120589.
• Gabitov R.I., Migdissov A., Nguyen A., Van Hartesveldt N., Perez-Huerta A., Sadekov A., Sauer K.B., Baker J., Paul V., Caporuscio F., Xu H., and Roback R.C. (2021) Uptake of uranium by carbonate crystallization from reduced and oxidized hydrothermal fluids. Chemical Geology 564, 120054, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2020.120054.
• Wynn P.M., Ambler S., Grefe I., Soto D.X., Surridge B.W.J., Gabitov R.I., Barker P.A., Anwar J., Quin A., Pereira M.G., and Grant H.K. (2021) Contemporary systematics of vadose zone nitrate capture by speleothem carbonate Chemical Geology, 571, 120170, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2021.120172.
• Borrelli C., Gabitov R.I., Liu, M., Hertwig A.T., Panieri G. (2020) The benthic foraminiferal δ34S records flux and timing of paleo methane emissions. Scientific Reports 10, 1304, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-58353-4
• Gabitov R.I., Migdisov A., Jiménez-Arroyo Á., Xu H., Guo X., Perez-Huerta A., Strzelecki A., Laird W., Caporuscio F., Roback R., 2024. Uranium partitioning between apatite and hydrothermal fluids at 150-250°C. Chemical Geology, 663, 122277.
• Rezaei M., Gabitov R., Sadekov A., Perez-Huerta A., Borrelli C., Stiles A.(2024) Elemental Uptake by Different Calcite Crystal Faces: An In Situ Study. Crystals, 14(5):442.
• Neary J.J., Pracheil B.M., Gabitov R.I., Li M.H., Allen P.J. (2024) The influence of water, diet, and temperature on 87Sr/86Sr in fin spines of juvenile Atlantic Sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 570:151973.
• Weremeichik J.M., Gabitov R.I., Sadekov A., Novak A.; Jimenez A., Thirumalai R.V.K.G., Varco J.J., Dygert A. (2021) Mg/Ca ratios in synthetic low-magnesium calcite: An experimental investigation. Minerals 11, 1158. https://doi.org/10.3390/min11111158
• Nguyen A., Gabitov R., Jimenez A., Dygert A., Varco J., Pérez-Huerta A., Migdisov A., Paul V., Kirkland B., Dash P (2021) Retaining Geochemical Signatures During Aragonite-Calcite Transformation at Hydrothermal Conditions. Minerals 11(10):1052, https://doi.org/10.3390/min11101052
• Idrisova E., Gabitov R., Karamov T., Voropaev A., Liu M.-C., Bogdanovich N., and Spasennykh M. (2021) Pyrite Morphology and δ34S as Indicators of Deposition Environment in Organic-Rich Shales. Geosciences 11, 355, https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11090355
• Gabitov R.I., Sadekov A., Yapaskurt V., Borrelli C., Bychkov A., Sabourin K., and Perez-Huerta A. (2019) Elemental Uptake by Calcite Slowly Grown From Seawater Solution: An in-situ Study via Depth Profiling. Front. Earth Sci. 7:51. doi: 10.3389/feart.2019.00051
• Gabitov R., Borrelli C., Buettner J., Kirkland B., Skarke A., Trail D., Garner B., Testa M., Wahidi M., Hoff C., Khasanov S., Panieri G., Thirumalai R., Thomas J., Weremeichik J., Zverkova I. (2019) Characterization of Carbonate Crust from a Recently Discovered Methane Seep on the North Atlantic Continental Margin of the USA. Minerals 9, 138, https://doi.org/10.3390/min9030138
• Simakin A.G., Salova T.P., Gabitov R.I., Kogarko L.N., and Tyutyunnik O.A. (2019) Gold solubility in reduced carbon-bearing fluid. Geochemistry International 57, 400–406
• Allen P.J., DeVries R.J., Fox D.A., Gabitov R.I., Anderson W.G. (2018) Trace element and strontium isotopic analysis of Gulf Sturgeon fin rays to assess habitat use. Environmental Biology of Fishes 101, 469. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-018-0713-7
• Gabitov R.I., Sadekov A., and Migdisov A. (2017) REE incorporation into calcite individual crystals as one time spike addition. Minerals (INVITED) 7(11), 204; doi:10.3390/min7110204
• Sturrock C.P., Catlos E.J., Miller N.R., Fall A., Larson T., Gabitov R.I., Akgun A., and Yilmaz I.O. (2017) Fluids along the North Anatolian Fault, Niksar Basin, north central Turkey: Insight from stable isotopic and geochemical analysis of calcite veins. Journal of Structural Geology, 101, 58-79, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2017.06.004.
• Saenger C., Gabitov R.I., Farmer J., Watkins J., Stone R. (2017) Linear correlations in bamboo coral d13C and d18O sampled by SIMS and micromill: evaluating paleoceanographic potential and biomineralization mechanisms using d11B and ∆47 variability. Chemical Geology (INVITED), 454, 1-14, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.02.014.
• Weremeichik J.M., Gabitov R.I., Thien B., and Sadekov A. (2017) The effect of growth rate on uranium partitioning between individual calcite crystals and fluid. Chemical Geology, 450, 145–153, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2016.12.026.
• Simakin A.G., Salova T.P., Gabitov R.I., and Isaenko S.I. (2016) Dry CO2-CO fluid as an important potential Deep Earth solvent. Geofluids, 16, 1043–1057, doi:10.1111/gfl.12204.
• Peacock E., Gabitov R.I., Frisch J., Carlock B., Henderson K., and Hadden C. (2016) Archaeological Otolith Chemistry as a Tool for Seasonality and Site Catchment Studies: Some Preliminary Considerations. Journal of Archaeological Sciences, 65, 11–19.
• Jones J.P., Carricart-Ganivet J.P., Iglesias-Prieto R., Enríquez S., Ackerson M., and Gabitov R.I. (2015) Microstructural variation in oxygen isotopes and elemental calcium ratios in the coral skeleton of Orbicella annularis. Chemical Geology 419, 192-199.
• Gabitov R.I., Leinweber A., and Sadekov A. (2014) Crystal growth rate effect on Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca partitioning between calcite and fluid: An in situ approach. Chemical Geology 367, 70–82.
• Gabitov R.I., Rollion-Bard C., Tripati A., and Sadekov A. (2014). In situ study of boron partitioning between calcite and fluid at different crystal growth rates. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 137, 81–92. Gabitov R.I., Gagnon A.C., Guan Y., Eiler J.M, and Adkins J.F. (2013) Accurate Me/Ca ratio measurements in carbonates by SIMS and nanoSIMS and an assessment of heterogeneity in common carbonate standards. Chemical Geology 356, 94–108.
• Gabitov R.I. (2013) Growth-rate induced disequilibrium of oxygen isotopes in aragonite: An in situ study. Chemical Geology 351, 268–275.
• Gabitov R.I., Watson E.B., and Sadekov A. (2012) Oxygen isotope fractionation between calcite and fluid as a function of growth rate and temperature: An in situ study. Chemical Geology 306-307, 92-102.
• Gabitov R.I., Schmitt A.K., Rosner M., McKeegan K.D., Gaetani G.A., Cohen A.L., Watson E.B., and Harrison T.M. (2011) In situ δ7Li, Li/Ca, and Mg/Ca analyses of synthetic aragonites. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 12, Q03001, doi:10.1029/2010GC003322.
• Gabitov R.I. (2010) Partitioning of Sr, Mg, U, 18O/16O, and 13C/12C Between Calcium Carbonate Minerals and Fluid at Different Temperatures and Crystal Growth Rates. VDM Verlag Dr. Müller e.K., p.124.
• Holcomb M., Cohen A.L., Gabitov R.I., and Hutter J.L. (2009) Compositional and morphological features of aragonite precipitated experimentally from seawater and biogenically by corals. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 73, 4166–4179.
• Gabitov R.I., Gaetani G.A., Watson E.B., Cohen A.L., and Ehrlich H.L. (2008) Experimental determination of growth rate effect on U6+ and Mg2+ partitioning between aragonite and fluid at elevated U6+ concentration. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 72, 4058–4068.
• Gabitov R.I. and Watson E.B. (2006) Partitioning of strontium between calcite and fluid. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 7, Q11004, doi:10.1029/2005GC001216.
• Ding M., Conca J.L., den Auwer C., Gabitov R.I., Hess N.J., Paviet-Hartmann P., Palmer P.D., LoPresti V., and Conradson S.D. (2006) Chemical speciation of heterogeneously reduced Pu in synthetic brines. Radiochimica Acta 94, 249-259, DOI 10.1524/ract.2006.94.5.249.
• Gabitov R.I., Price J.D., and Watson E.B. (2005) Diffusion of Ca and F in haplogranitic melt from dissolving fluorite crystals at 900, 1000°C and 100 MPa. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 6, doi: 10.1029/2004GC000832.
• Gabitov R.I., Price J.D., and Watson E.B. (2005) Solubility of fluorite in haplogranitic melt of variable alkalies and alumina content at 800-1000°C and 100 MPa. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 6, doi: 10.1029/2004GC000870.
• Gabitov R.I., Price J.D., Gabitov I.R., and Watson E.B. (2001) The solubility of fluorite and diffusion of its components in haplogranitic melt at T=800, 900, 1000°C and P=100 MPa. Los Alamos Preprint, LAUR-01-6926, Los Alamos, New Mexico.