Ph.D. University of Massachusetts

Teaching Specialties: Geochemistry, mineralogy, clay and x-ray mineralogy

Research Interests/Related Travel: Low temperature geochemistry, clay petrology and mineralogy, acid rain, lake acidification and forest decline, aluminum biogeochemistry. Research areas include the Smoky, Sierra Nevada, Cascade, White and Adirondack Mountains of the US; West Germany; Sweden; Norway; Canada; and Australia.

Distinctions: Swedish Natural Science Research Council (NFR) Visiting Scientist Awards (1984-85, 1990-91); NSF research, curriculum and equipment grants (1977, 1979, 1980, 1985, 1989, 1992, 1997, most recent: 2005-2009 - Calcium Depletion in Adirondack Forests Affected by Acid Deposition and its Effect on Aquatic and Terrestrial Food Chains); Interdisciplinary acid rain research grants from EPRI, EPA, DOE, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Swedish Natural Science Research Council; consultant National Geographic Society, U.S. Geological Survey (Water Resources Division), Department of Energy.

Recent Publications:
April, R. H., Keller, D. M. and Driscoll, C., 2004, Smectite in Spodosols from the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Clay Minerals, v. 39: 99-113.

Johnson, C. E., Petras, R. J., April, R. H., and Siccama, T. G., 2004, Post-glacial lead dynamics in a forest soil. Water, Air and Soil Pollution: Focus v. 4: 579-590.

April, R. H., 2003, "Talc" - in the Encyclopedia of Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks, edited by G. V. Middleton, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, The Netherlands.