Dr. Marquart's area of research involves applications of analytical and physical chemistry to environmental problems. These studies include a variety of field-based conservation and restoration projects in collaboration with local, state, and national natural resource organizations.  Dr. Marquart's particular field of interest and expertise is surface and underground water resources and subterranean environments (caves and mines).

Caves-Worlds within the World:  An Introduction to the Chemistry, Geology, and Ecology of Caves
Since he began as a tour speaker for the American Chemical Society (ACS) in 1995, Dr. Marquart has presented more than 100 society sponsored lectures on cave science in 40 states.  His lecture/slide show has been well received by an audience having a broad range of interests, backgrounds, and ages.  He aims at conveying his deep dedication to caves as one of nature's most fascinating non-renewable resources.

 

An abstract of Prof. Marquart's talk is now available, as well as a short biography and a typical news release; the release provides much additional information about this fascinating presentation.

Here are two photographs from recent expeditions:

Dante's Descent
Coconino County, AZ 
(50 miles south of the Grand Canyon).

     This huge 300+ foot deep sink hole falls suddenly through the almost flat desert floor of the Colorado Plateau at elevation 7,000 feet. The circular 100 foot diameter surface entrance widens to a diameter of 150 feet at the bottom. The walls are a progression of very unstable strata of basalt lava, sandstone, and finally limestone. Caving here is very dangerous and requires special equipment and technical expertise by the explorers. This photo, taken by Dr. Marquart, shows two of his colleagues ascending from the pit at the conclusion of an exploratory trip in 1991.

No Name Pit Cave
Cochise County, AZ 
(20 miles north of the Mexican Border in SE Arizona).

     This unusual cave is situated in igneous rock rather that the traditional sedimentary limestone. It is situated on the Fort Huachuca Military Reservations. The photo, taken by Dr. Marquart in 1992, shows cavers leading the fort's ecologist on a study of wildlife of the caves of the reservation.