Liberal Arts and Sciences
Sprain Lab
Led by Courtney Sprain · Geological Sciences
What we study
The Sprain Lab studies Earth's magnetic field and deep interior processes using paleomagnetism, numerical simulations, and 40Ar/39Ar dating. They also investigate mass extinctions and Earth's long-term evolution.
What working here is like
- Wet lab
- Computational
- Fieldwork
- No organisms (data only)
- Coding helps
- Project
- 1
- Papers
- 5
Current projects
Rock magnetic characterization of marine sediments across the Cretaceous-Paleogene Boundary
Scientists measured magnetic properties of ocean‑floor sediments from before and after the mass extinction 66 million years ago to look for changes linked to environmental shifts. The student performed rock‑magnetic experiments and recorded the data for two drill sites.
From the Spring 2025 UF Undergraduate Research Symposium · abstract book, p. 236
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Characterization of full vector magnetic recording potential of ɛ-Fe2O3 in clinkers
2026 · Geophysical Journal International
Tests whether a type of iron oxide can record Earth's magnetic field in ancient rocks.
- The complexity of synchronizing rock clocks
2026 · Past Global Change Magazine
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- Geomagnetic Variability in a Post‐Superchron Geodynamo: Insights From the Deccan Traps
2026 · Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth
Measures magnetic field strength in ancient rocks to understand Earth's magnetic history.
- Dinosaur extinction can explain continental facies shifts at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary
2025 · Communications Earth & Environment
Shows how dinosaur extinction may have caused sediment shifts near the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary.
- Large Igneous Province Sulfur Emissions Have Long‐Term (>1000 Years) Effects on the Ocean Carbon Cycle
2025 · Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems
Tests how volcanic eruptions affect ocean carbon over centuries.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Courtney Sprain hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.