The Art of Surface Area

Artist Statement

The impact of surface area within geology is significant, as it plays an essential role in silicate weathering, mineral crystallization, and more. These pieces are meant to represent the importance of surface area as a geologic phenomenon. Both pieces were thrown to have the same diameter of 5 inches, while one is a lifted cylinder and the other simply a plate. The lifted cylinder, equivalent in geology to a mountain or uplifted land, supports walls with an increased amount of surface area exposed. The small plate, on the other hand, lacks this exposed surface area and uplift. Additionally, the plate is covered with small, broken-down pieces of clay that represent sand or smaller pieces of rock. In natural environments, the process of breaking down rocks and other materials into smaller components is one of the most important methods of increasing surface area. These broken-down pieces have more surfaces exposed and available for reactions than any single, larger material. So, why are differences in surface area important?

One of the most fundamental geologic applications of surface area is its impact on silicate weathering. A central topic of GY250, silicate weathering accounts for the formation of clays, carbonates, and other sedimentary minerals. During clay formation specifically, minerals such as feldspars will react with water and acid to produce clay minerals such as kaolinite. This chemical weathering process becomes significantly enhanced when a weathered mineral, e.g., feldspar, with a larger surface area is available to react. This enhanced process not only increases the production of clay minerals, but also increases atmospheric carbon sequestration. Because of this, surface area has likely been responsible for controlling atmospheric CO2 levels throughout Earth’s history, with intense mountain building events hypothesized to cause widespread decreases in temperature and atmospheric CO2 as silicate weathering is enhanced. Once silicate weathering occurs and clay minerals are formed, their surface area is also essential to characteristics such as shrink and swell capacity. Surface area has other geologic and ceramic implications as well, including influencing surface energies during mineral crystallization processes found in crystalline glazes and magmas.

Working towards these final pieces, I developed essential skills in the pottery studio as a first-time ceramicist. Creating these pieces required intentionality and a focus on the dimensions of each piece, where I was able to unlock a creative, artistic side of myself as I invented these pieces and their meaning. Viewing ceramic pieces as analogous to geologic formations additionally highlights the potential of artistic models as pathways to understanding scientific processes. Through my exhibit pieces, I hope to communicate the importance of many of these surface area-related geologic implications through the lens of ceramics.