DinéGEO was co-founded by Kaelyn White, Dr. Raymond Donelick, and Benjamin White. While Kaelyn White serves as the primary owner and leads the organization’s educational vision and operations, all three founders bring unique expertise and commitment to advancing geoscience learning and community resilience through collaborative research and outreach.
DinéGEO brings together scientists, educators, mentors, and students who share a passion for geoscience, education, and Indigenous empowerment.
Kaelyn White
Kaelyn White
Principal Investigator
DinéGEO, LLC Co-Founder
Analyst & Project Collaborator,
DinéGEO LLC/Apatite.com Partners LLC
Kaelyn White is a Navajo educator at Chinle Junior High School with deep knowledge of Diné culture and community engagement. She specializes in curriculum development using the Next Generation Science Standards and phenomenon-based learning to help students make real-world connections through science.
As an emerging geoscience professional, Kaelyn participated in a 2023 collaboration with Dr. Ray Donelick at Washington State University’s Geoanalytical Lab, supporting LA-ICP-MS analysis as part of an apatite fission-track thermochronology project in southern Utah. She also led an outreach-focused AFT education project in Chinle, guiding middle and high school students through data interpretation, heat-flow modeling, and scientific reasoning—all aligned with Arizona academic standards.
Her work reflects a strong commitment to bridging scientific rigor with cultural relevance, creating learning spaces where Indigenous students can thrive.
Affiliated Institutions and Projects:
DinéGEO LLC (Many Farms, AZ):
Kaelyn serves as an Analyst and Collaborator, working on projects that focus on geological heat-flow systems, mine-site thermal energy storage design, and community-engaged education.Apatite.com Partners LLC (Viola, ID) / BiMBy Power Corporation:
She assists in supporting thermochronology services, including apatite fission-track and LA-ICP-MS guidance, while working closely with Dr. Donelick to advance both research and applied projects.
Notable Projects:
Educational outreach (2023): Led a hands-on apatite AFT study involving middle and high school students including field sampling, data interpretation, and spreadsheet-based thermal modeling; integrated Arizona curriculum standards.
Lab analysis & sample processing: Performed LA-ICP-MS sample prep and analysis at Washington State U Geoanalytical Lab under Dr. Donelick’s guidance as part of a broader thermochronology study.
Contact Information:
Benjamin White
Benjamin White
Lab Manager & Sample Analyst
DinéGEO, LLC Co-Founder
AFT Lab Analyst & Project Collaborator,
DinéGEO LLC/Apatite.com Partners LLC
Benjamin White is a geoscience analyst specializing in apatite fission‑track (AFT) thermochronology and LA‑ICP‑MS data interpretation. He co-led AFT sample review and re‑measurement at Diné College’s mobile DCAF‑T lab in Tsaile, Arizona, including major student outreach initiatives.
In work published in late 2023, Benjamin contributed to both AFT grain review and sample processing for regional thermal history studies.
Affiliated Institutions and Projects:
Diné College Apatite Fission‑Track (DCAF‑T) Lab (Tsaile, AZ):
As an analyst, Benjamin reviews and re‑measures AFT data in the mobile lab, supporting geochronology studies in Navajo Nation, including field projects like AFT dating of dike intrusions and melt breccias on Black Mesa.DinéGEO LLC (Many Farms, AZ):
Benjamin collaborates on seasonal mine‑site thermal energy storage research and geological analysis for mine closure planning, alongside Dr. Donelick and Kaelyn White.Apatite.com Partners LLC (Viola, ID) / BiMBy Power Corporation:
Benjamin assists with thermochronology services and lab analysis, working closely on projects that advance both academic and applied research collaborations.
Notable Contributions:
AFT Grain Analysis (2023): Reviewed and re‑measured AFT grains from Black Mesa melt breccias and sandstone, producing new thermal history constraints (< 1 Ma ages for clinker‑type breccias)
Mobile Lab Outreach: Supported student‑engaged fieldwork and training at Diné College on the Navajo Nation as part of the DCAF‑T lab.
Contact Information:
Phone: +1-505-979-3430
Dr. Raymond Donelick
Dr. Raymond Donelick
Senior Scientist & Manager
Apatite.com Partners LLC Owner
DinéGEO LLC, Co-Founder
AFT Lab Analyst & Project Collaborator,
DinéGEO LLC/Apatite.com Partners LLC
Dr. Raymond Donelick holds a Ph.D. in Geology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is the founder of Apatite to Zircon, Inc., and an inventor with multiple patents related to thermal energy storage using mine waste and glass spheres. He is also an active member of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, the American Geophysical Union, and the Mineralogical Society of America.
In 2023, Dr. Donelick collaborated with Benjamin White and Kaelyn White to involve junior high and senior high school students in every stage of geoscience research including rock sampling, lab preparation, data analysis, and final reporting. His goal is to make science approachable and memorable.
He also leads Patent Camp, where students serve as Citizen Scientists to help evaluate claims in geology-based patent applications. Students who complete the project earn co-inventor credit on patent filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Dr. Donelick's current work includes exploring thermal energy storage systems to provide heating, cooling, and agricultural solutions using local materials on the Navajo Nation, including the potential use of reclaimed lands from former mining operations.
Affiliated Institutions and Projects:
BiMBy Power Corporation:
Dr. Donelick is the Co‑Founder and President of BiMBy Power, an early-stage renewable energy company developing the Big Mass Battery—an innovative thermal energy storage system that uses mine tailings and specially designed glass spheres to store and release solar or renewable energy. He leads research and technical development and co-owns the company with Dr. Margaret Donelick.Apatite.com Partners LLC (Idaho):
As the Manager and Chief Scientist of Apatite.com Partners, Dr. Donelick provides thermochronology services—specializing in apatite, zircon, and uranium-lead fission track dating. The lab has served academic, governmental, and industry clients globally since 1991.Contact Information:
Apatite.com Partners LLC
1075 Matson Road, Viola, ID 83872‑9709
Phone: +1‑208‑596‑1423
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