Petrology/Mineral Physics

Jaime Barnes’ research focuses on using stable isotopes as geochemical tracers of fluids in various tectonic settings, to decipher fluid-rock interactions and metasomatism at high temperature (including serpentinization processes), relationships between metamorphic processes and deformation, and volatile transport in subduction zones to aid in quantifying geochemical cycles.

Bill Carlson’s research focuses on developing a quantitative understanding of the rates and mechanisms of metamorphic processes, such as quantitatively analyzing primary metamorphic microstructures, linked to numerical simulations of their development, to understand fundamental processes of recrystallization. The greatest novelty in this work is the use of high-resolution X-ray computed tomography (HR X-ray CT) to reveal the sizes, shapes and disposition of crystals within a rock.

Elizabeth Catlos’ research focuses on applying geochemical techniques to the study of lithosphere dynamics in order to understand the broader tectonic history of regions in Turkey, the Himalayas (India and Nepal), and south India (Tamil Nadu). Her interests include the geochemistry of igneous and metamorphic rocks, geochronology of a variety of minerals, applying mineral equilibria to estimate environmental conditions, and novel petrographic imaging techniques.

Jim Gardner’s research focuses on the physical and chemical aspects of volcanic eruptions and magmatic processes through field studies of active volcanic centers, as well as using experimental petrology to study pre-eruption contents of volatiles in magmas and the degassing of those volatiles during eruption.

John Lassiter’s and Jung-Fu “Afu” Lin’s research focuses on the geochemistry and mineral physics of deep-Earth materials to understand how melts are generated in the mantle, how subduction of crust and sediments has affected the long-term chemical and physical evolution of the Earth’s interior, and how properties of earth materials are affected by extreme pressures and temperatures. Geochemical research includes projects examining the nature and origin of mantle plumes and the global cycling of volatiles in the Earth. Research on mineral physics emphasizes an understanding of the interiors of the Earth and other planets through direct examination of the properties of materials under high pressure-temperature conditions.

Rich Ketcham’s research focuses on theory, calibration, and inversion approaches for extracting thermal history information from various isotopic systems, primarily fission-track and (U-Th)/He. He is setting up a cutting-edge fission-track laboratory. Rich also focuses on high-resolution X-ray computed tomography, including developing techniques in data acquisition, optimization, and processing to extract information for studies in petrology, economic geology, paleontology, hydrogeology, and meteoritics.

Rich Kyle’s research on hydrothermal systems integrates mineralization into a broad framework involving fluid and isotope geochemistry, petrology, tectonics, and geochronology. Long-term studies include pluton- and wallrock-hosted Cu-Au mineralization. Exciting new perspectives are coming from quantitative X-ray computed tomography study of three-dimensional distribution of gold in ores.