Douglas Smith

Doug continues to work on problems of mantle evolution using tools of mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry. One goal is to understand the interplay between mantle processes, crustal tectonics, and magmatism. Most of his recent research has involved rocks and minerals from the southwestern United States. For instance, study of peridotite and eclogite xenoliths from the Navajo Volcanic Field continues to provide insights into low-angle subduction and the mantle wedge. Projects take advantage of the excellent analytical equipment available in our department. A current project makes use of laser ablation coupled with inductively-coupled plasma mass spectroscopy to investigate how peridotite minerals record mantle histories. Another project is a search for insights into the genesis of potassic mafic volcanic rocks.