Jaime D Barnes

Jaime D Barnes
Professor, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences
Morgan J. Davis Centennial Chair in Geosciences (Fellow)

Office: JGB 4.124
Mailcode: C1100

My research interests encompass a broad spectrum of geochemistry, including stable isotope geochemistry, volatile cycling, metamorphism and volatile transport in subduction zones, serpentinization, and fluid-rock interactions and metasomatism in the high-T environment. Most of my research involves using stable isotopes as a geochemical tracer of fluids in various tectonic and geologic settings from the upper mantle, the oceanic lithosphere, the plate interface, forearc thermal springs, and arc volcanoes. However, I have been involved in a wide range of research including, the isotopic composition of lunar samples and hyperarid soils.

I oversee one of the stable isotope labs in the Jackson School of Geosciences which houses a ThermoElectron MAT 253, silicate laser extraction line, chlorine purification line, and TC/EA. The lab has the capabilities for oxygen, hydrogen, chlorine, nitrogen, carbon, and sulfur analyses in silicates (terrestrial and extraterrestrial), atmospheric and volcanic gases, carbonates, fluid inclusions, water, and phosphates.

www.jsg.utexas.edu/light-isotope/

I am accepting new, motivated graduate students for the 2019-2020 academic year. Please email me if you are interested.

Areas of Expertise

Stable isotope geochemistry, metamorphism and volatile transport in subduction zones, fluid-rock interaction and metasomatism, geochemical cycling, stable chlorine isotopes


Society for Teaching Excellence, member - University of Texas at Austin (2011)

G. Moses and Carolyn G. Knebel Distinguished Teaching Award - JSG (2010)

GSA Subaru Outstanding Woman in Science Award - Geological Society of America (2009)

L'Oréal USA For Women in Science Fellowship - American Association for the Advancement of Science on behalf of L’Oréal (2007 - 2008)

Sigma Xi "Excellence in Graduate Research" Award - University of New Mexico, Sigma Xi chapter (2006)

Best Doctoral Candidate - Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico (2006)

V.C. Kelly Outstanding Doctoral Candidate Scholarship - University of New Mexico (2006)

Association for Women in Science Educational Foundation Gail Naughton predoctoral award - AWIS (2005)

Association for Women Geoscientists (Denver Chapter) Outstanding Geoscience Student Award - AWG (2002 - 2003)

National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship - NSF (2001 - 2004)

Graduate Students

Sarah Brooker , Ph.D., expected 2026 (Supervisor)
I am a second-year Ph.D. student in the stable isotope group at UT Austin. My primary research interests are using stable isotope systems, both traditional and non-traditional, to understand high-temperature fluid-rock reactions in igneous systems.

Fernando M Rey , Ph.D., expected 2025 (Committee Member)
My research focus is to link the stratigraphic record with tectonic processes using geochronology and geochemical signatures. I am currently working on projects in southern Patagonia (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Rocas Verdes Back-arc basin) and Japan (Neogene opening of the Sea of Japan).I am also interested in the dispersal of sediments in shallow marine environments. I have 8 years of experience...

George H Segee-Wright , Ph.D., expected 2024 (Co-supervisor)
I am a mantle geochemist with a focus on volatile element cycling between Earth's surface and mantle. I am interested in combining radiogenic and stable isotope measurements to better constrain lithospheric recycling into the mantle. My current research focuses on using halogen abundances and chlorine isotopes to trace subducted volatile elements into the sub-continental lithospheric mantle and the convecting mantle.

Claudiu Nistor (Supervisor)

Joshua Munro (Supervisor)
Understanding the effects of subduction on the O-H-Mg-Ca-Zn isotope composition of the downgoing slab, focusing on the Farallon Plate, North America

Eirini Poulaki, Ph.D., 2022 (Committee Member)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Grace Beaudoin, Ph.D., 2022 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Evan Ramos, Ph.D., 2021 (Co-supervisor)
Department of Geosciences

Edward Marshall, Ph.D., 2018 (Co-supervisor)
University of Texas at Austin
Navajo volcanic field xenoliths Colorado Plateau: a window into subduction processes from the Proterozoic to the present

Miguel Cisneros, Ph.D., 2018 (Supervisor)
University of Texas at Austin
Constraining the exhumation history of high-pressure subduction zone rocks: insights from the Cycladic islands, Greece and the application of novel thermobarometry techniques

Jeffrey Cullen, Ph.D., 2018 (Supervisor)
Fluid-rhyolite interaction in the Yellowstone hydrothermal system: Experimental constraints and insights from Cl, Li and B isotopes

Michelle Gevedon, Ph.D., 2018 (Supervisor)
University of Texas at Austin
On the timing, fluid sources, and behavior of Skarn Formation: Lessons from oxygen isotopes in Skarn garnets of the North American Mesozoic Cordilleran Arc

Grace Cooperdock, Ph.D., 2017 (Committee Member)

Jessica Errico, M.S., 2012 (Supervisor)
The University of Texas at Austin
Oxygen isotope evidence for retrogression of Franciscan high-grade blueschists and eclogites by sediment-derived fluids


“Subduction Zone Cycling of Chlorine”, Yale University, (2011)

“The global chlorine cycle: a subduction zone perspective”, GeoPRISMS Implementation Workshop: Subduction Cycles and Deformation, (2011)

“Chlorine stable isotopes as a geochemical tracer in subduction zones", University of Texas at Arlington, (2009)

Chlorine stable isotopes as a geochemical tracer in subduction zones", University of New Mexico, (2009)

“Chlorine isotope distribution on Earth”, University of Houston, (2008)

“Chlorine isotope distribution on Earth”, University of California, Berkeley, (2008)

“Chlorine isotope distribution on Earth”, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, (2008)

“Tracing fluids in subduction zones using chlorine stable isotopes", Tufts University, (2008)

“Chlorine isotope distribution on Earth”, University of Texas at Austin, (2008)

“Studying serpentinization, seafloor tectonics, and arc volcanism using Cl stable isotopes”, Central Washington University, (2007)

“Studying serpentinization, seafloor tectonics, and arc volcanism using Cl stable isotopes”, New Mexico Tech, (2007)

“Studying serpentinization, seafloor tectonics, and arc volcanism using Cl stable isotopes”, Kansas State University, (2006)

“Tectonic and metamorphic implications of high chlorine contents in serpentinites”, University of Maine, (2006)

“Tectonic and metamorphic implications of high chlorine contents in serpentinites”, Rice University, (2006)

YearSemesterCourse
2024Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2023Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2023Fall GEO 376C Isotope Geology
2023Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2023Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2023Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2023Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2022Fall GEO 376C Isotope Geology
2022Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2022Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2022Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2022Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2022Spring GEO 386S Ins/Outs Subduction Zones
2022Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2022Spring GEO 356S Ins/Outs Of Subduction Zones
2021Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2021Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2021Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2021Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2020Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2020Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2020Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I-Wb
2020Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2020Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology-Wb
2020Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2020Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2019Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2019Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2019Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2019Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2019Summer GEO f660B Field Geo-Tx/Nm/Co/Wy/Mt/Id/Ut
2019Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2018Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2018Fall GEO 376C Isotope Geology
2018Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2018Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2018Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2018Summer GEO f660B Field Geo-Tx/Nm/Co/Wy/Mt/Id/Ut
2018Spring GEO 394 Rsch In Geological Sciences
2018Spring GEO 391 Ins & Outs Of Subduction Zones
2018Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2018Spring GEO 371T Ins & Outs Of Subduction Zones
2017Fall GEO 394 Rsch In Geological Sciences
2017Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2017Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2017Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2017Spring GEO 172H Honors Research Methods II
2017Spring GEO 394 Rsch In Geological Sciences
2016Fall GEO 394 Rsch In Geological Sciences
2016Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2016Fall GEO 376C Isotope Geology
2016Fall GEO 173H Honors Research Methods III
2016Fall GEO 171H Honors Research Methods I
2016Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2016Spring GEO 172H Research Methods II
2016Spring GEO 171H Research Methods I
2016Spring GEO 371T Ins & Outs Of Subduction Zones
2016Spring GEO 173H Research Methods III
2016Spring GEO 391 Ins & Outs Of Subduction Zones
2016Spring GEO 394 Rsch In Hi-T Stbl Isotp Geochm
2015Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2015Fall GEO 171H Research Methods I
2015Fall GEO 173H Research Methods III
2015Fall GEO 376C Isotope Geology
2015Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2015Fall GEO 394 Rsch In Geological Sciences
2015Spring GEO 394 Rsch In Hi-T Stbl Isotp Geochm
2015Spring GEO 172H Research Methods II
2014Fall GEO 394 Rsch In Hi-T Stbl Isotp Geochm
2014Fall GEO 388L Isotope Geology
2014Fall GEO 376C Isotope Geology
2014Fall GEO 173H Research Methods III
2014Fall GEO 172H Research Methods II
2014Fall GEO 171H Research Methods I
2014Fall GEO 401 Physical Geology
2014Spring GEO 391 Ins & Outs Of Subduction Zones
2014Spring GEO 394 Rsch In Hi-T Stbl Isotp Geochm
2014Spring GEO 371C Ins & Outs Of Subduction Zones