Doctor of Philosophy in Geosciences - Petrology

SUNY Stony Brook University

Research in petrology focuses on experimental simulation of igneous processes in order to further our understanding of planetary evolution. These processes include those relevant to magma genesis and evolution in the source region of mid-ocean ridge basalt, development of magmatic diversity in subduction zones, crystallization of the lunar magma ocean, and degassing of reactive volcanic gas. Recent projects on volcanic processes on Mars have focused on simulating the formation of volcanic gas by magma boiling. This allows us to investigate the nature of minerals formed via gas condensation and through reaction between gas and volcanic glass. Recent projects on mid-ocean ridge and subduction zone magma source regions focus on the evolution of the residuum from partial melting and role it may have played in the formation of highly anorthitic plagioclase. Experimental petrology also extends into peripheral fields where mineral or materials synthesis is needed for structural, spectroscopic, isotopic, and toxicity studies. Recent experiments, for example, have produced OH-poor apatite for structural studies, new lunar simulants for toxicity studies, and various minerals for IR characterization.