High Temperature Geochemistry

The High Temperature Geochemistry Group studies the role of water and other volatiles in the Earth’s crust and mantle, where they have a major impact on both physical and chemical processes.

Current projects include:

• (i) Water-rock interactions at both mid-ocean ridges and subduction zones: how does water circulation modify rock compositions and affect how they deform?
• (ii) Groundwater circulation around volcanoes: can studies of ancient volcanoes maximise geothermal energy production at modern ones?
• (iii)  Geochemistry of ore fluids: are unusual metal concentrations needed to form ore bodies and why do they precipitate?
• (iv) Mineral reactions in the mid-to lower crust: how does water drive metamorphic reactions and how do they affect the strength of the crust?

The School has excellent facilities to support this work: Triton Thermal Ionisation Mass Spectrometer, Agilent ICP-MS with Geolas Excimer laser ablation system as well as a SEM and Microprobe.