Research
The following short project descriptions provide an overview on some of our present research interests.
High-pressure, high-temperature nitrogen partitioning and isotope fractionation between silicate/metal melts and a gas/fluid phase
This project is focused on the partitioning of nitrogen during the early stages of the Earth. High-pressure and temperature experiments under conditions relevant for deep and early Earth are being performed to determine nitrogen fractionation between metal- and silicate melts. The results of this study will help to unravel the remaining questions about the nitrogen distribution between the metallic core, the silicate magma ocean and a potentially hot and dense early atmosphere.
Physical behavior of plagioclase in tholeiitic basaltic liquids: an experimental study with implications to the formation of anorthositic rock suites
Plagioclase is one of the most important rock forming minerals in the Earth's crust. The focus of this project is to better understand the formation of anorthosites - highly plagioclase enriched rocks - and compare the results with observations in nature.
High-temperature, high-pressure carbon isotope fractionation between elemental carbon and COH-fluids
Carbon isotope fractionation between elemental carbon (e.g. graphite or diamond) and coexisting supercritical fluids (e.g. carbon dioxide or methane) is barely understood at elevated pressures and temperatures exceeding 800°C. However, carbon precipitation and associated carbon isotope fractionation at extreme temperature and pressure conditions occur in many geological systems, and sometimes cause the formation of valuable natural resources (e.g. diamonds). This project concerns the experimental investigation of carbon isotope fractionation between elemental carbon and CH4, CO2 and CO at high temperature and pressure conditions. These experiments aim to an improved understanding of isotope distributions among solid-fluidal phases that in turn can be used to elucidate carbon (re-)cycling processes in small- and large-scale geological systems.