Lithosphere & Deep Earth
Program lead: Dr. James Gardner
By studying the evolution and state of terrestrial planets, faculty in this research area seek to better constrain and understand how the dynamic processes within the Earth’s crust and mantle interact with other components of the Earth system as well as how surface, lithospheric, and deep mantle dynamics are expressed and recorded in Earth’s surface geology (mountain building, plate boundary deformation and volcanism). The tools used arise from the fields of geology, geochemistry, and geophysics and include field work, theoretical and experimental analysis, and numerical modeling. Please check out the informal LDE Seminar Series.
Jaime D Barnes uses stable isotope geochemistry to research metamorphism, fluid-rock interaction, geochemical cycling.
Miriam Barquero-Molina focuses on research in structural geology, tectonics, and field methods in geology.
Thorsten Becker works on mantle dynamics, fault system dynamics & structural seismology using numerical modeling.
Kenneth S Befus studies crystals, and their imperfections, to understand volcanoes, magmas, and tectonics.
Elizabeth J Catlos My group uses field geology, petrology, geochemistry, and mineral dating (garnet, zircon, monazite) to reconstruct how mountain belts form, deform, and erode, and to date key events in Earth history. Current work includes the NSF-funded Fault or Not? project (2026-2029, with Pomona College), which tests whether Himalayan lineaments are active faults that segment the range and influence earthquake hazards in Nepal; garnet P-T paths along the Main Central Thrust; extension, transfer zones, and Hellenic arc subduction in western Anatolia; exhumation and critical minerals in the Western Carpathians of Slovakia; detrital zircon ages for the earliest land plants and animals in the UK; and the ages of North American impact structures, including Ames (Oklahoma) and the Slate Islands (Ontario). More at https://catloslab.org/
James E Gardner investigates volcanic eruption & magmatic processes, experimental petrology, volatiles & degassing.
Sean S Gulick studies tectonic processes, the role of catastrophism in the geologic record, and marine and planetary geophysical imaging.
Marc A Hesse studies geological fluid dynamics. He is currently interested in the brine dynamics & habitability of icy ocean worlds.
Richard A Ketcham uses 3D imaging across many fields, from petrology to paleontology, and also specializes in the theory and application of thermochronology.
John C Lassiter studies Earth's origin and evolution with isotope & trace element geochemistry, focusing on the convecting & lithospheric mantle and surface-to-interior chemical fluxes.
Luc L Lavier focuses on tectonics (collisional environments & the structural and geodynamical evolution of continental and oceanic rifts), modeling, deformation, subduction.
Jung-Fu Lin investigates mineral physics, physics & chemistry of planetary materials, solid-Earth geophysics & geochemistry, high-pressure diamond anvil cell.
Marek Locmelis Genesis of magmatic, hydrothermal and sedimentary ore deposits. Development of novel mineral exploration strategies.
Craig Martin uses structural geology, paleomagnetism & geochronology to study plate tectonics on Earth. He also investigates processes that shape other planetary bodies.
Claudia I Mora works on stable isotope geochemistry, isotope proxy records of (paleo-) climate, (paleo-) environment & extreme climate events, metamorphic petrology & mineralogy.
Demian M Saffer focuses on geomechanics, fluid flow, active faulting, & Tectonics, through a combination of laboratory, field, and numerical modeling approaches.
Danny Stockli works on thermo/ geochronology, tectonics & structural geology, isotopic provenance analysis, archeometry, geothermal exploration, thermal maturation.
Chenguang Sun studies magmatic processes, deep volatile cycling & planetary habitability using lab experiments, field observations, and geochemical modeling.
Taiyi Wang studies the mechanical coupling between fractures and fluids in the Earth's crust using physics-based modeling and machine learning.