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Experimental Petrology

The Experimental Petrology Group uses a laboratory-based experimental approach combined with field observations to study the Earth, its origin, evolution and mineral wealth. The group operates a wide range of experimental apparatuses for generating the high temperatures and pressures that are needed to reproduce the natural conditions within the Earth. The equipment includes: high temperature furnaces capable of reaching 1800ºC, several of which are equipped for precise control of oxygen and sulfur fugacities by gas mixing; eleven solid-media piston-cylinder devices for generating pressures to 6 GPa and temperatures in excess of 2000ºC, a multi-anvil apparatus, which can presently achieve pressures of 26 GPa; and a well-equipped hydrothermal laboratory. These high-temperature, high-pressure apparatuses are complimented by an array of microbeam analytical techniques, including a Cameca SX100 electron microprobe; laser-ablation ICP-MS, which is now being used regularly to analyse trace-elements in experimental run products; FTIR spectroscopy for the determination of H₂O, CO₂ and other volatile species in minerals and glasses; and a STOE STADIP powder X-ray diffractometer.

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ACADEMIC STAFF
Professor Hugh O'Neill	Group Leader, Experimental Petrology and Associate Director, Earth Materials
Dr Jörg Hermann	Senior Research Fellow
Dr Robert Rapp	Senior Research Fellow
Dr John Mavrogenes	Fellow/Senior Lecturer in Geology.
TECHNICAL STAFF
Mr Dean Scott	Technical Officer
Mr David Clark	Technical Officer
Mr Bill Hibberson	Casual Technical Officer
STUDENTS
Mr Guil Mallmann	Mantle oxidation state and trace element partitioning
Ms Heather Sparks	Sulfide Partial Melting
Mr Istvan Kovacs	Water and Mantle Metasomatism
Mr Nick Tailby	The 2nd critical end point in H2O - Silicate systems and reclax controls in the wedge environment
Mr Cassian Pirrard
VISITORS
Professor David Green
Professor Ian MacDougall