Research Interests

My primary interests are the early Earth, the origin of life, and the early formation and evolution of continental crust. My research involves developing and exploiting various geochemical systems in accessory minerals to investigate the first billion years of our planet's history. Detrital records containing zircon, apatite, and other accessory minerals play a crucial role in investigations of crustal evolution from the Hadean to the present day. I have worked mostly with the mineral zircon, whose physical and chemical hardiness and high U/Pb ratio make for an excellent geochronometer, while various other aspects of its geochemistry are also useful for constraining the condition of its formation.

When did life begin on Earth?

What became of the Earth's earliest crust?

Was the Earth affected by a Late Heavy Bombardment? If so, what effect did this have on life, the crust, etc.?

How well does zircon (and other accessory minerals) preserve geochemical and petrologic information about its source rock through subsequent metamorphism?