Research

East African rift - afar

Assessing the relationship between strain localization and magmatism during rift evolution - National Science Foundation GeoPrisms (OCE 1551872)

This project explores how magmatism and rifting are interlinked in the two regions of the East African rift where the current rift is broad - Turkana and Afar. This project is commencing and seeking a PhD student.

Constraining the temporal evolution of mantle plume contributions to magmatism in the Turkana Depression - National Science Foundation GeoPrisms (EAR 1551872) .

This project centers on exploring the Eocene to Miocene volcanism in the Turkana Depression and comparing it to that further north in Ethiopia.

The Initiation of Magmatically Accommodated Extension in the Rifting Environments of Terrestrial Planets - National Aeronautics and Space Administration (10-PGG10-006)

This project focuses on linking the accommodation of extension by magmas injected in the crust and how these magma may be created in the first instance.

midcontinent rift - North america

Geological Evolution of the Midcontinent Rift as a Hybrid Rift and Large Igneous Province - National Science Foundation Tectonics (EAR 1549764)

This project is focused on the South Shore and East Shore of Lake Superior. We are trying to constrain the magmatic events that occurred a billion years ago in Michigan and Ontario that formed the rocks we see today.

Non-Peridotite Melting in Plume-Influenced Extensional Environments: Lithological Heterogeneity of the African Superplume and African Lithosphere - National Science Foundation Petrology and Geochemistry (EAR-1219647)

This work is focused on establishing where the floods of basalt (seen here on the left as distinct layers) formed the Ethiopian plateau.

Slab-tear related magmatism in the Panama Canal - MSU Intramural Grant Program.

This research has focused on volcanic rocks from Baru volcano and old lavas from the Panama Canal Zone. We have worked in collaboration with the Panama Canal Authority.

This project focuses on small volume basaltic volcanoes in order to probe the melting conditions within the mantle under the active Taupo Volcanic Zone.

western rift - virunga volcanic province (East Africa)

This new project is exploring magmas erupted from volcanoes in the Virunga province that lies at the borders of Rwanda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Uganda.