Fate of the continental lithospheric mantle during the continent to ocean transition in a magma-rich environment - Insights from the East Greenland margin (OCE 2512696)

This project has just commenced and we are seeking a graduate student! The project will work on rocks that were erupted during the terminal stages of rift development along the Greenland margin and offshore. 

Assessing the role of the lithospheric mantle during passive margin development – insights from the South Atlantic African margin (OCE 2305552)

This project is designed to probe the origin of seaward dipping reflectors and post breakup magmatism along the SW African margin. The work is currently ongoing and is the dissertation topic of Will Aspinwall. 

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 completed but research continues from the group with new papers being prepared.

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. This project is now completed but work continues on this project in terms of papers.

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. This project is completed.

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

This project was 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. This project is completed.

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. This work is now completed. 

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 work is now completed.

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

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. This project has not yet been funded.