About
33
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Introduction
I am an experimental petrologist by training. I am interested in the understanding of partially molten silicate and silicate-metal systems, as well as understanding the properties water-bearing silicate fluid-liquids (hydrothermal fluids), and in the genesis of Pallasite meteorites. Currently, I have diverted my research towards hydrothermal and magmatic Cobalt and Copper ores. I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and of the Society for Economic Geologists.
Additional affiliations
August 2020 - present
Position
- Senior Lecturer
Description
- Senior Lecturer of Earth Resources
September 2016 - August 2020
Position
- Lecturer
Description
- Researching and teaching mineral resources, as well as magmatic-metamorphic petrology, and meteorites.
September 2016 - present
Education
September 2015 - April 2016
January 2004 - April 2008
September 1997 - April 2003
Publications
Publications (33)
Scar Crags and Dale Head North in the English Lake District host mineralised veins enriched in ‘Energy Critical Elements’ (ECEs) specifically, bismuth, cobalt and copper. A limited number of studies in the 1970s investigated the mineralogy and inferred the genesis of these veins as being related to the intrusion of the Lake District batholith.
This...
Early in the history of the solar system, planetesimals were differentiated into metallic cores. In some planetesimals, this differentiation took place by percolation of the denser core forming liquid through a lighter solid silicate matrix. A key factor in core formation by percolation is the establishment of a connection threshold of the melt. In...
Pallasites, stony-iron meteorites predominantly composed of olivine crystals and Fe-Ni metal, are samples of the interior of early solar system bodies and can thus provide valuable insights into the formation of terrestrial planets. However, pallasite origin is controversial, either sampling the core-mantle boundary or the shallower mantle of plane...
This paper presents new data for historic vein-hosted copper sulphide deposits in the Upper Palaeozoic Munster and South Munster Basins of southwest Ireland. Detailed mapping, 3D modelling, fluid inclusion microthermometry and geochronology from the Allihies area of the Beara Peninsula, have led to a new interpretation of the timing and development...
Genesis of Cobalt-bearing Mineralisation in the English Lake District
Eskdale, A.E.1 and Solferino, G.F.D.1
1Department of Earth Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, phfb018@live.rhul.ac.uk
___________________________________________________________________________
Energy Critical Elements (ECE) such as Bi, Ga, Ge, In, REE, Sb, Te, Se...
The origin of pallasites has been the focus of a number of recent studies. Yet, their formation process remains elusive, while the mechanism leading to the genesis of the sub-group termed ‘mixed type’ pal-lasites (containing polygonal, rounded, and fragmental olivines simultaneously) is unclear. Here we test the hypothesis of mixing of olivine frag...
Numerous hypogene epigenetic mineralizations developed within the English Lake District over a c.270 Ma time span. The earliest known episode commenced during the Llanvirnian stage (c.470 Ma), with subsequent distinct phases occurring until the start of the Hettangian (c.200 Ma). During this time interval the major deposits formed included ores of...
Pallasites are stony-iron meteorites made of olivine, FeNi, FeS +/- pyroxene and other ancillary phases. The olivine is present as well-rounded grains or highly angular fragments, and occasionally both types (mixed-type pallasites). It has been suggested that mixing of Fe-Ni-S and olivine was caused by a non-destructive collision among planetesimal...
The origin of pallasite meteorites, composed of olivine, FeNi, FeS +/-pyroxene, where olivine could be present as well-rounded grains or highly angular fragments, and occasionally both of them in close proximity (mixed-type pallasites) is still unclear. Most recent studies indicated mixing of Fe-Ni-S from an impactor's core with the silicate mantle...
The occurrence of vein-hosted base metal mineralisation
on the southern coast of Ireland has not been well resolved with the surrounding geological terrane. The mineralised lode structures of the Copper Coast, County Waterford, lie within the Ordovician volcano-sedimentary succession of southeast Ireland which is host to historically economic VMS-s...
Despite their relatively simple mineralogical composition (olivine + Fe-Ni metal + FeS +/- pyroxene), the origin of pallasite meteorites remains debated. It has been suggested that catastrophic mixing of olivine fragments with Fe-(Ni)-S followed by various degrees of annealing could explain pallasites bearing solely or prevalently fragmented or rou...
The pressure in a series of Hydrothermal Diamond Anvil Cell (HDAC) experiments with water plus haplogranite was determined via in-situ observation of the alpha to beta quartz transformation in the range 130-830 MPa and 600-800 °C, by means of laser interferometry.
The pressures measured at the alpha-beta quartz transformation temperature are found...
In situ high-energy X-ray diffraction measurements were made for the first time on a water-saturated silicate melt at high pressure and temperature. A modified hydrothermal diamond anvil cell (HDAC), designed to minimize the path length of the X-ray beam within a diamond anvil and to increase the solid angle of the diffracted beam, was used to redu...
Pallasite meteorites are mixtures of olivine and Fe-Ni-(S) alloy in various proportions. The texture of this type of meteorites present a form of dualism, with rounded grains or angular fragments of olivine (e.g., Brenham and Eagle Station, respectively) surrounded by an Fe-Ni matrix, which bears various amounts of sulphur. Pallasites with uniquely...
A series of centrifuge-assisted settling experiments of 30 vol % olivine in 70 vol % basaltic melt was conducted to elucidate the formation mechanisms and time scales of gravitational cumulates. The settling experiments were performed in a centrifuging piston cylinder at 200–1,500g, 1,270–1,280 °C, and 0.8–1.1 GPa on previously annealed and textura...
The oxygen fugacity in Hydrothermal Diamond Anvil Cell (HDAC) experiments was determined by means of direct observation of the thermal reduction of molybdite or hematite in water and water–H2O2 solutions. HDAC experiments were conducted with and without rhenium gasket in order to evaluate the effect of rhenium on oxygen fugacity of the contained sa...
The Hydrothermal Diamond Anvil Cell (HDAC) is a key tool used in the
study of volatile bearing melts and solute-rich fluids at the pressure
and temperatures existent in the crust and shallow upper mantle
(100-1500 MPa). Oxygen fugacity is among the key parameters that must be
constrained in phase equilibrium and speciation studies of melt and
aqueo...
The connectivity of FeS melts in olivine and in a fertile peridotite matrix has been addressed through in situ electric impedance spectroscopy (IS) measurements at 1 GPa. A first series of experiments used sintered powder samples of a fertile peridotite xenolith mixed with 5–15 vol.% Fe70S30 of eutectic composition. The sheared high-T garnet perido...
Magmatic production on Earth is dominated by asthenospheric melts of basaltic composition erupted at mid-ocean ridges, at hotspots, or being mostly differentiated at the base off or within arc crust. The time scale for segregation and transport of these melts is critically dependent on the permeability of the partially molten asthenospheric mantle....
Magmatic production on Earth is dominated by asthenospheric melts of basaltic composition that have mostly erupted at mid-ocean ridges. The timescale for segregation and transport of these melts, which are ultimately responsible for formation of the Earth's crust, is critically dependent on the permeability of the partly molten asthenospheric mantl...
The mechanism which segregates molten Fe-S into metallic cores of planetary bodies is still not fully understood. Due to the high interfacial energy and wetting angle between Fe-S melts and silicate mantle minerals, the continuous percolative flow of such melts cannot be efficient for the core segregation in planetary bodies. A series of percolatio...
The series of percolation experiments have been done on partially molten fertile garnet peridotite xenolith by using the centrifuging piston-cylinder press. Powders with 100-200 mum and 20-30 mum grain size were mixed with 5-30 vol% Fe-FeS eutectic composition. The deformed high-T garnet peridotite with Mg# ~ 0.90 is composed from 60 vol% Ol, 15 vo...
In order to establish a percolation threshold of FeS melts in peridotite matrix, two types of experiments have been done on partially molten garnet peridotite. Peridotite powders with 100-200 mu and 20-30 mu grain size were mixed with 5-15 vol% Fe70S30 composition. The first type of experiments has been done in the centrifuging piston cylinder at E...
abstract The connectivity,of FeS melts,in olivine and in a fertile peridotite,matrix,has been addressed,through,in situ
Questions
Questions (4)
I am planning to use the diamond themselves as sample container (to avoid flaws related to noble metal use) for a Hydrothermal Diamond Anvil Cell.
To do so, I need to have a square 300x300 microns and 50 microns deep recess milled on the culet of one of the anvils. FIB is the only technique which can produce a virtually perfect shape, which is paramount for my experiments (I tried laser milling but it does not work). I also need to FIB-cut glass wafers 200x200x40 microns dimensions out of glass chips (roughly 1x1x1 mm size, but could be made bigger, if necessary).
I need to know the viscosity of solid iron at 100-1000 K. Could anyone suggest a reference? Thank you.
I am trying to substantiate the hypothesis that two different suites of granites, dated 420 and 380 Ma, respectively, were formed after two separated orogenetic events, despite the fact that they are located in nearby areas (scale of tens of kilometers). Beyond dating, I thought that ɛNd vs. ɛSr could be a proper tool to show (or to ascertain) that their source rock was not the same. This would make my hypothesis more robust. However, I cannot find a single article where the aforementioned tool was used for the purpose. People use the ɛ-ɛ plots to characterize basalt source/origin all the time, but not for granites. Is there any specific reason for that? Or, could anyone suggest a study where ɛ-ɛ plots were used to investigate granites? Thank you.
Projects
Projects (8)
Characterise cobalt-bearing vein mineralogy across the Lake District, building an ore deposit model for the region. Use existing GBASE geochemical databases to infer regional lithology in the Lake District and prospect further critical metal-bearing ore. Understand cobalt mineralogy on a global scale by building and interrogating databases to identify key time periods, host types and other key characteristics for ore formation.
This research focuses on the metallogenesis of copper deposits in Upper Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks in southern Ireland. Both sediment hosted, as well as vein hosted Cu mineralisations are in the point of interest. The scientific aim is to understand the geochemical and geostructural settings which led to these regional copper occurrences. This will be done through structural mapping, including drone imaging, petrography, microthermometry and isotope analyses.
Looking for a Ph.D. candidate to apply to ARIES Doctoral Training Programme for the round of interviews of February 2020.
The candidate will hep to tackle the following goal:
Devise a model for the genesis of Co-rich hydrothermal veins and quantify the resources of vein swarms in the region of the Asturias.
