The Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology Group at the University of California, Davis has a wide range of research interests and active research projects. We have a common interest in the petrology of mafic and ultramafic rocks, fluid-rock interactions, and the application of petrology to regional and global scale geologic problems. There is an unusual degree of cooperation among structural geologists and petrologists in our department.

Research programs are currently active in:

• The California Coast Ranges, USA (Day, Moores)
• The Northern Sierra Nevada, USA (Brooks, Day )
• Mono Basin, California (Schiffman)
• Alaska, USA (Roeske)
• Hawaii, USA (Schiffman)
• Argentina (Moores, Roeske)
• China (Day)
• Cyprus (Moores, Thy)
• Greenland (Lesher,Thy)
• Iceland (Schiffman)
• Mexico (Brooks)

In addition, our faculty maintain an active interest in analytical (Day, Lesher, Roeske, Schiffman,Thy), experimental (Lesher, Thy), theoretical (Day, Lesher), and geochronological (Day, Lesher, Roeske) studies.

Our research is supported by a Cameca SX-100 electron microprobe, three stable isotope mass spectrometers (for H,C,O, and S) two quadrapole ICP-MS (one with laser ablation capabilities), one multicollector ICP-MS, an x-ray diffractometer, fluid inclusion heating/freezing microscope and stage, and high pressure and temperature experimental laboratories.

Kari Cooper (Ph.D., UCLA, 2001) - Isotope and trace-element geochemistry of volcanic rocks; timescales of magma residence and differentiation; origin and distribution of geochemical heterogeneities within the mantle; timing and geochemical record of hydrothermal alteration of oceanic crust.

Howard W. Day (Ph.D., Brown University, 1971) - Igneous and metamorphic petrology; tectonics; thermal evolution of metamorphic belts; low grade metamorphism of mafic rocks; granite petrology; petrology of ultramafic rocks and associated asbestos; phase equilibria and thermodynamics.

Charles E. Lesher (Ph.D. Harvard, 1985) - Experimental igneous petrology and geochemistry; phase equilibria and kinetics of silicate systems at elevated pressure and temperature; mantle and crustal properties.

Peter Schiffman (Ph.D., Stanford, 1978) - Metamorphic petrology and clay mineralogy of active and fossil hydrothermal systems in terrestrial and submarine settings; weathering, pala-gonitization, and biomineralization of basalt glass.

Elwood R. Brooks (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1964): Research Associate. Currently investigating Oligocene ash-flow tuffs in the northern Sierra, and Miocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks in Baja California.

Sarah M. Roeske (Ph.D., University of California, Santa Cruz, 1988): Research Scientist. Tectonics and metamorphic petrology of convergent margins; ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology of shear zones.

Peter Thy (Ph.D., University of Aarhus, Denmark, 1982) Petrology of basaltic volcanic and plutonic rocks from Norway, Iceland, and Cyprus; experimental phase relations and mineralogy; evolution of basaltic magma during continental rifting and ocean formation.

Eldridge M. Moores (Ph.D., Princeton, 1963) - Tectonics and petrology of ophiolites.

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