Details of Award

NERC Reference : NE/B504306/1

Probing the early history of the Earth from the volatile inventory of the deep mantle.

Principal Investigator:: Professor FM Stuart, Scottish Universities Env Research Cen, UNLISTED
Co-Investigator:: Dr D Porcelli, University of Oxford, Earth Sciences
Grant held at:: Scottish Universities Env Research Cen, UNLISTED

ENRIs:: Global Change
Science Topics:: Planetary science; Properties Of Earth Materials; Mantle & Core Processes

Abstract:: The chemical composition of the volatile elements in the deep mantle of the Earth preserves information on the early history of our planet. This proposal seeks funding to perform analysis of the major and trace volatile constituents of this reservoir in order to address fundamental questions about how the Earth formed, how and when it degassed, whether the atmosphere originated in the interior and whether surface gases have been transferred back into the Earth interior by subduction. Basalts that are characterised by high concentrations of primordial helium are derived from the deep mantle. This study will concentrate on high-Mg basalts from Baffin Island, West Greenland and Iceland. Minute quantities of gases will be extracted from melt inclusions and vesicles (bubbles) by crushing the rocks in vacuum ,and analysed by mass spectrometry at SUERC. The study involves geologists and geochemists from 5 countries and will result in the training of a young post-doctoral researcher in analytical science.

Authorised funds only

This grant award has a total value of £181,110

Total - Staff	Total - T&S	Total - Other Costs	Total - Equipment	Total - Indirect Costs
£96,808	£16,340	£12,441	£10,987	£44,532

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