My current research at Towson University is focused on the following three themes.
1. How Did We Meet?
A fundamental component of plate tectonics is the closure of oceans via. subduction and subsequent fusing of continents via. continental collision. But exactly how have these processes evolved in the last 1 billion years?
My research in this area focuses on understanding the magmatic and metamorphic evolution of the 500-300 million year old Appalachian-Caledonian mountains in North America and Europe, as well as the 900-500 million year old Brasiliano orogeny in southern Brazil.
The ultimate aim is to compare the geologic records of these two ancient mountain belts to understand fundamental plate tectonic processes and their evolution through geologic time.
2. Were the oceans made the same?
One of the hallmarks of today's plate tectonics is the formation of oceanic crust and its subsequent preservation on the continents as "ophiolites" (click here for more details on ophiolites). Studies of young ophiolites have enhanced our understanding of modern tectonic processes, but limited research has focused on older ophiolites.
My research in this area is focused on a suite of 1.9 billion year old ophiolites, with the aim of understanding how oceanic crust was produced and preserved 1.9 billion years ago. Did it formed via. the same plate tectonic processes that we observe happening on Earth today, or has there been a fundamental shift?
3. What was it like here 3 billion years ago?
Some of the rocks formed during the Archean Eon (4.0-2.5 billion years ago) are fundamentally different to those formed by today's Earth. This includes: unique lavas that were erupted at extremely high temperatures (known as komatiites); and a predominance of a suite of intrusive igneous rocks (referred to as TTGs) that are rarely produced by today's plate tectonic processes.
What tectonic processes formed these unique rocks? My research focuses on understanding the origin and tectonic significance of igneous rocks - including komatiites - from various Archean Cratons around the world, including: Brazil, South Africa, and United Kingdom.