Because we use lithophile (silicate-loving) siderophile (iron metal-loving) and chalcophile (sulfide-loving) element abundances in planetary materials to constrain planetary-scale processes in the early solar system (core formation, late accretion), it is necessary to understand the processes that can change abundances of these elements in magmatic and in surface processes. The formation of continental crust and recycling of oceanic crust and sediments via subduction have had substantial influence on the present-day composition and chemical evolution of the Earth’s mantle. These processes can be monitored by study of the variation of radiogenic isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr, 143Nd/144Nd, 187Os/188Os, Pb isotopes) and trace element ratios in rocks derived from the Earth’s mantle (basalts, peridotites). We combine such tracers for study of the effects of partial melting and melt transport in the mantle and assimilation, fractional crystallization and mixing processes in the crust.

 Contacts: Prof. Harry Becker and Dr. Elis Hoffmann

Projects:

 - Halogen extraction and determination of iodine and bromine abundances in geological reference materials J.E. Hoffmann, O. Jäger, T. John.

- Chalcophile element abundances in the Earth’s mantle. Z. Wang, H. Becker (2013-2016) CSC, DFG, FUB.

- Fractionation of highly siderophile elements in the lower oceanic crust. C. Meyer, H. Becker, DFG IODP-SPP (2011-2013).

- Highly siderophile element geochemistry of mantle pyroxenites. T. Gawronski, H. Becker, K. Hammerschmidt, DFG (2010-2013).