Melting Mountains

We are interested in the processes, timescales, and consequences of flow of the deep crust in mountain systems (orogens). Lateral flow is interesting because it has the potential to transport geochemically distinct rocks over great distances in the deep crust and may be associated with the formation of orogenic plateaux. Vertical flow is a very exciting process that brings deep, hot crust to shallow levels. It is important in continental evolution because it contributes to crustal differentiation and, ultimately, stabilization.

The STAMP group investigates these processes by field-based studies (currently or recently: the French Massif Central; the northern North American Cordillera; central Australia; eastern Mediterranean (Aegean region to central Turkey) and, in collaboration with Professor Patrice Rey (Sydney), also via numerical modeling. We are particularly excited about the deep crust record preserved in high-pressure rocks (eclogite) within migmatite and have been investigating these rocks using a combination of petrology, geochemistry, geochronology, and (micro)structural analysis.

key topics: crustal melting, crustal flow, gneiss domes, core complexes, deep crust exhumation, eclogites and migmatites