Mineral-fluid reactions in metamorphism and carbon sequestration

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This project will assess the role of mineral fluid reactions in modulating fluid flow in Earth’s deep crust and in absorbing the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Fluid flow at depth within Earth's crust may control how the crust behaves during mountain building and magmatism. Fluid flow is also essential for the formation of some metallic and high-tech industrial mineral ore deposits, and influences rock behaviour during deformation (e.g., earthquake events). A critical control on fluid flow is the formation and destruction of permeable pathways by mineral reactions and rock deformation. Likewise, mineral reactions can contribute towards the long term sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. One promising area of application is in using industrial waste, such as mine tailings, to capture and bind carbon dioxide for millennia, thus contributing to the mitigation of the climate change problem.