Experimental Studies of Earth Materials at Extreme Pressure and Temperature Conditions of Planetary Interiors

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How do planets work? Large scale processes deep in the interior of planets control much of what happens on the surface. For example, heat and mass flow within and from Earth's core through the mantle causes plate motions, earthquakes, and generates our life-protecting magnetic field. The cores of terrestrial-like planetary bodies, Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter's moons Io and Ganymede, are composed mainly of iron (Fe) with ~10-20wt% of other lighter elements such as sulfur (S) and/or silicon (Si). Our knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of core mimetic materials is central to improving our understanding of the integrated global processes of heat and mass flow inside these planetary bodies. My research focuses on high pressure (P), temperature (T) experimental studies of the physico-chemical properties of the materials deep in planetary interiors. We bring the inaccessible deep interior of planets into the lab by measuring properties of core and mantle materials under simultaneous extreme P (23GPa) and T (2300K) conditions in four large volume presses. My team will employ novel techniques developed in our lab to measure viscosity, electrical and thermal conductivity, density, and acoustic properties of core (Fe-S-Si) and mantle (serpentinite, olivine) materials. Our short term goals are to answer questions such as: Are Fe-S and Fe-Si in the core? What are the electrical and thermal conductivities of these binary systems? Does the solute affect these properties which are so important for core processes such as the geodynamo and conductive heat flow in terrestrial-like bodies? Can uranium dissolve in Fe and be a possible energy source in the core that helps drive Earth's heat engine? Are deep earthquakes triggered by mineral phase transitions? Answers to these questions on the micro-scale behaviour of planetary materials lead to a better understanding of the macro-scale processes that they control and help explain how planets work. The proposed work will involve 1 PDF, 8 PhD, 2 MSc and 2 BSc students, 1 research assistant and 7 technical personnel. My HQP will receive extensive training in experimental high P,T mineral physics which will prepare them for employment in academic, government and private sectors.