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Chris Matchette-Downes DirectorProfessor Chris Ballentine


Department of Earth Sciences Oxford University

Research projects in Chris's group fall into two areas: Earth and Planetary Science and Crustal Fluid Systems.

Our understanding of how the Earth gained its atmosphere, oceans and volatile elements within the mantle remain a fundamental science challenge. Projects will investigate key mantle systems that record the geochemical evolution and interaction between the deep mantle and surface over planetary history. Fluids in the continental crust form mineral deposits, hydrocarbon reserves, and drinking water supplies. Water rock reactions provide the energy for deep microbial biomes, isolated on planetary timescales. Projects in this area will focus on a topical science question that can range from energy/mineral resources to tracing the processes controlling the migration and chemistry of critical carbon rich fluids in the deep crystalline basement. Projects in both fields will use noble gas isotope tracers as the first line tool to define the fluid processes occurring in the systems studied.