Project Grant 2319898

The National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences (NSF/GEO) awarded a $320,807 Project Grant to the University of New Mexico (UNM) to conduct collaborative research with the National Environment Research Council (NERC) of the United Kingdom on understanding the release of volatile gases during the breakup of continental cratons.

This joint U.S./U.K. research project aims to determine the geological processes controlling the production, migration, and surface release of volatile elements like helium, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide in the East African Rift region surrounding the Tanzania craton. The work will involve field sampling and laboratory analysis to develop an integrated model of how cratonic gases are accumulated and liberated during rifting and volcanic activity. Two Tanzanian Ph.D. students will receive training in advanced field, laboratory, and modeling techniques through the project. The findings will provide valuable insights into the formation of economically important gas reservoirs and the potential climatic impacts of cratonic volatile release over geological timescales.