This Project Grant award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) provides $291,557 to Brown University to conduct collaborative research on the behavior of halogen elements (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine) in continental volcanic arc systems. The key objectives are to:
Determine whether halogens are concentrated more in plutonic or volcanic rocks within the same ancient arc system exposed in the Sierra Nevada, California.
Identify the primary mineral hosts and other reservoirs for halogens in these rocks.
Assess the role of halogens in magmatic processes during the formation of continental crust.
The research team will analyze a suite of well-characterized plutonic and volcanic rock samples to address these questions. They will also examine complementary sample types like xenoliths, host wall rocks, and hydrothermally altered materials to better understand the factors influencing halogen behavior. The findings are expected to significantly contribute to characterizing halogen compositions in continental arc crust. This work will be conducted from October 1, 2023 through July 31, 2025.