Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Minnesota Duluth received a $166,527 Project Grant from the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) effective August 1, 2026, with a completion date of July 31, 2029. This collaborative research initiative delivers high-pressure and high-temperature laboratory experiments designed to simulate magma formation processes in Earth's mantle. The primary products include: empirical experimental data on iron oxidation states (Fe3+/Fe) in peridotites, electron microprobe and X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES) analyses of iron oxide concentrations in mineral and melt phases, and refined mineral/melt partition coefficients for conditions relevant to both spinel and garnet stability fields during mantle melting.

The award also produces a mathematical model of mantle melting dynamics that addresses oxygen fugacity variations between mid-ocean ridge basalts and oceanic island basalts, with this model made available to the broader research community for future investigations. Additional deliverables include a trained cohort of students and researchers in cutting-edge laboratory and computational modeling techniques, peer-reviewed research publications, and public engagement materials communicating findings about volcanic processes, critical mineral and ore formation, and diamond genesis. These research outputs directly support the Geosciences program's objective to strengthen fundamental knowledge and understanding of integrated Earth system processes.