Research Interests:
Igneous petrology and geochemistry. Experimental volcanology. Melt-fluid and mineral-fluid interactions. Diamond genesis. Diamond Gemology. Diamond inclusions.
Research Projects:
Abstracts of Current Research:
Bubble nucleation and water diffusion in silicate melts:
The nucleation and growth of bubbles is the main process that
controls the triggering and initial stages of explosive volcanism.
The current project studies experimentally the nucleation process
and the growth of water bubbles in natural melts under geologically
relevant pressures and temperatures.
Fluid-inclusions in diamonds:
Fluid inclusions in diamonds are the deepest available samples of
mantle fluids. The diamond trapped the mother-fluids from which it
grew and transported them with minimal changes to the surface.
Characterization of the major, minor, and trace elements, volatile
speciation and isotopic composition allow the understanding of the
evolution of mantle fluids and their role in the genesis of diamonds.
The color of diamonds:
Natural diamonds appear in a variety of colors. Most of these colors
may be produced artificially. The project is aimed at exploring the
physical sources of colors in diamonds, and to establish procedures for
distinguishing artificial coloring.
The magmatic history of the Arabian-Nubian Shield:
The geochemistry of Late Precambrian dykes and Neogene-Quarternary alkali
basalts is studied in order to understand the processes which formed the
shield and control its current evolution.
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