Research concentrations (2006-2007)

The research programs of the Department are divided into the five general domains of Magmatism and Volcanology, Physical Volcanology, Isotope Geochemistry and Geochronology, Geological Risk (CERG), and Ore Deposit Genesis, which are respectively the responsibilities of Professors M. Dungan, U. Schaltegger, C. Bonadonna, and L. Fontboté, in collaboration with academic staff members members D. Fontignie, R. Moritz, S. Th. Schmidt, M. Chiaradia and R. Spikings, postdoctoral assistants (C. Annen, O. Bachmann, K. Frischknecht, K. Kouzmanov), and 12 PhD students. Many of the research involve multiple international collaborators and all involve PhD and MSc students.

Click here for publications resulting from these programs.
Click here for teaching information and for analytical resources.

A. Magmatism and volcanology

1. The primary focus of the group lead by Prof. M. Dungan in cooperation with Dr. Morris, and Dr. R. Spikings is continental arc magmatism, with a special emphasis on understanding intra-crustal open-system magma differentiation. Our approach to these questions is to comprehensively integrate field relations, volcanic stratigraphy, geochronology, and paleomagnetic constraints to develop a rigorous geologic context for all subsequent geochemical and petrologic studies, and then to combine data from whole-rock major element, trace element, and isotope chemistry, petrography, and mineral chemistry to arrive at models for the short-term and long-term magmatic evolution of the volcanic centers of interest.

For the last ten years, our research efforts have been divided between: (1) investigations of large-scale ash-flow tuff volcanism in the Oligocene San Juan volcanic field in collaboration with P.W. Lipman (Ph.D. theses of Olivier Bachman and Fleurice Parat), and (2) a long term study of the Quaternary Tatara-San Pedro complex (TSPC, 36°S, Chilean Andes). The Ph.D. thesis of Fidel Costa was one expression of the latter project. In addition to ongoing investigations of the TSPC in collaboration with colleagues in the UK (Jon Davidson), Australia (Kurt Knesel), Chile (Leo Lopez-Escobar), and the USA (Charles Langmuir & Steve Goldstein, Bill Leeman, John Chesley & Joaquin Ruiz, Fred Frey, Wes Hildreth, Ren Thompson, Laurie Brown, and Mike Rhodes) we are currently synthesizing whole-rock geochemical data from the Quaternary Southern Volcanic Zone between 33°S and 41S and from Tertiary granitoids and crustal xenoliths in Quaternary lavas and tuffs between 35°S and 38°S in order to develop a regional perspective, and we are three years into a detailed investigation of another SVZ volcano, Nevado de Longaví (36.2°S; Ph.D. theses of Carolina Rodríguez and Daniel Sellés).

2. Mesozoic to recent plume-related volcanism (2 PhD students). Projects include: (1) isotopic investigations of large scale dynamic interactions between plume and ridge magma sources in the south Atlantic and southeast Pacific, and more recently in Iceland, in collaboration with a research team at the University of Rhode Island (Dr. D. Fontignie), and (2) a combined geochemical and geochronologic study of the Early Jurassic Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP - 200 Ma) in both South American and Europe from the standpoint of the role of giant plumes in continental breakup and the impact of volcanism on mass extinctions (Dr. A. Marzoli, presently Padua, and U. Schaltegger).

B. Physical Volcanology

The physical volcanology group led by Prof. C. Bonadonna is focused on field, analytical and numerical investigations of volcanic processes. In particular, we are interested in the understanding of explosive volcanism and in the probabilistic assessment of associated hazards. Our research is based on field work, data processing, numerical studies and analogue experiments. As part of this group, a state-of-the-art sedimentology lab for characterizing volcanic particles has just been completed and the construction of a fluid dynamics lab for detailed studies of volcanic processes is in progress.

National and international collaborators include: Dr. JC Phillips (University of Bristol, UK), Prof. CB Connor (University of South Florida, USA), Prof. BF Houghton (University of Hawaii, USA), Prof. B. Chopard (University of Geneva, Switzerland), Prof. M. Rosi (Pisa University, Italy), Prof. R. Cioni (Cagliari University, Italy), Prof. CE Gregg (East Tennessee State University, USA), Dr. S. Scollo (INGV Catania, Italy), Dr. D. Swanson (Hawaii Volcano Observatory, USA) and Dr. J. Clavero (Sernageomin, Chile). Current projects are mainly focused on: 1) understanding basaltic explosive volcanism (PhD, L. Costantini); 2) characterization of tephra particles (PhD, F. Alfano); application of Lattice Boltzmann and Cellular Automata strategies to tephra transport and sedimentation (PhD, Kae Tsunematsu); 3) characterization of poorly exposed proximal tephra deposits, example of Nisyros caldera (Greece) (Master, C. Longchamp); 4) effects of particle shape and porosity on particle settling velocity (Master, S. Biass). Field areas include: Kilauea volcano (Hawaii, USA), Masaya volcano (Nicaragua), Cotopaxi volcano (Ecuador), Villarica volcano (Chile), Soufriere Hills volcano (Montserrat, West Indies), Nisyros (Greece).

C. Isotope geochemistry and geochronology

The research group in isotope geochemistry and geochronology is directed by Prof. Urs Schaltegger, together with research collaborators Dr. D. Fontignie and Dr. Massimo Chiaradia. The group includes several post-doc reserch fellows and PhD students. The technical infrastructure features metal-free clean-air laboratories and two thermal ionization mass spectrometers, a Finnigan MAT262 and a Thermo-Finnigan TRITON. The research is devoted to Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf tracing and dating of magmatic, metamorphic and ore-forming processes, and of climate change. A major focus is lowest-level high-precision U-Pb geochronology using accessory minerals such as zircon, monazite, xenotime, titanite and others. Geochronological projects include the study of duration and rates of magmatic and metamorphic processes, terrane and provenance studies, intercalibration of astronomical and biochronological time-scales through dating of volcanic ash beds, and ore formation. The laboratory hosts Master and PhD students, as well as post-doctoral researches from the Mineralogy and Geology Departments of Geneva and Lausanne Universities, as well as visiting scientists from other Swiss and foreign universities.

Current projects include:

• Quantification of post-extinction biotic recovery after the Permian/Triassic and Triassic/Jurassic  mass extinctions, c. 250 and 200 Ma ago. Ultraprecise and accurate U-Pb age determinations on zircon from volcanic ash beds from within well-documented and ammonoid-/conodont-calibrated marine cross-sections.
• Evolution of the pre-Andean Gondwana margin in Peru: Geodynamic setting during the time span between Late Proterozoic and Early Mesozoic, characterization of sediment provenance, and nature, degree and age of magmatic and metamorphic events.
• Development of accurate in-situ laser ablation ICP-MS dating using the Excimer ArF laser and the ELAN ICP-MS at University of Lausanne. Appplication to detrital zircon studies in syn- and post-orogenic sedimentary basins of the European Variscan belt, and Late Proterozoic to Mesozoic basins in Peru. In collaboration with Dr. F. Bussy, University of Lausanne.
• Late Tertiary transition from calc-alkaline to adakitic magmatism in Ecuador and its bearing on the formation of porphyry-related deposits: U-Pb dating and Pb-Sr-Nd isotope systematics of magmatic rocks.
• U-Pb dating of magmatic and hydrothermal events in the Nambija gold district, Ecuador.
• Dating and tracing metal sources of the rare metal per-alkaline pegmatites of Khan-Bogd (Mongolia): U-Pb dating and Pb-Sr-Nd systamtics of pegmatite minerals.
• Formation of earliest juvenile crust in a fossile island arc system: U-Pb dating and determination of initial Hf isotopic compositions of zircon from the oldest gabbros and diorites along the Main Mantle Thrust in the southern Kohistan Island Arc Complex. In collaboration with Prof. J.-P. Burg, ETH Zürich
• Changes in the Paleoceanic Circulation and Paleoclimate of the Circum-Alpine Region during the Miocene. The C, O, Sr and Nd isotope compositions of marine and terrestrial fossils in circum-Alpine Molasse sediments are examined in order to help understand the paleoclimatic and paleoceanographic evolution of the Molasse, the tectonic forcing of climate on a regional scale, and to compare to the global evolution of climate as indicated by open ocean records. In collaboration with Prof. T. Vennemann, Univ. of Lausanne.

For more information on people, projects and equipment, see:
http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre/mineral/isotopes/min_isotopes.html

D. Geological Risk (CERG)

The CERG (Certificat de formation approfondie en Etude et management des Risques Géologiques) provides a comprehensive training in management of geological risk. It consists of five modules (risk management, seismic hazard, volcanic hazard, terrain instabilities and hydro-meteorological hazards) and is run every summer (April-June). Over the last 20 years the CERG has trained participants from 65 countries around the world in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL) and in association with the United Nations University (UNU), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR). It has also cooperated in research projects around the world. More details can be found at: http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre/mineral/CERG/index.html

E. Ore deposits

Circulation of fluids is the principal control on the formation of hydrothermal base metal and gold deposits at different levels of the continental crust. The general aim of the Geneva Ore Deposits Group led by Lluís Fontboté and Robert Moritz, in collaboration with Kalin Kouzmanov and Massimo Chiaradia, post docs and graduate students, is to investigate the geochemistry and role of fluids in the formation of ore deposits. Several projects are carried out in close cooperation with mining companies. Main current projects, most including at least one PhD or MSc project are the following.

• Zoned base metal ("Cordilleran") veins and replacement deposits in intrusion-related (generally porphyry) systems: Colquijirca-San Gregorio, Cerro De Pasco, Morococha, Domo de Yauli, Peru.
• Relationships among geodynamics, magmatism, and high- and low-sulfidation epithermal deposits in the Cretaceous Srednegorie and Tertiary Rhodope tectonic zones of Bulgaria, including Chelopech and Ada Tepe.
• Fe-oxide copper gold deposits (IOCG): Candelaria-Punta del Cobre, Chile; Salobo, Brazil; Raúl-Condestable, Peru
• Au-skarns: Nambija, Ecuador
• Volcanic Hosted Massive Sulfides (VHMS): Perubar, Peru; La Plata, Ecuador
• Orogenic Gold: Pataz, Peru
• Missississippi Valley-type deposits and low temperature zinc-lead/barite/fluorite veins
• Radiogenic isotopes applied to metallogeny and regional studies (mainly Northern and Central Andes)
• Mineralogy of tailings / Acid mining drainage (in cooperation with B. Dold, Lausanne)
• Other topics

Other pages of this web site give information concerning the publications on line, teaching programs and internet resources related to ore deposits research.

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