This project explores how carbon is stored, released, and cycled in the Martian mantle using high-temperature experimental petrology and in situ geochemical analysis. My approach combines carbon isotope measurements, melt inclusion studies, and comparison to terrestrial analogues to understand volatile behavior on Mars.
Research Objectives
- Quantify COâ‚‚ solubility in Martian analog melts under relevant pressure-temperature conditions
- Constrain melting regimes under reducing conditions (fOâ‚‚ < FMQ-2) typical of Mars
- Compare Martian and terrestrial degassing profiles and carbon cycling mechanisms
- Support Mars sample return mission planning through experimental constraints
Methodology
The research combines high-pressure experimental petrology with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to analyze carbon isotopes in synthetic and natural samples. Key techniques include:
- Piston-cylinder experiments simulating Martian mantle conditions
- SIMS analysis of carbon isotopes in quenched glasses
- Melt inclusion analysis in Martian meteorites
- Thermodynamic modeling of volatile speciation
Significance
Understanding carbon cycling on Mars has implications for early planetary habitability, atmospheric evolution, and the search for past or present life. This work contributes to our broader understanding of how terrestrial planets regulate their volatile inventories over geological time.
Related Resources
- EPSL 2024 publication (example link)
- Related blog post
- AGU talk slides (PDF)