The experimental petrology program focuses on phase and melting relationships in subducted rocks and in constraining the deep water cycle. The efficiency to transport water into the deeper mantle depends on two main factors. The first factor is how and where the main hydrous phases antigorite and chlorite in subducted altered peridotites transform to other hydrous phases such as phase A, 10Å or 23Å phase. If these transitions occur at pressures and temperatures found on top of the slab, then water transport to the deeper mantle is very efficient. If no hydrous phase is stable, then the water transfer is governed by the incorporation of water into nominally anhydrous minerals at conditions, where the hydrous phases break down. We aim at quantifying how much water is transported to the deeper mantle for both these scenarios and estimate whether or not the deep water cycle is in secular equilibrium.
Experimental programs will be conducted in collaboration with ETH Zurich and RSES, The Australian National University.
