Subjects for Masters Research

1. Mafic enclaves in the Santorini Lower Pumice 2 deposits
The volcanic deposits of the island of Santorini are characterised by relatively evolved compositions, typically ranging from andesitic to rhyodacitic. However, the Lower Pumice 2 Plinian pyroclastic deposits contain a significant volume of grey cauliform scoria of basaltic composition. These quenched magmatic globules may help to determine the pre-contamination composition of the Aegean arc magmas in terms of major and trace elements and radiogenic isotopes (Sr, Nd and Pb). The student will carry out fieldwork on Santorini in order to map the distribution of these scoriae, and take representative samples of all major rock types within the Lower Pumice deposits. Their petrological characteristics will be determined by optical microscopy and SEM studies. A subset of whole rock samples will be analysed for major and trace elements by ICP-OES and ICP-MS, and for their radiogenic isotope composition by MC-ICPMS.

2. Sr isotopic composition of magmatic plagioclase by LA-MC-ICPMS
Sr isotopic compositions are traditionally determined after dissolution of the sample material and the separation of Sr from its matrix by ion-exchange techniques. These preparations give good results, but are time-consuming; moreover, spatial information is generally lost in the process. The advent of LA-MC-ICPMS has yielded the prospect of determining the in-situ Sr isotopic composition of low Rb/Sr materials. It might thereby be possible to determine the Sr isotopic composition of, for instance, growth zones of magmatic plagioclase, and thereby unravel the contamination history of magmatic rocks. This will be attempted for lavas from the island of Santorini. This project is suited for someone with an interest in technique development and the use of state-of-the-art (big and expensive) analytical equipment.

3. Petrogenesis of nodular chert
The formation of nodular chert within chalk appears to be mainly a replacement process, but it is not clear to which extent the different elements are mobilised. This project focuses on the chert nodules from the Upper Cretaceous in the Dutch-Belgian-German border area, which have seen wide archaeological use. Both chert and chalk host rock will be studied petrographically, and will be analysed for trace elements and Sr isotopes. This will determine to which extent trace elements and Sr isotopic ratios of the cherts mirror those of the host rocks. This will not only help to constrain the petrogenesis of nodular chert, but will also help the sourcing of archaeological artefacts.

4. Magmatism on Poros (Aegean Arc)
The island of Poros is a now extinct volcanic centre of the Aegean arc, and belongs, together with Aegina and Methana, to the westernmost centre volcanism of the south Aegean arc. The volcanic deposits on this island are only known to consist of dacite and andesites, but have not been subjected to any modern research. The student will map the volcanic outcrops on the island, and take representative samples. These will be studied petrographically, and analysed for major and trace elements. These results will be compared to the well-studied younger deposits from Santorini.

5. Formation of corundum in pegmatites
Corundum occurs on the island of Naxos in two different paragenetic associations: metamorphic bauxites and an ultramafite-hosted pegmatite. The former type has been relatively well-studied, whereas the latter hasn't. It Is thought that the corundum-pegmatite was formed by desilication of 15-20 Ma normal pegmatites, associated with regional high-grade metamorphism. The corundum-bearing pegmatite is poorly exposed, and field work will focus on sampling the (left-overs of) the corundum-pegmatite, normal pegmatites, and meta-bauxites. The mineralogy of the contrasting pegmatites will be studied petrographically and by SEM; in-situ trace element analyses of pegmatite- and meta-bauxite hosted corundum will be performed to see whether the two types can be distinguished in this manner.

6. Metamorphism, magmatism and fluid flow in the Northern Flinders Ranges, Australia
The Mount Painter Inlier is a Mesoproterozoic basement area in South Australia, where multiple events of magmatism, metamorphism and fluid flow have taken place. This project is part of a larger, ongoing attempt to unravel the geological history of the area. The focus of the project can be adjusted to suit the interests of the student: high-temperature geochronology; high-grade metamorphism; metasomatism; granite petrogenesis; pegmatites....
There might be an opportunity for field work, but there are also plenty of samples in Ghent to undertake the project without additional field work.

Students can also suggest their own research projects, as long as the project has some bearing on solid rocks and/or (isotope) geochemistry.