Structure and Elasticity of GeoMaterials at Extreme Conditions (GeoMaX)
Geological events that affect our lifes on the Earth’s surface are driven by dynamic processes in Earth’s mantle, the large convective system that connects the hot, liquid outer core and the Earth’s surface. The Earth’s mantle, however, is not accessible to direct observation and consequently, its structure, properties and dynamics are poorly understood.
Fortunately, a lot of information about the inaccessible deep interior of our planet is encoded in the propagation characteristics of earthquake waves that travel through the deep Earth (analogue to the ultrasonic testing used in medicine). An interpretation of the images obtained by the study of earthquake waves critically relies on quantitative knowledge of the elastic and structural properties of geomaterials at the extreme conditions of pressure and temperature that are characteristic of the Earth’s deep interior.
Within the GeoMaX project, we perform in-situ measurements of elasticity and structure of single-crystalline Earth materials at relevant pressure-temperature-conditions.
Funded through DFG Emmy Noether Program
Funding period: 2014 – 2019
Chairman:
Dr. Hauke Marquardt
Email: hauke.marquardt@uni-bayreuth.de
Phone: + 49 (0) 921 / 55-3718
Related Links: