Earth
and Space Sciences Faculty |
|
Bruce
K. Nelson |
Areas of Interest:
Isotope Geochemistry
Research Groups:
Analytical Geochemistry
Petrology/Mineralogy/Geochemistry
Volcanology
Education:
Ph.D., Geology, UCLA, 1985
M.S., Geology, University of Kansas, 1980
Background and Current
Research:
Bruce Nelson received his
B.A. in geology from Carleton College, Minnesota, in 1977, his M.S. in geology
from the University of Kansas in 1980, and his Ph.D. in geology from UCLA in
1985. He received an NSF postdoctoral fellowship to the Institute de Physique
du Globe at the University of Paris (1985-86) to study Pb isotope systematics
in granites. He came to the University of Washington in 1986.
Nelson directs the Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory; a complete description of research activities may be found on the Laboratory's web pages. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Oceanography, and is a member of the Global and Environmental Chemistry (GEC) Program (Web Address: http://www.ocean.washington.edu/gec/). His research interests are in the application of variations in radiogenic isotope compositions and trace element abundances to studies of the origin and evolution of continental crust, the chemical structure of mantle plumes and the suboceanic mantle, intraplate and mid-ocean ridge volcanism, the paleochemistry of sea water, and hydrothermal circulation systems at mid-ocean ridges. Recent studies include investigation of the sources of granites and basalts in the Cascades, crustal evolution in Central America, the evolution of volcanism in the Hawaiian and Canary Islands, and chemical fluxes associated with hydrothermal alteration of oceanic crust.
The Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory is built around two clean chemistry laboratories (one dedicated to Pb isotope studies) and a seven-collector VG Sector mass spectrometer. Routine capabilities include Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic analyses, U-Pb (zircon) geochronology, trace metal (U, V) analyses of foraminifera, and high-precision Sr/Ca analyses of corals.
We have recently installed a Nu Instrunments multi-collector ICP-MS in the new Johnson Hall, along with the new clean chemistry labs. This has greatly extended our analytical capabilities which in the near future will include analyses of Hf, U-series, high-precision Pb, and metal isotopes such as Cu, Zn and Mo.
Current research includes several projects on the ages and origins of granitic plutons and continental crust in various regions (Alaska Range, southern Mexico, and Central America). In addition to petrogenesis, most of these studies also address issues of tectonic history and paleogeographic reconstructions. We have several projects investigating the origin of ocean island basalts and the structure of mantle plumes using volcanoes in the Hawaiian and Canary Islands as specific case studies.
Selected Publications:
Nelson, B.K., Nelson, S.W.,
and Till, A.B. (1993) Nd- and Sr-isotope evidence for Proterozoic and Paleozoic
crustal evolution in the Brooks range, northern Alaska: Journal of Geology,
v. 101, p. 435-450.
Nelson, B.K. (1995) Fluid flow in subduction zones: Evidence from Nd- and Sr-isotope variations in metabasalts of the Franciscan Complex, California: Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 119, p. 247-262.
Reiners, P.W., Nelson, B.K., and Ghiorso, M.S. (1995) Assimilation of felsic crust by basaltic magma: Thermal limits and extents of crustal contamination of mantle-derived magma: Geology, v. 23, p. 563-566.
Reiners, P.W., Nelson, B.K., and Nelson, S.W. (1996) Evidence for multiple mechanisms of crustal contamination of magma from compositionally zoned plutons of the Alaska Range: Journal of Petrology, v. 37, p. 261-292.
Holcomb R.T., Reiners P.W., Nelson B.K. and Sawyer N.-L. E. (1997) Evidence for two shield volcanoes exposed on the island of Kauai, Hawaii: Geology, v. 25, p. 811-814.
Nelson B.K., Butterfield D.A., de Villiers S. and Wheat C.G. (1998) Mg-, Ca-concentration and Sr-isotope evidence for low-temperature flank flux as a significant contribution to the oceanic chemical mass balance: Eighth Annual Goldschmidt Conference, Mineralogical Magazine, v. 62A, p. 1071-1072.
Reiners P.W. and Nelson B.K. (1998) Systematic trace element and isotopic changes during monogenetic eruptions of primitive, alkalic lavas, Kauai, Hawaii: Constraints on melt migration and reaction in the mantle: Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, v. 62, p. 2347-2368.
de Villiers S. and Nelson B.K. (1999) Low-temperature hydrothermal flux controls on seawater chemistry ? evidence from nonconservative behavior of "conservative" elements: Science, v.285, p. 721-723.
Holcomb R.T., Nelson B.K., Reiners P.W. and Sawyer N.-L. (2000) Overlapping volcanoes: The origin of Hilo Ridge, Hawaii: Geology, v. 28, p. 547-550.
Butterfield D.A., Nelson
B.K., Wheat C.G. Mottl M.J. and Roe, K.K. (2001) Evidence for basaltic Sr in
mid-ocean ridge flank hydrothermal systems and
implications for the global oceanic Sr isotope balance: Geochimica Cosmochimica
Acta, v. 65, p. 4141-4153.
Gaffney A.M., Nelson B.K. and Blichert-Toft J. (in press) Geochemical constraints on the role of oceanic lithosphere in intra-volcano heterogeneity at West Maui, Hawaii: Journal of Petrology.
Graduate Research:
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Earth and Space Sciences (Geology, Geophysics, Geological Sciences) University of Washington Johnson Hall 070 • Box 351310 4000 15th Avenue NE • Seattle, WA 98195-1310 Phone 206-543-1190 • Fax 206-543-0489 • Site Info: webmaster@ess.washington.edu • ESS Advising: advising@ess.washington.edu |