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TOP > Our Research Programs >Geochemical Evolution

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Research Purpose

• The solid Earth, consisting of the crust, mantle and core, has continuously evolved during the 4.6 billion years it has existed. The Research Program for Geochemical Evolution seeks to reach a comprehensive understanding of its evolution, using in particular, the petrology and geochemistry of solid earth materials.

Crust Evolution Research Team

• Within the solar system continental crust is only found on the Earth. It is thought to be created in subduction zones, but many questions regarding its genesis remain unanswered. For example, how are magmas generated in the mantle wedge of subduction zones and how do subduction zone magmas evolve into continental crust? These important questions are tackled using petrological and geochemical methods.

Mantle Evolution Research Team

• This team is investigating how the Earth’s mantle has evolved over its 4.6 billion years history. The mantle extends from 15 to 2900 km into the Earth’s interior, constituting approximately 84% of the Earth’s volume. We are analyzing the abundances of various element and radiogenic isotopes contained in mantle rocks and magmas formed by melting the mantle. Our final goal is to elucidate the geochemical evolution of the mantle and material recycling in and out of the mantle.

Core and Mantle Physics Research Team

• IFREE is developing experiments that create the pressures and temperatures experienced towards the center of the Earth. These will decode the physical properties of the mantle and the core, leading to an understanding of the processes of Earth evolution.

High-P/T experiments by using Laser-Heating Diamond Anvil Cell (LHDAC) in collaboration with SPring-8 and TIT is successfully reproducing the physical state of the deep Earth and producing numerous leading results.