Emily Perry
My current research focuses on carbonate reactions in seismic faults. I study a dolomitic fault rock 鈥� termed the 鈥楪ritty Dolomite鈥� from the聽Naukluft聽Thrust Complex in the聽Naukluft聽Mountains of central Namibia. I aim to characterize the mineralogy and microstructures of the gritty dolomite, and seek out silicate mineral frameworks present that could be similar to recently discovered reactions that make ancient Roman cements so durable. I will also conduct high temperature decarbonation and聽recarbonation聽reactions, mimicking the temperature rise and fall during an earthquake, and record changes in isotopic composition during these reactions. Using these analysis techniques, I hope to develop a model for the formation, strength, and role in聽seismogenesis聽of the gritty聽dolomite.聽
Christie Rowe and Galen Halverson聽