Rice geochemistry

Research in this group strives to wed observations in the laboratory and field to theory. We work at the scale of microns to the scale of the whole Earth, all in an attempt to better understand how our planet has differentiated into the diverse planet we experience today. Our observational tools are the rock hammer, the petrographic microscope, mass spectrometry for trace element and isotopic studies, and spectroscopy. We use our observations to drive simple geodynamic models, ranging from growth of thermal boundary layers to the development of soil profiles. Actually, we’re just trying to have fun.

:: The origin of continental crust

The tectonic and petrologic origin of continental crust is still an important, but not fully resolved, question. Central to this debate is the apparent paradox that continents are felsic in composition, but felsic melts cannot be generated by melting of the mantle. One of our ongoing studies is to investigate how a basaltic, mantle-derived magma differentiates into complementary felsic and mafic counterparts. Our project takes us to the Sierra Nevada and Peninsular Ranges batholiths in California, where we investigate the composition and nature of the deep crust and the overlying plutons.

:: Origin and dynamics of continental lithosphere

Beneath the Moho lies a part of the Earth’s mantle that translates more or less with the over-riding crust. This is the mantle lithosphere and, together with the crust, they make up part of the thermal boundary layer underlying continents. It turns out that much of the mantle part of the continental thermal boundary layers is chemically distinct from the ambient mantle in subtle ways. The mantle part of the chemical boundary layer appears to be melt-depleted and of slightly lower density than the surrounding mantle, a feature that has led to the suggestion that the longevity of continents is due to the intrinsic chemical buoyancy of the underlying chemical boundary layer. Our research is focused on 1) understanding the petrogenetic and tectonic origins of these chemical boundary layers, and 2) quantifying the physical properties of the rocks that make up the chemical boundary layers (1,2). We are particularly interested in how the nature of the continental mantle affects continental deformation. Is the strength of a continent sourced in the mantle part of the lithosphere or is it mostly in the crust? Towards these end, we are slowly mapping out the composition, thermal state and physical properties (seismic velocity, water content, density, rheology) of the mantle beneath western North America using xenoliths as a window into the mantle. This work will complement the USArray seismic study.

:: Serpentinization, the global water cycle, and element cycling

The upper part of the lithospheric mantle beneath oceans is believed to be serpentinized. The extent of serp entinization is not fully known, but a number of studies suggest that seawater can penetrate tens of kilometers into the lithosphere through faults and fractures. Understanding how much of the oceanic lithospheric mantle is serpentinized is key to understanding how much water is recycled into the Earth’s interior by subduction, one leg of the global water cycle. This in turn has important implications for the rheologic state of the mantle and even how this state has evolved with time because trace amounts of water play an important role in controlling viscosity. Graduate student Zhengxue Li and I have been investigating the trace and major element chemistry of serpentinites from the Feather River Ophiolite in California in order to place constraints on the mechanisms and depths of serpentinization. Together with post-doctoral fellow Arnaud Agranier, we are also investigating the Re-Os isotopic and platinum group element systematics of these serpentinites to help our interpretations. We are also quantifying the amount of fluid-mobile elements in these serpentinites (As, Pb, Li, B and soon halogens) in order to place bounds on the fluxes of these elements into subduction zones.

:: Mantle geochemistry (partitioning, redox, metasomatism)

We also do a lot of general mantle geochemistry. We are currently working on trace-element partitioning, redox evolution of the mantle (using the redox-sensitive behavior of V), and trace-element signatures of mantle metasomatism. Other projects include magma thermobarometry, core-mantle interaction and differentiation, platinum group element geochemistry, etc. See publication list below if you want to know more.

:: Continental weathering and the link to continent formation

Grad student Mark Little (that’s him on the right) and I (I’m taking the picture) have been investigating soil formation processes and associated element mobility. Some of this work has taken us to the volcanic highlands in East Africa. We are also modeling how chemical weathering, soil formation and mass wasting are linked in mountainous or tectonically active regions.

Most recently, we have been investigating how chemical weathering alters the major element composition of the continental crust. One of the questions we are interested in is to what extent is the felsic nature of continental crust and the presence of granites linked to the weathering and sedimentary cycle.

:: Education

Teaching geology or other natural history topics to elementary school kids. More later!

What’s inside the Earth?

:: Field ornithology

One of my side interests is field ornithology. My main interests are on the subtle nuances of field identification. Our latest contribution was on the identification of American dowitchers, a notoriously difficult ID-pair. This was published recently in Birding magazine as well as on Surfbirds.com. I am also very interested in the migratory status of shorebirds, particularly on the upper Texas coast. I have been conducting surveys for the last three years. A sample of some of the data can be found here. Also, I am working on a bird check-list for Rice. Stay tuned for more or download some of my articles.

:: Natural history

Finally, I am embarking on a project to map out and describe the geology and natural history of the Bolivar Peninsula, here along the Upper Texas Coast. This is a weekend endeavor and is basically a long term project (a decade). If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me. Some experience (or desire to learn) in coastal geomorphology and field identification of plants, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and invertebrates would be helpful. Most of this work is in the field, so appreciation of hot and humid weather, mud, mosquitoes, poisonous snakes, deer flies, and ticks is recommended. More information on this work can be found at Natura-Aviflora.

Publications (articles only)

Click on the “click” to access electronic files

*denotes student; $ denotes post-doct

Submitted

^$Shen, B., Lee, C.-T. A., Global hypoxia and mass extinction at the Cenomanian-Turonian Boundary triggered by subduction zone volcanism, submitted

^$Shen, B., Jacobsen, B., Lee, C.-T. A., Yin, Q.-Z., Morton, D. M., The Mg isotopic signature of granites and the role of weathering in continent formation, submitted.

*Young, H. P., Lee, C.-T. A., A mantle xenolith window into the Grenville orogeny of southern Laurentia: integrating geochemistry and tectonics, under major revision to Lithosphere.

Accepted, published, in press or in revision (tentatively accepted) ^$post-doct; *grad student; **undergrad

50. Savov, I. P., Leeman, W. P., Lee, C.-T. A., Shirey, S. B., Boron isotopic variations in NW USA rhyolites: Yellowstone, Snake River Plain, Eastern Oregon, in press J. Volcanology and Geothermal Research

49. Debaille, V., Tronnes, R. G., Brandon, A. D., Waight, T. E., Graham, D. W., Lee, C.-T. A., 2009, Four components, pseudo-binary mixing beneath Iceland and Jan Mayen Island revealed by ¹⁸⁷Os/¹⁸⁸Os, Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 73: 3423-3449; doi:10.1016/j.gca.2009.03.002. click

48. Canil, D., Lee, C.-T. A., 2009. Were deep cratonic roots hydrated in Archean oceans? Geology 37:667-670. Doi: 10.1130/G25610A.1 click

47. ^$Luffi, P., Saleeby, J., Lee, C.-T. A., Ducea, M. N., 2009, Lithospheric mantle duplex beneath the central Mojave Desert revealed by xenoliths from Dish Hill, California, J. Geophysical Research, 114: B03202, doi:10.1029/2008JB005906.click

46. Lee, C.-T. A., Luffi, P., Plank, T., Dalton, H. A., W. P. Leeman, 2009, Constraints on the depths and temperatures of basaltic magma generation on Earth and other terrestrial planets, Earth Planet Sci. Lett. 279:20-33. Paper Program Supplement

2008

45. Lee, C-T A, *Oka, M, Luffi, P, Agranier, A., Internal distribution of Li and B in serpentinites from the Feather River Ophiolite, California based on laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 9:doi:10.1029/2008GC002078. click

44. *Li, Z-X A, Lee, C-T A, Peslier, A, Lenardic, A, Mackwell, S J, 2008, Water contents in mantle xenoliths from the Colorado Plateau and vicinity: implications for the rheology and hydration-induced thinning of continental lithosphere, J. Geophys. Res, 113: doi:10.1029/2007JB005540. click

43. Lee, C.-T. A., Luffi, P., Höink, T., Li, Z.-X. A., Lenardic, A., 2008, The role of serpentine in preferential craton formation in the late Archean by lithosphere underthrusting, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 269: 96-104. click

42. Lee, C-T A, Morton, D M, Little, M G, Kistler, R, Horodysky, U, Leeman, W P, Agranier, A, 2008, Regulating continent growth and composition by chemical weathering, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105:4981-4985. click

41. ^$Höink, T., Lee, C.-T. A., Hawthorne, J., Lenardic, A., 2008. Paleo-viscometry of magma bodies, Earth Planetary Science Letters 267:100-106. click

40. ^$Miller, M. S., Lee, C.-T. A., 2008. Possible chemical modification of oceanic lithosphere by hotspot magmatism: seismic evidence from the junction of Ninetyeast Ridge and the Sumatra-Andaman arc. Earth Planetary Science Letters 265: 386-395. click

39. Nijjer, S., Rogers, W. E., Lee, C.-T. A., Siemann, E., 2008, The effects of soil biota and fertilization on the success of Sapium sebiferum, Applied Soil Ecology 38:1-11. click

2007

38. Courtier, A. M., Jackson, M. G., Lawrence, J. F., Wang, Z., Lee, C.-T. A., Halama, R., Warren, J. M., Workman, R., Xu, W., Hirschmann, M. M., Larson, A. M., Hart, S. R., Lithgow-Bertelloni, C., Stixrude, L., Chen, W.-P., 2007, Correlation of seismic and petrologic thermometers suggests deep thermal anomalies beneath hotspots, Earth Planet Sci. Lett. 264: 308-316. click

37. Lee, C.-T. A., Morton, D. M., Kistler, R. W., Baird, A. K., 2007, Petrology and tectonics of Phanerozoic continent formation: from island arcs to accretion and continental arc magmatism, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 263:370-387. click (appendix)

36. ^$Agranier, A., Lee, C.-T. A., Li, Z.-X. A., Leeman, W. P., 2007, Fluid mobile element budgets in serpentinized oceanic lithospheric mantle: insights from B, As, Li, Pb, PGEs and Os isotopes in the Feather River Ophiolite, California, Chem. Geol. 245: 230-241. click

35. O'Neill, C., Lenardic, A., Moresi, L., Torsvik, T. & Lee, C.-T. A., 2007, Episodic Precambrian subduction, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 262:552-562 click

34. Lee, C-T A, Yin, Q.-Z., Lenardic, A, $Agranier, A., ^$O’Neill, C J, **Thiagarajan, N., 2007, 2007, Trace-element composition of Fe-rich residual liquids formed by fractional crystallization: implications for the Hadean magma ocean, Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 71:3601-3615. click

33. ^$Agranier, A., Lee, C.-T. A., 2007, Quantifying trace-element disequilibria in mantle xenoliths and abyssal peridotites, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 257: 290-298. click

32. **Horodyskyj, U., Lee, C-T A, Ducea, M N, 2007, Similarities between Archean high MgO eclogites and Phanerozoic arc-eclogite cumulates and the role of arcs in Archean continent formation, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 256: 510-520. click

31. Lee, C.-T. A., Chen, W.-P., 2007, Possible density segregation of subducted oceanic lithosphere along a weak serpentinite layer and implications for compositional stratification of the Earth’s mantle, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 255:357-366. click

30. Lee, C-T A, **Harbert, A, Leeman, W P, 2007, Extension of lattice strain theory to mineral/mineral rare-earth element partitioning: a tool for assessing disequilibrium and developing internally consistent partition coefficients between olivine, orthoyproxene, clinopyroxene and basaltic melt, Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta doi:10.1016/j.gca.2006.09.014, v. 71: 481-496. click

2006

29. Ott, U., Yin, Q.-Z., Lee, C. T., 2006, s-Process signatures in bulk presolar silicon carbide: a multi-element study, Memorie della Societa Astronomica Italiana, 77:891-896. click

28. *Little, M. G., and Lee, C-T A, 2006, On the formation of an inverted weathering profile on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: buried paleosol or groundwater weathering? Chemical Geology 235: 205-221; doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2006.06.012. click

27. *Li, Z-X A, and Lee, C-T A, 2006, Geochemical investigation of serpentinized oceanic lithospheric mantle in the Feather River Ophiolite, California: implications for the recycling rate of water by subduction, Chemical Geology 235: 161-185. click

26. Yin, Q.-Z., Lee, C-T A, Ott, U., 2006, Signatures of the s-process in presolar silicon carbide grains: barium through hafnium, Astrophysical Journal 647:676-684. click

25. Levander, A., Niu, F., Lee, C.-T. A., *Cheng, X., 2006, Imag(in)ing the continental lithosphere, Tectonophysics 416: 167-185. click

24. Lee C.-T. A., *Cheng X., and **Horodyskyj U. (2006) The development and refinement of continental arcs by primary basaltic magmatism, garnet pyroxenite accumulation, basaltic recharge and delamination: insights from the Sierra Nevada, California. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 151:222-242, DOI 10.1007/s00410-005-0056-1. click

23. Lee C.-T. A. (2006) Geochemical/petrologic constraints on the origin of cratonic mantle. In Archean geodynamics and environments, Vol. 164 (ed. K. Benn, J.-C. Mareschal, and K. C. Condie), pp. 89-114. American Geophysical Union Monograph. click

2005

22. Lee, C.-T. A., 2005, Trace-element evidence for hydrous metasomatism at the base of the North American lithosphere and possible association with Laramide low angle subduction, Journal of Geology 113:673-685. click

21. Lee, C.-T. A., Leeman, W. P., Canil, D., Li, Z.X.A., 2005, Similar V/Sc systematics in MORB and arc basalts: implications for the oxygen fugacities of their mantle source regions, Journal of Petrology 46 (11): 2313-2336. click

20. Liu, Y., Shan, G., Lee, C.-T. A., Hu, S., Liu, X., Honglin, Y., 2005, Melt-peridotite interactions: links between garnet pyroxenite and high-Mg# signature of continental crust, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 234, 39-57. click

19. Lee, C.-T. A., Lenardic, A., Cooper, C., Niu, F., Levander A., 2005, The role of chemical boundary layers in regulating the thickness of continental and oceanic thermal boundary layers, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 230, 379-395. click

2004

18. Lee, C.-T. A., 2004 Are the core and mantle on speaking terms?, Science 306:64-65. click

17. F. Niu, A. Levander, C.M. Cooper, C.-T. A. Lee, A. Lenardic, D.E. James, 2004, Seismic Constraints on the Depth and Composition of the Mantle Keel beneath the Kaapvaal Craton, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 224: 337-346. click

16. *Li, Z.X.A., Lee, C.-T. A., 2004, The constancy of upper mantle fO₂ through time inferred from V/Sc ratios in basalts, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 228, 483-493. click

15. Schmitz, B., Peucker-Ehrenbrink, B., Heilmann-Clausen, C., Aberg, G., Asaro, F., Lee, C.-T. A., Basaltic explosive volcanism, but no comet impact, at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary: high-resolution chemical and isotopic records from Egypt, Spain and Denmark, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 225: 1-17. click

14. **Thiagarajan, N., Lee, C.-T. A., 2004, Trace-element evidence for the origin of desert varnish by direct aqueous atmospheric deposition, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 224: 131-141. click

2003

13. Lee, C.-T. A., Compositional variation of density and seismic velocities in natural peridotites at STP conditions: Implications for seismic imaging of compositional heterogeneities in the upper mantle, J. Geophys. Res., 108(B9), 2441, doi:10.1029/2003JB002413, 2003. click

12. Lee, C-T A, Brandon, A. D., Norman, M., 2003, Vanadium in peridotites as a proxy for paleo-fO₂ during partial melting: prospects, limitations, and implications, Geochimica Cosmochimica Act 67:3045-3064. click

11. Lee, C-T A., Wasserburg, G J, Kyte, F T, 2003, Platinum group elements and Rhenium in marine sediments across the K-T boundary: constraints on Re-PGE transport in the marine environment. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta, 67: 655-670. click

2002

10. C.-T.A. Lee, 2002, Platinum-group element geochemistry of peridotite xenoliths from the Sierra Nevada and the Basin and Range, California, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 66: 3987-4005. click

9. Rudnick, R. L., Lee, C-T, 2002, Osmium isotope constraints on the tectonic evolution of the lithosphere in the southwestern United States, International Geology Review, 44:501-511. click

2001

8. Lee, C-T, Rudnick, R L, and Brimhall, G. H., Jr., 2001, Deep lithospheric dynamics beneath the Sierra Nevada during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic as inferred from xenolith petrology, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 2, 2001GC000152. click

7. Yin, Q-Z, Jacobsen, S B, Lee, C-T, McDonough, W F, Rudnick, R L, Horn, I, 2001, Precise and accurate calibration of Os spike, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 165, 2113-217. click

6. Lee, C-T, Yin, Q-Z, Rudnick, R L, Jacobsen, S B, 2001, Preservation of ancient and fertile lithospheric mantle beneath the southwestern United States, Nature 411, 69-73. click

5. Lee, C-T, Yin, Q-Z, Lee, T-C, 2001, An internal normalization technique for unmixing total-spiked mixtures with application to MC-ICP-MS, Computers and Geosciences 27, 577-581. click

2000

4. Lee, C-T, Yin, Q-Z, Rudnick, R L, Chesley, J T, Jacobsen, S B, 2000, Os isotopic evidence for Mesozoic removal of lithospheric mantle beneath the Sierra Nevada, California, Science 289: 1912-1916. click

3. Lee, C-T, Rudnick, R L, McDonough, W F, Horn, I, 2000, Petrochemical investigation of carbonates in peridotite xenoliths from northeastern Tanzania, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 139: 470-484. click

1999

2. Lee, C-T and Rudnick, R L, 1999, Compositionally stratified cratonic lithosphere: petrology and geochemistry of peridotite xenoliths from the Labait tuff cone, Tanzania. In J J Gurney and S R Richardson (eds). Proceedings of the 7^th International Kimberlite Conference, pp 503-521. click

1. Chesley, J T, Rudnick, R L, and Lee, C-T, 1999, Re-Os systematics of mantle xenoliths from the East African Rift: age, structure, and history of the Tanzanian craton, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 63:1203-1217. click

Ornithology (*peer-reviewed)

15. *Lee, C-T A, Birch, A, Hveding, H., 2009, ID av bekkasinsniper – ett steg videre, FeltOrnitologen, in press.

14. *Lee, C-T and Birch, A., 2008, Field Identification of Western and Eastern Wood-Pewees. Birding 40 (5): 38-48.

13. *Lee, C-T and Birch, A, 2006, Field Identification of North American dowitchers, Birding 38:34-43.

12. *Lee, C-T and Birch, A, 2002, Notes on the distribution, vagrancy, and field identification of American Pipit and “Siberian Pipit”, North American Birds 56:388-398.

11. *Lee, C-T and Birch, A. 2001, Wing covert pattern as a diagnostic feature in identifying immature and female Bullock’s and Baltimore Orioles: reply to A. Jaramillo, “Wing covert pattern as an aid to identifying female and immature Bullock’s and Baltimore Orioles-Another look”, Birding, February issue, 64-68.

10. *Lee, C-T and Shany, N 1998, Birding Taiwan, Birding 30:492-503.

9. *Lee, C-T and Birch A, 1998, Field identification of female and immature Bullock's and Baltimore Orioles, Birding 30: 282-295.

8. *Lee, C-T and Birch A, 1998, Answers to the June photo quiz, Birding 30: 296-298.

7. *Birch, A. and Lee, C-T, 1997, Field identification of Arctic and Pacific Loons, Birding 29: 106-115.

6. Lee, C-T, 1996, Birding Taiwan: 1996 report. In Foreign Field Note Series, American Birding Association.

5. *Lee, C-T, 1995, "Birdwatching in Riverside, California", San Bernardino County Museum Association, Redlands, volume 42, 218 pp., 117 figures.

4. *Birch, A and Lee, C-T, 1995, Identification of the Pacific Diver - a potential vagrant to Europe, Birding World 8:458-466.

3. Lee, C-T, 1994, A teenaged birder's syndrome, A Bird's Eye-view 2:6.

2. *Lee, C-T, 1994, More records of breeding Barn Swallows in Riverside, California, Western Birds 26:155-156.

1. Lee, C-T, 1994, Birding Taiwan: Trip report from summer 1994. In Foreign Field Note Sieries, American Birding Association