This research is a collaborative effort to recalibrate and extend the widely used MELTS computational thermodynamics software package in order to simulate magmatic processes such as mantle melting, crystal fractionation, and melt-rock reaction to pressures of ~25 GPa. This extension of MELTS will utilize an associated solution approach to the thermodynamics of the liquid phase and will depend on improvements to the scope and the quality of the experimental calibration database. This new database is being constructed from literature data and from new experiments designed (1) to provide calibration ground-truth for critical portions of temperature-pressure-composition space and (2) to resolve conflicts identified in the existing database. The revised MELTS software package and new experimental database will be distributed to the Earth Sciences community at http://melts.uchicago.edu.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Earth Sciences (EAR)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
0440045
Program Officer
William P. Leeman
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
2005-02-15
Budget End
2009-01-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$146,686
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Cambridge
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02139