The physical and chemical behavior of transition metals in hydrothermal and magma systems depends in a significant way on their speciation (structure and composition). In hydrothermal systems, the study of metal speciation is necessary for a thorough understanding of the transport and deposition processes responsible for hydrothermal ore deposits. In melt systems, metal speciation is intimately related to melt structure and, therefore, to the physical and chemical properties of magmas which control processes such as transport and crystallization. To improve our understanding of such processes in hydrothermal and magma systems, spectroscopic studies will be carried out of selected transition metals in aqueous solutions as a function of pH, ionic strength, and temperature and in silicate melts as a function of temperature and bulk composition.
