Frank Spear

Department Head and Professor

My research group is focused in two major directions in metamorphic geochemistry.

Studies of crustal evolution:A major focus of my research group over the past three decades has been on the development of new techniques for the interpretation of metamorphic petrogenesis. These studies involve modeling mineral reactions, textures, and chemical zonation in both major and accessory phases. The goal of this work is to construct pressure-temperature-deformation-time histories that can be used to interpret the tectonic evolution of a terrane. We have applied these techniques to areas in the Alps, New England, southern Chile, the Mojave desert, British Columbia, the Adirondacks of New York, and the Cyclades Blueschist Belt of Greece. Current field projects are underway in Central New England The Ruby-Humboldt range of eastern Nevada Adirondack Mountains of New York Cyclades Blueschist Belt, Greece. Much of our current work utilizes inclusion barometry, especially quartz in garnet or QuiG, to constrain the P–T conditions of garnet nucleation and growth.

Thermodynamic modeling of metamorphic processes: A considerable amount of my research effort has been devoted to the development of software to analyze and model metamorphic processes. These efforts include calculation of P–T conditions using thermobarometry, plotting of metamorphic phase diagrams, calculation of metamorphic phase equilibria such as petrogenetic grids, isochemical phase diagrams, and models of chemical zoning, application of diffusion theory to constrain metamorphic time scales, and thermal modeling of metamorphic evolution in thrust belts and subduction zones. Access to my software is available from my personal web pages.