My research as a PhD student within the TRR-170 consists of studying the coupled behavior of mass-dependent isotope variation of three moderately volatile elements (zinc, copper and potassium) in carbonaceous chondrites (bulk rocks, chondrules, matrices and separated minerals) in relation to the bulk silicate Earth. The choice of these elements is linked to their different volatilities, chemical characteristics and to their variable depletions in chondrites. Correlations are observed between the depletion of moderately volatile elements (e.g., Zn) accompanied with an enrichment of light isotopes and no consensus exists today on the origins (nebular vs. planetary origins). The aim of this project is to decipher how these intriguing signatures are produced with a spirit of linking these features to Earth volatile budget.
Before joining the TRR-170 project, I worked on the topic of chondrule formation during my Master thesis by coupling high-current X-ray mapping, chemical analysis and oxygen isotopic measurements in CR and Rumurutiites chondrites.
Volatile-element depletion