Earth is an active planet with its geochemical deep-seated reservoirs being strictly linked to surface environments through global-scale dynamics.

Therefore, to understand geological processes occurring in Earth, a firm knowledge of the mineralogy, petrology and geochemistry of the crust and mantle is required. Our research activities aim at determining this knowledge with two complementary approaches.

The first one consists in the study of natural minerals and rocks and the determinations of their (i) elastic and physical properties, (ii) phase relations at different pressure and temperature conditions and (iii) chemical composition in terms of major, minor and trace elements and isotopic signature.

The second approach includes performing experiments to reproduce the extreme pressure and temperature conditions of the crust and mantle (e.g., with piston cylinder apparatus or diamond anvil cell) and investigate synthetic crust and mantle specimens. The experimental data, combined with natural observations, provide new insights into the formation of the Earth and its evolution into its current state.

Professors coordinating and developing projects related to this research pathway: Matteo Ardit, Gilberto Artioli, Omar Bartoli, Bruna Borges Carvalho, Bernardo Cesare, Manuele Faccenda, Christine Meyzen, Fabrizio Nestola, Davide Novella, Martha Giovanna Pamato, Raffaele Sassi, Richard Spiess