Mid-ocean ridges are the single largest volcanic feature on Earth. My research uses the mineralogical and chemical compositions of the ocean floor to understand the magmatic and tectonic processes that form the oceanic crust. Much of my work has occurred in tectonic windows, which are unique escarpments that expose vertical sections of the ocean floor. I also work an ancient rifts in northern Iceland that were abandoned about 7 million years ago. By examining the mineralogy, major and trace element chemistry, isotope systematics, and petrographic textures, my research team is able to understand depths of crustal subsidence, extents of the magmatic plumbing system, and sequences of eruptive events.
Grants
Keck Geology Consortium – $40,000
The Hrafnfjordur Central Volcano, Northwestern Iceland; Project Faculty w/ Project Director Brennan Jordan (University of South Dakota); 6-person REU project administered through Keck and USD (Summer 2011 – Spring 2012)
ROA Supplement to NSF-OCE 0701422 – $23,160
Collaborative Research: Iceland Flexure Zones: Analogs for Mid-Ocean Ridge Spreading Centers ; Invited investigator with co-PIs Jeffrey Karson (Syracuse) and Robert Varga (The College of Wooster and Pomona College) (January, 2007 – August, 2010)
Publications
Pollock, M.A., E.M. Klein, J.A. Karson, and D.S. Coleman, (2009). Compositions of dikes and lavas from the Pito Deep Rift: Implications for crustal accretion at superfast spreading centers, Journal of Geophysical Research, 114, B03207, doi: 10.1029/2007JB005436.
Heft, K.L., K.M. Gillis, M.A. Pollock, J.A. Karson, and E.M. Klein, (2008). Role of upwelling hydrothermal fluids in the development of alteration patterns at fast spreading ridges: Evidence from the sheeted dike complex at Pito Deep, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 9, 5, doi: 10.1029/2007GC001926.
Pollock, M.A., E.M. Klein, J.A. Karson, and M.A. Tivey, (2005). Temporal and spatial variability in the composition of lavas exposed along the Western Blanco Transform Fault, Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 11, 6, doi:10.1029/2005GC001026.
Presentations
Peppers, M.H.*, *L. Bowman, M. Pollock, *S. Appleton, *A. Collins, *W. Sims, *M. Torma, (2012). Geochemistry of dikes and lavas from the Vatnsdalur Structural Basin, Skagi Peninsula, Northwest Iceland, GSA Abstracts with Programs 44, 7, 542.
Siler, D.L., J.A. Karson, A.J. Horst, R.J. Varga, M. Pollock, A. Nanfito, (2009). Structure and kinematics of segment-scale crustal accretion processes in Iceland, EOS Trans. AGU, Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract OS13A-1165.
*Drushal, J.A., M. Pollock, (2009). The formation of the Hjallin Lens: A quantitative study of igneous rock textures through crystal size distribution (CSD) and conductive
Pollock, M.A., E.M. Klein, and J.A. Karson, (2008). Evolution of magmatic processes at superfast-spreading centers: Insights from spatial variations in upper crustal composition at the Pito Deep Rift, EOS Trans. AGU, Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract V51F-2109.
I.S. Theses
Eve Caudill (2018) A morphological study of pillow lavas: generating new data on submarine pillows along the 8o20’ N Seamount chain
Trevor Shoemaker (2016) Intrusion and arrest of dikes: a mathematical approach
Adam Silverstein (2016) Subsidence of the Vatnsdalur Structural Basin, Northwest Iceland
Olivia Brown (2015) Zeolite Distribution in the Vatnsdalur Structural Basin, Skagi Peninsula, northwest Iceland
Travis Louvain (2012) Zeolite distribution along Vatnsdalfjall, Skagi peninsula, northwest Iceland
Katharine Schleich (2012) Field and geochemical relationships in the Hrafnfjordur central volcano, northwest Iceland
Robert Lydell (2010) Distribution of zeolites on Vatnsdalur, Iceland
Ali Drushal (2009) The formation of the Hjallin Lens: A quantitative study of igneous rock textures through crystal size distribution and conductive cooling models
*undergraduate student