Our Crustal Evolution research explores the long-term and large-scale processes that shaped how the Earth developed through time. We look at fundamental changes that created our planet and step closer to doing the same for other planets too.

We’re documenting changes in the style and rate of plate movement and subduction to better understand how tectonics have changed the planet. We’re examining the long-term evolution of the continental crust and how tectonic changes influenced crustal growth and preservation. We’re exploring the evolution of other planets and their moons through the study of meteorites and impact craters.

We're achieving significant impact with our research – from providing foundational knowledge on planetary geology, to solar system exploration missions, such as NASA and ESA Mars rovers (Curiosity, InSight, ExoMars 2020), to creating process-driven models that improve the efficiency of hydrocarbon and metal deposit exploration. Many specialist publications have covered our work, including Nature, Science, Nature Geoscience, Nature Communications and Geology.

Funders and partnerships

Our recent research on new approaches to the radiometric dating of meteorites and meteorite impacts, funded by the Royal Society and National Environment Research Council (NERC), was covered by mainstream media around the world, including The Daily Mail.

Our research is informed by our expertise in fieldwork and lab work – including geochronology, geochemistry and crystallography – and is funded by industry partners and organisations like the Royal Society, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and NERC.

We’re involved in international partnerships with the Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil; the University of Western Ontario, Canada; the Observatoire de Physique du Globe de Clermont-Ferrand, France; and Curtin University, Australia. We have an ongoing knowledge-sharing partnership with Chemostrat, a world leader in chemostratigraphy.

Facilities

The University is home to exceptional facilities, where much of our research takes place, including:

• Two laser systems (ASi Resolution 193nm excimer and ESi New Wave 213nm Nd:YAG) – a Nu Plasma MC-ICPMS and an Analytik Jena Plasma Quant Elite quadrupole ICP-MS
• Two Zeiss Evo SEMs, one with a LaB6 source and tungsten. Our LaB6 instrument is equipped with Oxford Instruments EBSD, EDS BE and CL detectors. We specialise in nano- to micro-scale imaging and crystallography of a range of earth materials
• Two X-ray facilities – a Rigaku WD-XRF and a Panalytical XRD, which can analyse most elements and a wide-range of matrices, both solid and liquid

Discover our areas of expertise

Crustal evolution is one of our areas of expertise in the Earth and Environmental Sciences research area. Explore the others below.

Research groups

Interested in a PhD in Earth & Environmental Sciences?

Browse our postgraduate research degrees – including PhDs and MPhils – at our Earth & Environmental Sciences postgraduate research degrees page.