Event

Natural (and synthetic) dynamic processes are dictated by the rate of energy dissipation.  For a given change in a set of thermodynamic potentials—which can include magnetic, electrical, surface/interface and differential-stress potentials in addition to pressure, temperature and chemical potentials—a system will evolve to (towards) a state that is not necessarily—and usually isn’t—the equilibrium one.  Rather, what is often seen in systems subjected to “relentless” potential gradients is the creation of metastable or unstable structures that serve to dissipate most rapidly the energy: this is the foundation of texture.  Geological examples are legion: deformation-effected phase separation in multiphase rocks; morphologies of erosion; texture of metamorphic rocks; etc., etc.  In this talk, I will outline from this energy-dissipation perspective two petrophysical problems we’ve been pursuing at Brown: (1) redox dynamics in iron-oxide-bearing aluminosilicate melts and (2) mineral plasticity from an equation-of-state perspective.