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Dr Barbara Kunz

Barbara Kunz

Profile summary

  • Technical Staff
  • Project Officer, LA-ICP-MS
  • Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
  • STEM Deanery
  • Laboratory Support
  • barbara.kunz

Professional biography

I am an analytical laboratory technician here at the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystem Sciences. My background is in petrology and geochemist with a focus on high-temperature processes (metamorphic & magmatic) in the continental crust. I am an expert in LA-ICP-MS analysis with experience in trace element analysis of various geological material and U-Pb zircon geochronology.

From 2017–2020 I was a project officer on the NERC project 'From Arc Magmas to Ores (FAMOS)' (https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/our-work/sustainability/from-arc-magmas-to-ores.html). My role in this project was sample preparation, geochemical analysis (ICP-MS & EMPA) and data processing of melt inclusion, volcanic glass and minerals for samples from the collaborators of the FAMOS project.

I obtained my PhD in May 2017 (title: Analysis of zircon from deep basement units: Correlation across orogenic cycles in the Southern and Western Alps) at the University of Bern (Switzerland) under the supervision of Martin Engi.

I did my undergraduate at the University of Mainz (Germany) in 2011 where I received my diploma in Geology, which is entitled ‘A mid-crustal metamorphic field gradient in Val Strona di Omenga, Ivrea Zone, Italy: constraints from metabasic rocks’ and was supervised by Richard White and Tim Johnson.

 

Research interests

I relish opportunities to collaborate on projects with other people to solve analytical challenges from a broad range of Earth Science disciplines.

Due to my past and ongoing research projects I am particular interested in advancing methods such as online interference correction via ICP-QQQ or element mapping by LA-ICP-MS to enhance our knowledge of element mobility and transport in magmatic and metamorphic systems.

My current focus is on gaining insight into the conditions and processes necessary to form mineral deposits. Particular the influence metamorphic processes might have on concentration and/or releasing critical metals. 

Furthermore, I am interested in the P–T–t, mineral assemblage, melt and melt loss evolution as well as the behaviour of accessory minerals of high-grade rocks during metamorphism, in order to determine what information, stored in these rocks tell us about the metamorphic evolution of a terrane.

Teaching interests

My main teaching interest is in providing training and know-how on a range of analytical skills for the lab. The form I deliver teaching ranges from one-on-one training of lab users on our LA-ICP-MS instrument and data processing, to short courses and knowledge exchange via email.  

I’ve been part of the 'Laser Ablation Workshop' during the annual GGRiP meeting 2019 in Portsmouth.

Impact and engagement

I’ve been a speaker at the 2019 Soapbox Science Milton Keynes talking to people in the centre:mk about my work as an ‘Element detective’ in the LA-ICP-MS lab.

MK

https://mksoapboxscience.wordpress.com/2019/03/19/announcing-the-soapbox-science-mk-2019-speakers/
https://mksoapboxscience.wordpress.com/2019/06/14/dare-to-be-bold-meet-barbara-kunz/
https://mksoapboxscience.wordpress.com/2019/09/02/overcoming-science-communication-imposter-feelings/
In 2020 I joined the Soapbox Science Milton Keynes committee.

I am part of the Metamorphic Studies Group committee a special interest group of the Mineralogical Society.

In 2019 I have received the Times Higher Education award for ‘Outstanding Technician of the Year’.
https://ounews.co/science-mct/science-environment/ou-technician-honoured-as-truly-inspiring-at-the-awards-2019/
https://www.technicians.org.uk/interview-with-times-higher-educations-outstanding-technician-of-the-year
https://soundcloud.com/user-801113867/dr-barbara-kunz

Publications

Kyanite petrogenesis in migmatites: resolving melting and metamorphic signatures (2023-02)
Phillips, Stacy E.; Argles, Tom W.; Warren, Clare J.; Harris, Nigel B. W. and Kunz, Barbara E.
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 178, Article 10(2)

Effects of mantle flow on the chemistry of Coriolis Troughs backarc magmas (2022-12-05)
Deng, Chen; Jenner, Frances E.; Wan, Bo; Kunz, Barbara E. and Bullock, Emma S.
Chemical Geology, 612, Article 121116

Tracing Volatiles, Halogens, and Chalcophile Metals During Melt Evolution at the Tolbachik Monogenetic Field, Kamchatka (2022-09)
Iveson, Alexander A; Humphreys, Madeleine C S; Jenner, Frances E; Kunz, Barbara E; Savov, Ivan P; De Hoog, Jan C M; Churikova, Tatiana G; Gordeychik, Boris N; Hammond, Samantha J; Plechov, Pavel Yu; Blundy, Jon and Agostini, Samuele
Journal of Petrology, 63, Article egac087(9)

Arc crust formation of Lesser Antilles revealed by crustal xenoliths from Petit St. Vincent (2022-05)
Melekhova, Elena; Camejo-Harry, Michal; Blundy, Jon; Wallis, Simon R; Annen, Catherine; Kunz, Barbara E; Jenner, Frances and Thirlwall, Matthew
Journal of Petrology, 63, Article egac033(5)

Explosive activity on Kīlauea's Lower East Rift Zone fuelled by a volatile‐rich, dacitic melt (2022-02-11)
Wieser, Penny. E.; Edmonds, Marie; Gansecki, Cheryl; Maclennan, John; Jenner, Frances E.; Kunz, Barbara; Antoshechkina, Paula; Trusdell, Frank; Lee, R. L. and EIMF,
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 23, Article e2021GC010046(2)

Critical metal enrichment in crustal melts: the role of metamorphic mica (2022)
Kunz, Barbara E.; Warren, Clare J.; Jenner, Frances E.; Harris, Nigel B. W. and Argles, Tom W.
Geology, 50(11) (pp. 1219-1223)

Petrologic monitoring at Volcán de Fuego, Guatemala (2020-11-01)
Liu, Emma J; Cashman, Katharine V; Miller, Ellen; Moore, Hannah; Edmonds, Marie; Kunz, Barbara E; Jenner, Frances and Chigna, Gustavo
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 405, Article 107044

Chalcophile elements track the fate of sulfur at Kīlauea Volcano, Hawai’i (2020-08-01)
Wieser, Penny E.; Jenner, Frances; Edmonds, Marie; Maclennan, John and Kunz, Barbara E.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 282 (pp. 245-275)

Elevated magma fluxes deliver high-Cu magmas to the upper crust (2020)
Cox, Daniel; Watt, Sebastian F.L.; Jenner, Frances E.; Hastie, Alan R.; Hammond, Samantha J. and Kunz, Barbara E.
Geology, 48(10) (pp. 957-960)

Phase equilibrium modelling of the amphibolite to granulite facies transition in metabasic rocks (Ivrea Zone, NW Italy) (2019-08-08)
Kunz, Barbara E. and White, Richard W.
Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 37(7) (pp. 935-950)

Crystal scavenging from mush piles recorded by melt inclusions (2019)
Wieser, Penny E.; Edmonds, Marie; Maclennan, John; Jenner, Frances E. and Kunz, Barbara E.
Nature Communications, 10, Article 5797

Zircon ages in granulite facies rocks: decoupling from geochemistry above 850 °C? (2018-03)
Kunz, Barbara; Regis, Daniele and Engi, Martin
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 173(3) (pp. 1-21)

Pervasive Eclogitization Due to Brittle Deformation and Rehydration of Subducted Basement: Effects on Continental Recycling? (2018-03)
Engi, Martin; Giuntoli, Francesco; Lanari, Pierre; Burn, Marco; Kunz, Barbara and Bouvier, Anne-Sophie
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 19(3) (pp. 865-881)

Deeply subducted continental fragments - Part 2: Insight from petrochronology in the central Sesia Zone (western Italian Alps) (2018-02-26)
Giuntoli, Francesco; Lanari, Pierre; Burn, Marco; Kunz, Barbara Eva and Engi, Martin
Solid Earth, 9(1) (pp. 191-222)

Permian high-temperature metamorphism in the Western Alps (NW Italy) (2018-01)
Kunz, Barbara E.; Manzotti, Paola; von Niederhäusern, Brigitte; Engi, Martin; Darling, James R.; Giuntoli, Francesco and Lanari, Pierre
International Journal of Earth Sciences, 107(1) (pp. 203-229)

Partial melting of metabasic rocks in Val Strona di Omegna, Ivrea Zone, northern Italy (2014-03)
Kunz, Barbara E.; Johnson, Tim E.; White, Richard W. and Redler, Charlotte
Lithos, 190-191 (pp. 1-12)

Coralline algal Barium as indicator for 20th century northwestern North Atlantic surface ocean freshwater variability (2013-05)
Hetzinger, S.; Halfar, J.; Zack, T.; Mecking, J. V.; Kunz, B. E; Jacob, D. E. and Adey, W. H.
Scientific reports, 3, Article 1761

Phase equilibrium constraints on a deep crustal metamorphic field gradient: metapelitic rocks from the Ivrea Zone (NW Italy) (2012-04)
Redler, C.; Johnson, T. E.; White, R. W. and Kunz, B. E.
Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 30(3) (pp. 235-254)

Coralline algal growth-increment widths archive North Atlantic climate variability (2011-03-01)
Halfar, J.; Hetzinger, S.; Adey, W.; Zack, T.; Gamboa, G.; Kunz, B.; Williams, B. and Jacob, D. E.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 302(1-2) (pp. 71-80)

High-resolution analysis of trace elements in crustose coralline algae from the North Atlantic and North Pacific by laser ablation ICP-MS (2011-03-01)
Hetzinger, S.; Halfar, J.; Zack, T.; Gamboa, G.; Jacob, D. E.; Kunz, B. E.; Kronz, A.; Adey, W.; Lebednik, P. A. and Steneck, R. S.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 302(1-2) (pp. 81-94)

Mg/Ca ratios in coralline algae record northwest Atlantic temperature variations and North Atlantic Oscillation relationships (2010-12)
Gamboa, G.; Halfar, J.; Hetzinger, S.; Adey, W.; Zack, T.; Kunz, B. and Jacob, D. E.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 115(C12) (C12044)