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Dr Frances Jenner

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Externally funded projects

Study of the ore-forming process of purphyry ore system in Iran in the deep crust
RoleStart dateEnd dateFunding source
Lead09 Feb 202008 Feb 2021Chinese Academy of Sciences

There are many Miocene collision-and subduction-related porphyry cu deposits in the Eastern Tethyan orogenic belt. Our previous results indicate that the ore-bearing rocks may be related to ore-enriched sources(sulfide-rich cumulate) at the lower crust. However, it is unclear what the geological processes leading to the selective precursor concentration of the economically important metals Cu, Au and what the mechanism control the subsequent release of those metal from sulfide-cumulate. My proposed study is to understand the partitioning behavior of chalcophile and siderophile elements, in order to understand the pre-enrichment step in the formation of porphyry Cu deposits. Then I will compare the magmatic state of the ore-bearing porphyries, coeval ore-barren rocks, and the pre-mineralization one-barren rocks in Iran, as attempts to reveal if the magmatic oxidation state is the key point to strip Cu and Au from melt during the pre-mineralization period and to liberate those metals during the ore-forming period. The proposed research will also have it's significant implication on continent formation.

Enrichment of Critical Elements in Granites: melting process or protolith
RoleStart dateEnd dateFunding source
Co-investigator01 Oct 201930 Sep 2023NERC - British Geological Survey (BGS)

The rise of electric vehicles is driving demand for critical elements (http://tinyurl.com/z77y4v7), including Li, Nb, Ta, and Be. These elements are currently produced in relatively few countries, raising the spectre of disruption to their supply. They are commonly hosted in Sn-W bearing granites and pegmatites, but little is known about which minerals carry and concentrate these elements from the crustal protolith, via metamorphism and partial melting (anatexis), to the granitic magma. This project will track these trace elements from their original source to the host granite. A recent study(1) proposes a critical role for both the composition of the starting materials and the melting conditions in determining whether granites are enriched in critical elements or not. Unmineralised Himalayan leucogranites represent a rare example of granites formed from a known, accessible single source: pelitic metasediments (e.g. 2). This situation offers an opportunity to investigate the partitioning of critical elements by key mineral phases (e.g. feldspar, micas, tourmaline, titanite, magnetite, rutile) through metamorphism and low temperature (750°C)1,3. This project will exploit recent advances in laser ablation in situ analytical methods4 to determine element concentrations in minerals from mineralised and unmineralised granites and their corresponding source rocks. Existing samples of granites and source rocks from the Himalaya (OU) and Africa (BGS) will be supplemented by field sampling in Europe. The elemental data will constrain the budgets of critical elements at the mineral species level and investigate potential enrichment processes from protolith to melt formation. The results will test a recent model1 that links Sn-W granite mineralisation to high-temperature anatexis of an intensely weathered protolith. We can test the hypothesis by 1) modeling element concentrations in high-T (>750°C) melts that would theoretically be formed by biotite breakdown in Himalayan samples; 2) comparing these model results with Variscan metalliferous high-T melts to assess the role of temperature in causing mineralisation of economic proportions during granite formation. (1) Romer & Kroner, 2016, Gondwana Res. 31: 60–95

From Arc Magmas to Ores (FAMOS): A mineral systems approach
RoleStart dateEnd dateFunding source
Lead01 May 201731 Dec 2022NERC Natural Environment Research Council

Society is dependent on a reliable supply of metals and minerals for economic growth, improved standards of living, and development of infrastructure. Population growth means that even with increased recycling and resource efficiency, new mineral deposits still need to be discovered. The efficient exploration for, and discovery of, new resources requires new concepts and new tools. The Mineral Systems approach to exploration considers ore deposits on a lithospheric scale, in terms of the "ingredients", processes and environments that favour their formation. This approach amounts to a "source-pathway-trap" model, with an increased emphasis on predictive capacity, rather than just feature recognition. Historically, much research has focused on the trap, and characterisation of the ore deposits themselves; here we aim to focus deeper in the system by integrating ore deposit formation with concepts of magmatism that arise from igneous petrology and volcanology. Therein lies a challenge because extant models for porphyry systems are increasingly at odds with magmatic models for crustal construction and arc volcanism. Rather than seeing magmatic systems in terms of large, liquid-rich magma chambers, emerging petrological models for crustal magmatism are turning instead to crystal-dominated, volatile-bearing "mushy" systems that traverse most or all of the crust. The dynamics of such systems have important consequences not just for arc magmatism, but also for the chemistry of the volatiles that are exsolved. These same volatiles fuel mineralisation and this is the synergy that we aim to exploit by assembling a multidisciplinary team of researchers from economic geology, igneous and metamorphic petrology, volcanology, geochemistry, numerical modelling and fluid dynamics. Our team embraces almost everyone currently engaged in porphyry mineralisation research in the UK and capitalises on strong existing links between UK ROs and the mining industry, many of who are Project Partners. The research will involve analysis of minerals from a wide variety of mineralised and barren settings using a wealth of modern analytical tools that enable determination of an extensive suite of trace elements and isotope tracers. As each trace element responds to magmatic processes in subtly different ways due to the affinity of different elements for different phases (minerals, melts and fluids), so the multi-element approach affords many advantages over conventional proxies in which the full potential of the Periodic Table is not exploited. The analysis of natural systems will be underpinned by high pressure and temperature experiments to establish the phase relationships of ascending arc magmas and the partition coefficients that capture the affinities of elements for certain phases. As fluid accumulation and migration is an essential, but poorly understood, final step in ore deposit formation, we will develop, in tandem with the geochemistry, numerical models for fluid-bearing mushy systems. Finally, consideration will be given to critical metals that are passengers through the main ore-forming processes, but constitute important, often under-explored, by-products of porphyry mineralisation. The research proposed has a strong element of blue skies investigation, but a particular focus on outcomes that will benefit industry through improved exploration tools. Thus the project bridges the divide between academic and applied research in a way that is not normally possible through industry-funded projects. This bridging activity lies at the heart of the Highlight Topic call, specifically through the integration of new advances in the study of mineral systems, igneous petrology and geochemistry, with a view to identifying conditions that can act as pathfinders for new targets. A key outcome will be a range of trace element proxies that will enable the mining industry to establish the potential fertility of a magmatic arc on local to regional scales.

Mantle Volatiles: Contemporary Processes, Reservoirs And Fluxes (Project Student)
RoleStart dateEnd dateFunding source
Co-investigator01 Oct 201530 Sep 2019NERC Natural Environment Research Council

This project is Funded studentship tied to the large NERC consortium grant titled Mantle Volatiles: Contemporary Processes, Reservoirs and Fluxes. Ginevra Chelli is studying “The role of degassing on the distribution of >60 elements during crustal processes and eruption of basaltic melts”

Mantle volatiles: contemporary processes, reservoirs and fluxes
RoleStart dateEnd dateFunding source
Co-investigator01 Sep 201415 Mar 2021NERC Natural Environment Research Council

This project seeks to significantly advance our understanding of how the terrestrial mantle acts as both a source and sink for the major exosphere (Ocean and Atmosphere) volatiles water, carbon, sulphur and halogens; volatiles which over Earth history have had a profound effect on the ability of the planet’s surface to support life. The OU contribution is in two work packages on the sulfur cycle and noble gases where we are project partners

Publications

Chalcophile element degassing at an active continental arc volcano (2024-02)
Mason, Emily M.; Edmonds, Marie; Hammond, Samantha; Ilyinskaya, Evgenia; Jenner, Frances; Kunz, Barbara; Nicholson, Emma J. and Velasquez, Gabriela
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 367 (pp. 72-86)


Sulfide resorption contributes to porphyry deposit formation in collisional settings (2023-12)
Xia, Wen-jie; Wang, Rui and Jenner, Frances
Ore Geology Reviews, 163, Article 105804


Evolution of the crustal phosphorus reservoir (2023)
Walton, Craig R.; Hao, Jihua; Huang, Fang; Jenner, Frances E.; Williams, Helen; Zerkle, Aubrey L.; Lipp, Alex; Hazen, Robert M.; Peters, Shanan E. and Shorttle, Oliver
Science Advances, 9(18)


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)


Ancient and recycled sulfur sampled by the Iceland mantle plume (2022-04-15)
Ranta, Eemu; Gunnarsson-Robin, Jóhann; Halldórsson, Sæmundur A.; Ono, Shuhei; Izon, Gareth; Jackson, Matthew G.; Reekie, Callum D.J.; Jenner, Frances E.; Guðfinnsson, Guðmundur H.; Jónsson, Ólafur P. and Stefánsson, Andri
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 584, Article 117452


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)


The Influence of Ridge Subduction on the Geochemistry of Vanuatu Arc Magmas (2022-01-12)
Deng, Chen; Jenner, Frances E.; Wan, Bo and Li, Ji‐Lei
Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 127, Article e2021JB022833(1)


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)


Global Ba/Nb systematics in arc magmas reflect the depths of mineral dehydration in subducted slabs (2022)
Barber, Nicholas D.; Edmonds, Marie; Jenner, Frances and Williams, Helen
Geology, 50(12) (pp. 1438-1442)


Phosphorus mineral evolution and prebiotic chemistry: From minerals to microbes (2021-10)
Walton, Craig R.; Shorttle, Oliver; Jenner, Frances E.; Williams, Helen M.; Golden, Joshua; Morrison, Shaunna M.; Downs, Robert T.; Zerkle, Aubrey; Hazen, Robert M. and Pasek, Matthew
Earth-Science Reviews, 221, Article 103806


Amphibole Control on Copper Systematics in Arcs: Insights from the Analysis of Global Datasets (2021-08-15)
Barber, Nicholas D.; Edmonds, Marie; Jenner, Frances; Audétat, Andreas and Williams, Helen
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 307 (pp. 192-211)


Reconstructing Magma Storage Depths for the 2018 Kı̄lauean Eruption from Melt inclusion CO2 Contents: The Importance of Vapor Bubbles (2021-02)
Wieser, P. E.; Lamadrid, H.; Maclennan, J.; Edmonds, M.; Matthews, S.; Iacovino, K.; Jenner, F. E.; Gansecki, C.; Trusdell, F.; Lee, R. L. and Ilyinskaya, E.
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 22, Article e2020GC009364(2)


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)


Chalcophile element processing beneath a continental arc stratovolcano (2019-09-15)
Cox, Daniel; Watt, Sebastian F.L.; Jenner, Frances E.; Hastie, Alan R. and Hammond, Samantha J.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 522 (pp. 1-11)


Deep roots for mid-ocean-ridge volcanoes revealed by plagioclase-hosted melt inclusions (2019-08-08)
Bennett, Emma; Jenner, Frances; Millet, Marc-Alban; Cashman, K V and Lissenberg, C J
Nature, 572 (pp. 235-239)


Diamondites: evidence for a distinct tectono-thermal diamond-forming event beneath the Kaapvaal craton (2019-08)
Mikhail, S.; McCubbin, F. M.; Jenner, F. E.; Shirey, S. B.; Rumble, D. and Bowden, R.
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 174, Article 71(8)


Widespread tephra dispersal and ignimbrite emplacement from a subglacial volcano (Torfajökull, Iceland) (2019-06-01)
Moles, Jonathan D.; McGarvie, Dave; Stevenson, John A.; Sherlock, Sarah C.; Abbott, Peter M.; Jenner, Frances E. and Halton, Alison M.
Geology, 47(6) (pp. 577-580)


Sulfide resorption during crustal ascent and degassing of oceanic plateau basalts (2019-01-08)
Reekie, C. D. J.; Jenner, F. E.; Smythe, D. J.; Hauri, E. H.; Bullock, E. S. and Williams, H. M.
Nature Communications, 10, Article 82


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


Cumulate causes for the low contents of sulfide-loving elements in the continental crust (2017-07)
Jenner, Frances Elaine
Nature Geoscience, 10(7) (pp. 524-529)


Fractionation of Li, Be, Ga, Nb, Ta, In, Sn, Sb, W and Bi in the peraluminous Early Permian Variscan granites of the Cornubian Batholith: precursor processes to magmatic-hydrothermal mineralisation (2017-05)
Simons, Beth; Andersen, Jens C. Ø; Shail, Robin K. and Jenner, Frances E.
Lithos, 278-281 (pp. 491-512)


Geodynamic implications for zonal and meridional isotopic patterns across the northern Lau and North Fiji Basins (2017-04)
Price, Allison A.; Jackson, Matthew G.; Blichert-Toft, Janne; Kurz, Mark D.; Gill, Jim; Blusztajn, Jerzy; Jenner, Frances; Brens, Raul and Arculus, Richard
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 18(3) (pp. 1013-1042)


Causes of the Compositional Variability among Ocean Floor Basalts (2016-11-01)
O'Neill, Hugh St C. and Jenner, Frances E.
Journal of Petrology, 57(11-12) (pp. 2163-2194)


Major and Trace Element Analysis of Natural and Experimental Igneous Systems using LA–ICP–MS (2016-10)
Jenner, Frances E. and Arevalo, Ricardo D.
Elements, 12(5) (pp. 311-316)


The competing effects of sulfide saturation versus degassing on the behavior of the chalcophile elements during the differentiation of hydrous melts (2015-05)
Jenner, Frances E.; Hauri, Erik H.; Bullock, Emma S.; König, Stephan; Arculus, Richard J.; Mavrogenes, John A.; Mikkelson, Nicole and Goddard, Charlotte
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 16(5) (pp. 1490-1507)


Coupled Hf-Nd-Pb isotope co-variations of HIMU oceanic island basalts from Mangaia, Cook-Austral islands, suggest an Archean source component in the mantle transition zone (2013-07-01)
Nebel, Oliver; Arculus, Richard J.; van Westrenen, Wim; Woodhead, Jon D.; Jenner, Frances E.; Nebel-Jacobsen, Yona J.; Wille, Martin and Eggins, Stephen M.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 112 (pp. 87-101)


Eoarchean within-plate Basalts from southwest Greenland (2013)
Jenner, F. E.; Bennett, V. C.; Yaxley, G.; Friend, C. R. L. and Nebel, O.
Geology, 41(3) (pp. 327-330)


The global pattern of trace-element distributions in ocean floor basalts (2012-11-29)
O'Neill, Hugh St.C. and Jenner, Frances E.
Nature, 491(7426) (pp. 698-704)


Mantle flow, volatiles, slab-surface temperatures, and melting dynamics in the north Tonga Arc–Lau Backarc Basin (2012-11)
Caufield, John; Turner, Simon; Arculus, Richard; Dale, Chris; Jenner, Frances; Pearce, Julian; Macpherson, Colin and Handley, Heather
Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 117, Article B11209(B11)


Chalcophile element systematics in volcanic glasses from the northwestern Lau Basin (2012-06)
Jenner, F. E.; Arculus, R. J.; Mavrogenes, J. A.; Dyriw, N. J.; Nebel, O. and Hauri, E. H.
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 13(6)


Major and trace analysis of basaltic glasses by laser-ablation ICP-MS (2012-03)
Jenner, Frances E. and O'Neill, Hugh St. C.
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 13(3)


Analysis of 60 elements in 616 ocean floor basaltic glasses (2012-02)
Jenner, Frances E. and O'Neill, Hugh St.C.
Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 13, Article Q02005(2)


Tungsten isotopes as tracers of core-mantle interactions: the influence of subducted sediments (2010-01-15)
Nebel, O.; Vroon, P. Z.; Wiggers de Vries, D. F.; Jenner, F. E. and Mavrogenes, J. A.
Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 74(2) (pp. 751-762)


The magnetite crisis in the evolution of arc-related magmas and the initial concentration of Au, Ag and Cu (2010)
Jenner, Frances E.; O'Neil, Hugh St.C.; Arculus, Richard J. and Marvogenes, John A.
Journal of Petrology, 51(12) (pp. 2445-2464)


Determination of selenium concentrations in NIST SRM 610, 612, 614 and geological glass reference materials using the electron probe, LA-ICP-MS and SHRIMP II (2009-09)
Jenner, Frances E.; Holden, Peter; Mavrogenes, John A.; O'Neill, Hugh St.C. and Allen, Charlotte
Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research, 33(3) (pp. 309-317)


Evidence for subduction at 3.8 Ga: geochemistry of arc-like metabasalts from the southern edge of the Isua Supracrustal Belt (2009-04-15)
Jenner, F. E.; Bennett, V. C.; Nutman, A. P.; Friend, C. R. L.; Norman, M. D. and Yaxley, G.
Chemical Geology, 261(1-2) (pp. 82-97)


Chalcophile Elements: Systematics and Relevance (2021)
Wieser, Penny and Jenner, Frances
In: Alderton, David and Elias, Scott A. eds. Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (pp. 67-80)
Publisher : Elsevier


Episodic Eoarchaean crustal accretion (3.87 to 3.66 Ga) in West Greenland (Itsaq Gneiss Complex) and in northeastern China: review and synthesis (2009-07-28)
Nutman, Allen P.; Bennett, Vickie C.; Friend, Clark R. L.; Jenner, Frances; Wan, Yusheng and Liu, Dunyi
In: Cawood, P. A. and Kröner, A. eds. Earth Accretionary Systems in Space and Time. Special Publication of the Geological Society (318) (pp. 127-154)
ISBN : 978-1-86239-278-6 | Publisher : GSL | Published : London


Lithophile Elements (2018-07-18)
Jenner, Frances E. and StC O’Neill, Hugh
Springer International Publishing