Home > Faculty/Staff > Jeff Vervoort
Jeff Vervoort, Ph.D.
Position: |
Assistant Professor |
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Campus Address: |
School of Earth & Environmental Sciences |
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Office: |
Webster Physical Sciences 1048 | |
Phone: |
509-335-5597 (office) |
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E-mail: |
vervoort@wsu.edu | |
Research interests:
Dr. Vervoort’s area of research is radiogenic isotope geochemistry and its application to solving geological and geochemical problems. Dr. Vervoort uses radiogenic isotopes in two different ways in his research: as natural isotopic tracers of sources and geological processes and as geochronometers to determine the ages of rocks and geological events.
Research statement:
My fundamental interest as a scientist is to understand the Earth from the perspective of geochemistry. Radiogenic isotopes are important tools that enable us to understand how the Earth formed and how it has evolved through its history. Radiogenic isotopes also help constrain the geological processes that are operating on Earth today. To this end, I have worked on a wide range of earth and planetary materials including meteorites, igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks of all ages, modern sediments and volcanic rocks, and water samples.
Current research projects and areas of research include:
- determining the Hf-Nd-Pb isotopic evolution of the early Earth to
understand the formation of the earliest continental crust and differentiation
of the mantle (collaborator: P. Jon Patchett, University of Arizona)
- using the Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopic composition of meteorites to constrain
the isotopic composition of the Earth (collaborators: P. Jon Patchett
and post-doc Audrey Bouvier, University of Arizona)
- determining the 176Lu decay constant by comparative U-Pb and Lu-Hf
studies of terrestrial magmatic rocks (collaborators: P. Jon Patchett
and post-doc Audrey Bouvier, University of Arizona)
- Lu-Hf isotope and HFSE geochemical behavior and the role of fluids
in subduction zones (collaboration with WSU post-doc Robbie
King and Gene Yogodzinski, University of South Carolina).
- using U-Pb, Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, and Pb isotope systems to provide constraints
on the timing of formation and evolution of the middle and lower crust
(collaborator: post-doc Andy DuFrane, WSU)
- determining the provenance of sediments using Sm-Nd isotopes in whole
rocks and U-Pb detrital zircon geochronology (collaborators: Becky
Dorsey and PhD student Todd LaMaskin, University of Oregon; Mike
Pope and David Gaylord, WSU).
- using integrated age (U-Pb geochronology) and isotopic tracer (Lu-Hf
isotope geochemistry) information from zircons in petrogenetic and
provenance studies (work with WSU PhD student Richard Gaschnig, Andy
Dufrane, WSU post-doc and collaborator John Goodge, University
of Minnesota, Duluth)
- determining the Hf-Nd-Pb isotopic and trace-element composition of
modern marine sediment, its contribution to subduction zones magmatism
and its influence on mantle composition and evolution (collaborators:
Terry Plank, Boston University; former WSU MS students Julie Prytulak
and Chunjiang Yu)
- using Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd garnet geochronology to constrain the timing
of metamorphism (work with WSU MS student Alex Zirakparvar, post-doc Robbie
King and collaborators: John Watkinson, WSU;
Bill McClelland, University of Idaho; Michael Wells, University of
Arizona; Tom Hoisch, Northern Arizona University; Matt Kohn, University
of South Carolina; PhD student Stacey Corrie, University of South Carolina)
- Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic behavior during continental weathering and
the role of weathering in controlling the Hf-Nd isotopic composition
of seawater (collaborators: Linda Godfrey, Rutgers University and WSU
post-doc, Robbie King).
- U-Pb zircon geochronology by laser ablation-inductively coupled mass
spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) (collaborators: Bill McClelland, University
of Idaho; former WSU post-doc Zhaoshan Chang; Charles Knaack,
WSU).
- Calibration of Lu-Hf garnet ages with U-Th-Pb ages in monazite to
enhance their use as metamorphic chronometers (collaborator: Matt Kohn,
University of South Carolina).
- Lu-Hf isotope geochemistry and geochronology of apatites (collaborator:
Gry Barfod, University of California at Davis)
- Hf, Nd, Sr, and Pb isotope geochemistry and their use as petrogenetic tracers in igneous rocks.
These research efforts center around the radiogenic isotope facility at WSU. My research group uses three facilities in SEES extensively in our research. These are: the radiogenic isotope clean laboratory to dissolve samples and perform chemical separations; the ThermoFinnigan Neptune MC-ICPMS for isotopic measurements; and the ThermoFinnigan Element2 HR-ICPMS in conjunction with the New Wave Nd-YAG 213nm laser ablation system for in situ U-Pb geochronology of zircons. The radiogenic isotope facility at WSU is a full-service radiogenic isotope laboratory. We have the capability to perform chemical separations of several important isotope (Rb-Sr, Sm-Nd, Lu-Hf, and U-Pb) and elemental systems (e.g., HFSE, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mo). In conjunction with our calibrated Rb-Sr, Lu-Hf, and Sm-Nd isotopic spikes we can analyze the full range of earth and planetary materials from mud to meteorites and everything in between.
Courses:
- Geol 230 Introductory Oceanography
- Geol 480 Introductory Geochemistry
- Geol 583 Radiogenic Isotopes and Geochronology
- Geol 588 Modern Analytical Methods in Radiogenic Isotopes
Graduate Student:
- N. Alex Zirakparvar
- Richard Gaschnig
Selected Publications:
(*indicates graduate student or post-doctorate co-author)
- Vervoort, J., Wirth, K., *Kennedy, B., *Sandland, T., and Harpp, K., in press, The Magmatic Evolution of the Midcontinent Rift: New Geochronologic and Geochemical Evidence from Felsic Magmatism. Special volume of Precambrian Research.
- Lewis, R.S., Vervoort, J.D., Burmester, R.F., McClelland, W.C., and *Chang, Z., in press, Age of metasedimentary rocks northwest of the Idaho batholith based on detrital zircons and intrusive sills. Special volume of SEPM.
- Bouvier, A., Blichert-Toft, J., *Moynier, F., Vervoort, J., and Albarède, F., in press, New Pb-Pb ages pertinent to the accretion and cooling history of chondrites, submitted to Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta.
- *Prytulak, J., Vervoort, J.D., Plank, T., and *Yu, C., 2006, Astoria Fan sediments, DSDP Site 174, Cascadia Basin: Hf-Nd-Pb Constraints on Provenance and Outburst Flooding. Chemical Geology. vg. 233, p. 276-292.
- Goodge, J.W. and Vervoort, J.D., 2006, Origin of Mesoproterozoic A-type granites in Laurentia: Hf isotope evidence. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 243, p. 711-731.
- *Chang, Z., Vervoort, J.D., Knaack, C., and McClelland, W.C., 2006, U-Pb dating of zircon by LA-ICP-MS. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, v. 7, no. 5, p. 1-14, Q05009, doi:10.1029/2005GC001100.
- Stern, R.J., Kohut, E. , Bloomer, S.H., Leybourne, M.,Fouch, M., and Vervoort, J., 2006, Depth Profiling Outputs of the Subduction Factory: The Guguan Cross-chain in the southern Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology., v. 151, p. 202-221.
- *Bouvier, A., Blichert-Toft, J., Vervoort, J., and Albarède, F., 2005, The age of SNC meteorites and the antiquity of the Martian surface, EPSL, v. 240, p. 221-233.
- *Söderlund, U., Isachsen, C.E., Bylund, G., Heaman, L.M., Patchett, P. J., Vervoort, J. D. and Anderson, U.B., 2005, U-Pb baddeleyite age constraints for Meso- and Neoproterozoic mafic magmatism in the Fennoscandian Shield, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, v. 150, p. 174-194.
- Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P. J., *Söderlund, U. and Baker, M., 2004, The isotopic composition of Yb and the precise and accurate determination of Lu concentrations and Lu/Hf ratios by isotope dilution using MC-ICP-MS. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 5, Q11002, doi:10.1029/2004GC000721.
- Patchett, P. J., Vervoort, J. D., *Söderlund, U., and Salters, V.J.M., 2004, Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic systematics in chondrites and their constraints on the Lu-Hf properties of the Earth, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 222, p. 29-41.
- *Schmitz, M.D., Vervoort, J.D., Bowring, S.A., Patchett, P.J., 2004, Decoupling of the Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic systems during the evolution of granulitic lower crust beneath southern Africa, Geology, v. 32, p. 405-408.
- *Söderlund, U., Patchett, P. J., Vervoort, J. D. and Isachsen, C. E., 2004, The 176Lu decay constant determined by Lu-Hf and U-Pb isotope systematics of Precambrian mafic intrusions, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 219, p. 311-324.
- Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P.J., Blichert-Toft, J., and Albarède, F., Downes, H. and Rudnick, R., 2000, Hf-Nd isotopic evolution of the lower crust. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 181, p. 115-129.
- Albarède, F., Blichert-Toft, J., Vervoort, J.D., Gleason, J.D., and Rosing, M., 2000, Hf-Nd isotope evidence for a transient dynamic regime in the early terrestrial mantle. Nature, v. 404, p. 488-490.
- Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P.J., Blichert-Toft, J., and Albarède, F., 1999, Relationships between Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopic systems in the global sedimentary system. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 168, p. 79-99.
- Vervoort, J.D. and Blichert-Toft, J., 1999, Evolution of the depleted mantle: Hf isotope evidence from juvenile rocks through time. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 63, p. 533-556.
- Albarède, F., Simonetti, T., Vervoort, J.D., Blichert-Toft, J., Abouchami, W., Goldstein, S., 1998, Hf-Nd isotopic correlation in ferromanganese nodules. Geophysical Research Letters, v. 25, p. 3895-3898.
- Vervoort, J.D. and Green, J.C., 1997, Origin of evolved magmas in the Midcontinent rift system, northeast Minnesota: Nd-isotope evidence for melting of Archean crust. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences, v. 34, p. 521-535.
- Vervoort, J.D. and Patchett, P.J., 1996, Behavior of hafnium and neodymium isotopes in the crust: constraints from Precambrian crustally derived granites. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 60, p. 3717-3723.
- Vervoort, J.D., Patchett, P.J., Gehrels, G.E., and Nutman, A.P., 1996, Constraints on early Earth differentiation from Hf isotopes. Nature, v. 379, p. 624-627.
- Vervoort, J.D., White, W.M., and Thorpe, R.I., 1994, Nd and Pb isotope ratios of the Abitibi greenstone belt: new evidence for very early differentiation of the Earth. Earth Planetary Science Letters, v. 125: 215-229.
- Vervoort, J.D., White, W.M., Thorpe, R.I., and Franklin, J.M., 1993, Post-magmatic thermal activity in the Abitibi greenstone belt: evidence from whole-rock Pb isotopic data. Econ. Geol., v. 88, p. 1598-1614.
