Dr. Desmond Moser
Zircon and Accessory Phase Laboratory
Assistant Professor
Office: BGS 1070
Phone: (519) 661-2111 x.84214
Fax: (519) 661-3198
Email: desmond.moser@uwo.ca
Research Interests
Dr. Desmond Moser conducts solid Earth and
planetary science research using Western’s nationally unique
multispectral SEM- CL instrumentation and newly established Zircon and
Accessory Phase Laboratory (ZAPLab). Micromineral crystal growth
analysis is integrated with field mapping, petrology and ion probe,
laser and TIMS isotopic measurements (radiogenic and stable isotopes,
trace elements) at Western and partner institutes. His active projects
investigating uplifted crustal cross-sections, kimberlite xenoliths,
sedimentary basins and impact structures in the Americas, Europe and
southern Africa are helping reveal the timing and nature of tectonic
and planetary processes that form and modify continental lithosphere
and ore deposits while advancing the growing sub-discipline of
accessory mineral science.
Selected Publications
Smith, D., Connelly, J.N.,
Manser, K., Moser, D.E., Housh, T.B., McDowell, F.W., and Mack, L.E.,
2004, Evolution of the Navajo eclogites and hydration of the mantle
wedge below the Colorado Plateau, southwestern United States,
Geochemistry Geophysics and Geosystems, 5, pp. 1-18, Q04005, doi:
10.1029/2003GC000675.
Moser, D.E., Flowers, R., and Hart, R.J., 2001, Birth of the Kaapvaal tectosphere 3.08 billion years ago. Science, 291: 465-468.
Moser,
D.E. and Heaman, L.M. 1997. Proterozoic zircon growth in Archean
lower-crustal xenoliths, southern Superior craton – a consequence of
Matachewan ocean opening, Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology,
128: 164-175.
Moser, D.E. 1997. Dating the shock wave and thermal imprint of the giant Vredefort impact, South Africa. Geology, 25:7-10.
Moser,
D.E., Heaman, L.M., Krogh, T.E., and Hanes, J.A. 1996. Intracrustal
extension of an Archean orogen revealed using single-grain U-Pb zircon
geochronology. Tectonics 15: 1093-1109.
Courses Taught
Earth Sciences 2130Y: Geography & Geology of Southwestern Ontario
Geology 9559: Isotopic Dating of Planetary and Resource Evolution
Students
Lisa Cupelli, Ph.D.
Nik Ganderton, M.Sc.
Duane Petts, Ph.D.
Current Projects Available:
- Zircon Oxygen, U-Pb isotope and trace element diffusion during regional metamorphism? a test of the ‘cool Early Earth’ hypothesis
- Zircon microstructure and Oxygen-U-Pb isotope behaviour in large meteorite impacts.
- The zircon and monazite record of the deep crustal and upper mantle evolution of the Archean cratons and their diamond deposits
- Colour+UV SEM- Cathodoluminescence and trace element analysis of accessory minerals
- Direct dating of ductile flow using deformed zircon
