Joseph V. Chernosky, Jr. Professor of Geological Sciences  Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1973  Telephone: (207)581-2151  Fax: (207)581-2202

Metamorphic minerals and mineral assemblages record information about the intensive conditions temperature, fluid pressure, oxygen fucacity, etc. which they experienced during metamorphism. Laboratory experiments are required to quantify these conditions. My research effort has two principle objectives: (1) to experimentally locate, in P(fluid)-T-X(CO2) space, the positions of key metamorphic equilibria in the model chemical system CaO-MgO-A12O3-SiO2-H2O-CO2, and (2) to use the experimentally located equilibria to refine the thermochemical parameters for selected rock-forming minerals which occur in the model system. The latter objective is pursued in cooperation with Rob Berman of the Geological Survey of Canada.
 
 

Selected Publications

Grew, E.S., Chernosky, J.V., Jr., Werding, G., Abraham, K., Marquez, N. and Hinthorne, J.R., 1990. Chemistry of kornerupine and associated minerals, a wet chemical, ion microprobe, and x-ray study emphasizing Li, Be, B and F contents. Jour. Petrol., 31, 1025-1070.

Chernosky, J.V., Jr., 1991. Chlorite: p. 58-60 in 1991 McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science and Technology. McGraw-Hill, New York.

Chernosky, J.V., Jr. and Berman, R.G., 1991. Experimental reversal of he equilibrium andalusite + calciet + quartz = anorthite + CO@. Can. Mineral., 29, 791-802.

Grew, E.S., Pertsev, N.N., Yates, M.G., Christy, A.G., Marquez, N. and Chernosky, J.V., Jr., 1994. Sapphirine + forsterite and sapphirine + humite-group minerals in an ultra-magnesian lens from Kuhi-Lal, SW Pamirs, Tajikistan: Are these assemblages forbidden? Journ. Petrol, 356, 1275-1293.

Chernosky, J.V., Jr., Berman, R.G., and Jenkins, D.M., 1998.  The stability of temolite: New experimental data and a thermodynamic assessment.  American Mineralogist, 83, 726-739.