- Mantle evolution, geochemistry and petrology
- Radiogenic isotope geochemistry
- Trace element geochemistry
- Age and origin of diamonds
- Tracing diamonds using elemental and isotopic methods
- Origin of the continental lithosphere, especially cratons
- PGE geochemistry, Re-Os and Pt-Os isotope geochemistry
- Origins of alkaline/low melt fraction rocks
- Application of ICPMS to molecular pharmacology – metallodrugs
Graham Pearson is a mantle geochemist whose research interests focus on the origin and evolution of the continental lithospheric mantle and its diamond cargo. The current region of interest is Arctic Canada and its diamond-bearing roots. Through the study of mantle xenoliths I try to evaluate how cratons are formed and how they have evolved. My research group has developed new methods for dating diamonds and analyzing ultra-low level trace element impurities in the diamond lattice. Current efforts are focused on using such data to try to distinguish a diamond’s place of origin, with application to supporting the Kimberley Process. I apply radiogenic isotopes (specialising in the Re-Os and Pt-Os systems) to the geochronology and tracing of mantle rocks and mantle-derived magmas such as kimberlites. I use the systematics of platinum group element geochemistry to investigate a wide range of phenomena ranging from lunar evolution to the interaction between DNA and metallodrugs.
I am interested in attracting graduate students and post-doctoral researchers to work in the following areas:
- Constraining the thermal history of cratonic lithosphere through conventional and new approaches to thermobarometry and thermal modelling.
- Petrology and geochronology of the lithospheric mantle beneath Arctic Canada.
- The origin of Slave craton diamonds.
- Use of novel laser-sampling methods to trace the origin of diamonds.
- Statistical methods for differentiating diamond populations.
- Laser ablation analytical methods