Ethan F. Baxter
Associate Professor
Office: Stone B45
Phone: 617.358.2844
E-mail: efb@bu.edu
Ethan’s Homepage
Educational Background
| Ph.D. |
2000 |
University of California, Berkeley |
| B.S. |
1995 |
Yale University |
Research
Ethan Baxter’s research involves applications of geochemistry, geochronology, and petrology designed to understand and quantify the rates and timescales of geological processes effecting the evolution of the Earth’s crust and mantle. Interests include high-temperature reaction kinetics in varied geological environments (i.e. orogenic belts, subduction zones, contact aureoles), the rates and geochemical consequences of mass transport in the evolving crust, the timing and duration of mountain building and metamorphism in collisional environments, and the development of new methodologies to better apply and interpret geochronological data (using, for example, the Sm/Nd, Rb/Sr, K/Ar, or U-Th/He isotopic systems) in studies of crustal and mantle evolution. Prof. Baxter’s research includes both field- and laboratory-based analysis.
Climate and Earth History research group
Geochemistry research group
Solid Earth and Tectonics research group
Teaching
- Mineralogy (ES 222)
- History of the Earth (ES 302)
- Geochemical Modeling (ES 571)
- Isotope Earth Science (ES 771)
Recent Students
- Nora Sullivan; PhD (Candidate); Development of a hydrothermal carbonate Sm-Nd geochronometer
- Besim Dragovic; PhD (Candidate); Subduction Zone Fluids and Reaction Kinetics
- Anthony Pollington; MA (2009); A new method for high-precision microsampling and Sm/Nd dating of zoned garnets
- Leah Mehl; MA (2007); Garnet Growth and Dehydration Rates from Sifnos Greece
- Particia Clay; MA (2006); Ar Partitioning and Diffusion in Crustal Minnerals
Selected Publications (*=student)
- Baxter, E.F., Asimow, P.D and Farley, K.A. 2007. Grain boundary partitioning of Ar and He. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 71, p.434-451.
- Watson, E.B., Baxter, E.F., 2007. Frontiers: Diffusion in the Solid Earth. EPSL. 253, 307-327.
- Baxter, E.F. and DePaolo, D.J. (2004). Can metamorphic reactions proceed faster than bulk strain? Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 146, p. 657-670.
- Baxter, E.F. (2003). Quantification of the factors controlling the presence of excess 40Ar and 4He. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 216, p. 619-634.
- Baxter, E.F. (2003). Natural Constraints on Metamorphic Reaction Rates. in Geochronology — linking the isotopic record with petrology and textures. eds. Vance, Muller & Villa. Geological Society of London, Special Publication, 220, p. 183-202.
