Mukul Sharma Isotope Geochemistry

Contact Information:

Overview of Research :

I study geological processes utilizing isotopic effects as tracers. I have worked on problems as diverse as the evolution of early earth and solar forcing of the terrestrial climate. Many studies have led to the development of innovative analytical techniques that have opened up avenues to examine old and new geochemical problems. I have been working on the following projects:

• Near surface geochemistry of osmium
• Generation of oceanic lithosphere: the role of mantle heterogeneities
• Magma Differentiation and Source Characteristics of Continental Flood Basalts
• Early evolution of the earth: the terrestrial record of 146Sm
• Study on continental weathering using osmium isotopes
• Variations in Solar Magnetic Activity and the Sun-Climate Connection
• Tracing the source of groundwater arsenic in Bangladesh Delta
• Geochemical and isotopic studies of cosmic dust
• Near surface geochemistry of osmium
• Osmium and Iridium Transport through Estuarine Environments

Research Group Website: Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry Laboratory

Courses Taught:

• EARS 7: From Big Bang to Planet Earth: How did we get here?
• EARS 8/Human Biology 1/CoCo-4: Life on Mars? (co-taught with J. Buckey, Professor of Medicine, and L. Davies, Professor of Literature) (The Chronicle of Higher Education, May 18, 2001)
• EARS 62: Geochemistry
• EARS 69: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
• EARS 108: Radiogenic Isotope Geochemistry

Selected Recent Publications:

1. C. Oze and M. Sharma (2007) Serpentinization and the Inorganic Synthesis of H₂ in Planetary Surfaces. Icarus . 186: 557-561 (doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2006.09.012).
2. R. Andreasen and M. Sharma (2006) Solar nebula heterogeneity in p-process Sm and Nd isotopes. Science . 314: 806-8 09 (doi: 10.1126/science.1131708).
3. C. Chen, M. Sharma and B. Bostick (2006) Lithologic controls on the Os isotopic composition in the Rio Orinoco. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 252 (1-2): 138-151.
4. C. Oze and M. Sharma (2005) Have olivine, will gas: Serpentinization and the abiogenic production of methane on Mars. Geophys. Res. Lett. 32 (10): Art. No. L10203 MAY 26 .
5. M. Sharma and C. Chen (2004) Neodymium isotope fractionation in the mass spectrometer and the issue of ¹⁴²Nd anomalies in the early Archean rocks. Precambrian Research 134: 315-329.
6. M. Sharma (2002) Variations in Solar Magnetic Activity during the last 200,000 years: Is there a Sun-Climate Connection? Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. , 199 (3-4): 459-472.

Complete CV