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K-State Today

March 1, 2019

Geology department head publishes article in Nature Geoscience

Submitted by Malorie Wagner

Pamela Kempton, head of the College of Arts and Sciences' geology department, recently published a News and Views article titled "Geodynamics: Map of the Underworld" in Nature Geoscience.

The article discusses the dynamic nature of Earth's mantle and the way in which geologists attempt to unravel Earth's 4.6-billion-year history through study of volcanic rocks erupted at the surface along mid-ocean ridges — essentially "mapping the underworld." The article highlights the discovery of a new mantle domain located in a remote section of Earth's southern ocean between Australia and Antarctica — the Australian-Antarctic Ridge. The new mantle domain formed millions of years ago in response to break-up of the super-continent known as Gondwana.

Nature Geoscience is a monthly top-rated journal dedicated to high-quality Earth sciences research from all disciplines within the geosciences.

Kempton joined geology as head of department in fall 2013. She came to K-State from the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council, the U.K. equivalent of the U.S. National Science Foundation, where she served as head of research and director of science. She holds a doctorate in igneous petrology and a master's degree in sedimentology from Southern Methodist University.

To learn more about the geology department, visit its website.