Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie,
Geochemistry Division
Albrecht W.
Hofmann
E-mail address: albrecht.hofmann@mpic.de · European Geosciences Union (EGU) Scientific Interests:
Isotope
and trace element geochemistry, evolution of the Earth's mantle and crust,
chemistry of igneous processes, geochronology. |
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Research Profile:
Since
Hofmann established the Geochemistry Division of the institute in 1980, he has
emphasized the study of isotopes and trace elements in volcanic and other
magmatic rocks derived from the Earth's mantle and lower crust. The aim of
these studies is an understanding of the evolution of the Earth's interior,
particularly its mantle, but also its deep crust and, more indirectly, its
core. Production and movement of melt (and to a lesser extent aqueous fluid)
constitutes the primary mechanism for the differentiation of crust, mantle and
core. Important tools are mass spectrometric measurements of the isotopic
compositions of strontium, neodymium and lead, and most recently osmium, all
daughter products of naturally occurring, long-lived radioactive trace elements
(Rb, Sm, U, Th and Re). These isotopic compositions are traditionally used for
geological age determinations (geochronology). However, for studies of the
Earth's interior their use as tracers of chemical differentiation processes is
even more important, because the movement of melt produces differences in
parent-daughter ratios, which in turn lead to characteristic differences in isotopic
composition. Other tracers of such processes are trace elements that are
strongly concentrated in the melt phase during the melting process. Relative
abundances of such elements therefore yield important clues about the
composition of the deep and otherwise inaccessible source of volcanic rocks.
Trace element abundances are also measured predominantly by mass spectrometry
in
Hofmann's contributions to
mantle geochemistry include the now widely accepted hypothesis that mantle
plumes contain recycled material of the oceanic crust, and the recognition that
the relative abundances of certain elements, specifically niobium and lead, can
be used to distinguish between recycled oceanic and continental crust. He has
also contributed to the development of "inverse" methods for
reconstructing mantle source compositions from the composition of volcanic
rocks. Current projects along these lines concentrate on the origin of the
Hawaiian plume, the world's most extensively studied suite of volcanic rocks,
and participation in the Graduiertenkolleg "Stoffbestand und Entwicklung
von Kruste und Mantel" of the University of Mainz and the
Max-Planck-Institut.
Following
his formal retirement in early 2007, he is continuing his scientific work as
Emeritus at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, as Visiting Senior Research
Scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Institute of Columbia University,
Societies, Professional Service, and Honors:
Hofmann has served as
president of the European Union of Geosciences, as president of the European Association
of Geochemistry, as member of the Board of Directors of the Geochemical
Society, as chairman of the Fellows Committee of the American Geophysical
Union, and as coordinator of the priority research program of the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) "Experimentelle Studien über
Elementverteilungen zwischen Mineralen, Schmelzen and Gasphasen in
geowissenschaftlich relevanten Systemen."
He is Associate Editor of
the journal "Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology", and member
of the Editorial Advisory Board of the new electronic journal "G Cubed -
Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems", which was launched in 1999 by the
Geochemical Society and the American Geophysical Union.
He is recipient of the
Harry H. Hess Medal of the American Geophysical Union (2001), the V.M.
Goldschmidt Medal of the Geochemical Society (1996), and of the Franco-German
Humboldt Award (1996). In 1999, he was elected Foreign Associate of the U.S.
National Academy of Sciences. He is a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union,
Geochemistry Fellow of the Geochemical Society and the European Association of
Geochemistry and Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of America. He is
listed as "Highly Cited Researcher" in Geosciences by the
He has been a Visiting
Professor at the
Selected Publications:
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for Complete Publication List
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Publication Lists
Farnetani,
C. and A.W. Hofmann, 2010, Dynamics and internal structure of the Hawaiian
plume. Earth and
Planetary Science Letters 295, 231-240.
Rampone,
E., A. W. Hofmann, and I. Raczek, 2009, Isotopic equilibrium between mantle
peridotite and melt: Evidence from the Corsica ophiolite. Earth and Planetary
Science Letters 288, 601-610.
Liu,
C.-Z., J.E. Snow, G. Brügmann, E. Hellebrand, and A.W. Hofmann, 2009,
Non-chondritic HSE budget in Earth’s upper mantle evidenced by abyssal
peridotites from Gakkel ridge (Arctic Ocean). Earth and Planetary Science
Letters 283, 122-132.
Farnetani, C. and A.W.
Hofmann, 2009, Dynamics and internal structure of a lower mantle plume conduit.
Earth and Planetary Science Letters 282, 314-322.
Liu C.-Z., J. E. Snow, E. Hellebrand, G.
Brügmann, A. von der Handt, A. Büchl, A. W. Hofmann, 2008, Ancient, highly
heterogeneous mantle beneath Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean. Nature 452,
311-316.
Hofmann, A.W., 2007, The lost continents (News &
Views). Nature 448, 655-656.
Sharma, M., K. Balakrishna, A.W. Hofmann, R.
Shankar, 2007, The
transport of osmium and strontium through a tropical estuary. Geochim.
Cosmochim. Acta, 71, 4856-4867
Ionov, D., and A.W. Hofmann, 2007, Depth of formation of subcontinental
off-craton peridotites. Earth Planet Sci. Lett., 261, 620-634.
Peressini,
G., J. E. Quick, S. Sinigoi, A.W. Hofmann, M. Fanning, 2007, Duration of a
Large Mafic Intrusion and Heat Transfer in the Lower Crust: a SHRIMP U-Pb
Zircon Study in the Ivrea-Verbano Zone (Western Alps,
Fekiacova,
Z., W. Abouchami, S.J. Galer, M. O. Garcia, A.W. Hofmann, 2007, Origin and temporal evolution of Ko`olau
Volcano: Inferences from isotope data on the Ko`olau Scientific Drilling
Project (KSDP), Honolulu Volcanics and ODP site 843. Earth Planet. Sci.
Lett., 261, 65-83.
Kaur, P., N. Chaudhri, I. Raczek, A. Kröner,
A.W. Hofmann, 2007, Geochemistry,
zircon ages and whole-rock Nd isotopic systematics for Palaeoproterozoic A-type
granitoids in the northern part of the Delhi belt, Rajasthan, NW India:
implications for late Palaeoproterozoic crustal evolution of the Aravalli
craton. Geol. Mag. 144, 361-378.
Paul, D., Kamenetsky, V. S.,
Hofmann, A. W., Stracke, A., 2007, Compositional diversity among primitive
lavas of
Sobolev,
A.V., A. W. Hofmann, D. V. Kuzmin, G. M. Yaxley, N. T. Arndt, S.-L. Chung, L.
V. Danyushevsky, T. Elliott, F. A. Frey, M. O. Garcia, A. A.Gurenko, V. S.
Kamenetsky, A. C. Kerr, N. A. Krivolutskaya, V. V. Matvienkov, I. K.
Nikogosian, A. Rocholl, I. A. Sigurdsson, N. M. Sushchevskaya, M. Teklay, 2007,
The Amount of
Recycled Crust in Sources of Mantle-Derived Melts. Science 316, 412-417.
Hofmann, A.W. and S.R.
Hart, 2007, Another nail in which
coffin? (Letter to the Editor) Science 315, 39-40.
Hémond, C., A.W. Hofmann,
I. Vlastélic, and F. Nauret, 2006, Origin of MORB enrichment and
relative trace element compatibilities along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 10
and 24°N. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 7, Q12010 ,
doi:10.1029/2006GC00131.
Nauret, F., W. Abouchami,
S.J.G. Galer, A.W. Hofmann, C. Hémond, C. Chauvel, and J. Dyment, 2006, Correlated trace element-Pb isotope
enrichments in Indian MORB along 18°-20°S, Central Indian Ridge. Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett., 245, 137-152.
Tolstikhin,
Stracke, A., A.W. Hofmann, and S.R. Hart, 2005,
FOZO, HIMU and the rest of the
mantle zoo. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, vol 6 No. 5, Q05007. DOI
10.1029/2004GC000824.
Tolstikhin,
Abouchami, W. , A.W. Hofmann, S.J.G. Galer, F.A. Frey,
J. Eisele, M. Feigenson, 2005, Lead isotopes
reveal bilateral asymmetry and vertical continuity in the Hawaiian mantle
plume. Nature 434, 851-856.
Sobolev, A.V., A.W. Hofmann, S.V. Sobolev and I.K.
Nikogosian, 2005, An olivine-free mantle source of
Hawaiian shield basalts. Nature 434, 590-597.
Eisele, J., W. Abouchami, S.J.G. Galer, A.W. Hofmann,
2003, The 320 kyr Pb isotope evolution of Mauna
Kea lavas recorded in the HSDP-2 drill core. Geochem. Geophys. Geosystems
4(1): doi: 10.1029/2002GC000339.
Hofmann, A.W., 2003, Sampling mantle heterogeneity through
oceanic basalts: Isotopes and trace elements, pp. 61-101. In The Mantle and
Core (ed. R.W. Carlson) Vol. 2, Treatise on Geochemistry (eds. H. Holland and
K. K. Turekian), Elsevier-Pergamon,
Regelous, M., A.W. Hofmann, W. Abouchami, J.S.G. Galer, 2003, Geochemistry of lavas from the Emperor Seamounts, and the geochemical evolution of Hawaiian magmatism 85-42 Ma. J. Petrol. 44, 113-140.
Hofmann, A.W., 2002, Das Erdinnere bis zum Kern. Die Entstehung der Kontinente und Ozeane. In Busch, B., editor, Erde, Wienand Verlag & Medien Köln, p. 73-87.
Eisele, J.,
Sharma, M. Galer, S.J.G., Blichert-Toft, J., Devey, C.W., Hofmann A.W., 2002, The role of sediment recycling in EM-1
inferred from Os, Pb, Hf, Nd, Sr isotope and trace element systematics of the
Pitcairn hotspot. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 196, 197-212.
Hellebrand,
E. J.E. Snow, H.J.B. Dick & A.W. Hofmann, 2001, Coupled major and trace elements
as indicators of the extent of melting in mid-ocean-ridge peridotites. Nature,
410, 677-681.
Hofmann,
A.W., 2001, Lead isotopes and the age of the Earth – a geochemical accident. In
C.L.E. Lewis & S.J. Knell ed., The Age of the Earth: from 4004 BC to AD
2002. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ. 190, 223-236.
Sobolev,
A.V., A.W. Hofmann & I.K. Nikogosian, 2000, Recycled oceanic crust observed in
'ghost plagioclase' within the source of Mauna Loa lavas. Nature, 404,
986-990.
Puchtel,
I.S., A.W. Hofmann, K. Mezger, K.P. Jochum, A.A. Shchipansky, A.V.
Samsonov, 1998, Oceanic plateau
model for continental crustal growth in the Archaean: A case study from the
Kostomuksha greenstone belt, NW Baltic Shield. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,
155, 57-74.
Hofmann,
A.W., 1997, Mantle geochemistry - the
message from oceanic volcanism. Nature 385, 219-229.
Rehkämper, M. and A.W. Hofmann, 1997, Recycled ocean crust and sediment in
Indian Ocean MORB. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 147, 93-106.
Hofmann,
A.W. and K.P. Jochum, 1996, Source characteristics
derived from very incompatible trace elements in Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea
basalts, Hawaii Scientific Drilling Project. J. Geophys. Res., 101,
11,831-11839.
Peucker-Ehrenbrink, B., A. W. Hofmann, and S.R.
Hart, 1994, Hydrothermal
lead transfer from mantle to continental crust: the role of metalliferous
sediments. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 125, 129-142
Christensen,
U.R and A.W. Hofmann, 1994, Segregation
of subducted oceanic crust in the convecting mantle. J. Geophys. Res., 99,
19,867-19,884.
Chauvel, C., A.W. Hofmann, P. Vidal, 1992, HIMU - EM: The French Polynesian connection.
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 110, 99-119.
Voshage,
H., A. W. Hofmann, M. Mazzuchelli, G. Rivalenti, S. Sinigoi, I. Raczek, G. Demarchi,
1990, Isotopic evidence from the Ivrea Zone for a hybrid lower crust formed by
magmatic underplating. Nature, 347, 731-736.
Hofmann,
A.W., 1988, Chemical differentiation of the Earth,
the relationship between mantle, continental crust, and oceanic crust.
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 90, 297-314.
Hofmann, A.W., K.-P. Jochum, M. Seufert, and
W.M. White, 1986, Nb and Pb in oceanic basalts:
new constraints on mantle evolution. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 79,
33-45.
Hofmann, A.W., and M.D. Feigenson, 1983, Case studies on the origin of
Jochum, K.P., A.W. Hofmann, E. Ito, H.M.
Seufert, and W.M. White, 1983, K, U, and Th in MORB glasses and heat
production, K/U and K/Rb in the mantle. Nature, 306, 431-436.
Hofmann, A.W., and W.M. White, 1982, Mantle plumes from ancient oceanic crust.
Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 57, 421-436.
Hofmann, A.W., and S.R. Hart, 1978, An assessment of local and regional isotopic
equilibrium in the mantle. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 38, 44-62.
Hofmann,
A.W., and M. Magaritz, 1977, Diffusion of Ca, Sr, Ba, and Co in a basalt
melt. Implications for the geochemistry of the mantle. J. Geophys.
Res., 82, 5432-5440.
Hofmann,
A.W., 1972, Chromatographic
theory of infiltration metasomatism and its application to feldspars. Am.
J. Sci. 272, 69-90.
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BS 07/09