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ZACHARY D. SHARP

Professor Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1987
Dept. of Earth & Planetary Sciences
Northrop Hall
200 Yale Blvd.
MSC 05 3370
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277 0742  zsharp@unm.edu  

Research and Academic Interests

Stable isotope geochemistry, with application to paleoclimate reconstruction, metamorphic & igneous petrology, atmospheric science and meteoritics. Present work includes: chlorine isotope analyses of subduction-related materials, volcanic gases, and Earth's early exosphere; tracing atmospheric water vapor using hydrogen isotope ratios for climatic reconstruction; CO₂ gases in soils and soil carbonates; in situ laser analyses of meteorites (CAIs);  studies of archaeological samples (such as woolly mammoth and mummy hair). Another project starting soon is "The Nitrogen Isotope Systematics of the Icelandic Mantle", with Tobias Fischer.  My students and I are constantly redesigning and developing new techniques to answer the questions and research topics that are generated.

• Jaime Barnes (Ph.D. -- PostDoc starting June, 2006) Tectonic and metamorphic implications for high Cl-contents in serpentinites.  Jaime's work has involved a bewildering array of investigations of the Cl isotope systematics of our planet.  Her work has led her to Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Costa Rica.  She combines petrology, TEM analyses, Cl isotopes and petrography to better understand the global Cl cycle.  Also working with Jane Selverstone and Adrian Brearley
• Dan Breecker (Ph.D.)  After finishing a Masters project on using monazite as an oxygen isotope geothermometer, Dan is working on a Ph.D. (Kelly Silver Fellow) on the seasonality of soil carbonates, working closely with Prof. Les McFadden.  Field work in the Sevilleta, Long-term Ecological Research area.
• Mel Strong (Ph.D.) Conducting a joint project with Dave Gutlzer and Zach Sharp on climatology, using oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of atmospheric water vapor.  We have developed a continuous sampling method for isotope measurements of atmospheric water vapor.  Mel has made numerous vertical sampling campaigns collecting air samples while piloting an ultralight 'airplane'.  Remarkable variations in the isotopic composition of atmospheric moisture have already been found.
• George Perkins (M.S.) Successfully completed a Master's stable isotope project of mantle xenoliths and fluid inclusions from Rio Puerco volcanic necks.  In press for Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology.
• Dennis Newell  (Ph.D.) Nearing completion of a project incorporating He and N isotopes with aqueous geochemistry to understand sources of gases and fluids in hot springs.  His work includes local springs in New Mexico and those as far away as Tibet.  His first paper was recently published in GSA Today!
  
• Mark Tyra  (Ph.D.)  After completing a Master's thesis at University of Maryland, Mark is beginning a Ph.D. with Maya Elrick and Zach Sharp on understanding the origins of Paleozoic-Triassic 3rd-order (My-scale) sea-level changes using oxygen isotope geochemistry of apatitic conodonts
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Some Recent Publications:

• Barnes, J.D., and Sharp, Z.D. (2006) δ³⁷Cl values of DSDP/ODP serpentinized ultramafics and chlorine evolution of the ocean. Chem. Geol. doi:10.1016/j.chemgeo.2005.10.011 PDF version
• Sharp, Z.D., Masson, H. and Lucchini, R.(2005) Stable isotope geochemistry and formation mechanisms of quartz veins; extreme paleoaltitudes of the Central Swiss Alps in the Neogene.  Am. J. Sci. 305, 187-219
•  Perkins, G.B., Sharp, Z.D. and Selverstone, J. (2006)  Oxygen isotope evidence for subduction and rift-related mantle metasomatism beneath the Colorado Plateau-Rio Grande Rift transition.  Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. (in press).
• Larson, T. and Sharp, Z.D. (2005) Interpreting prograde-growth histories of Al2SiO5 triple-point rocks using oxygen isotope thermometry: an example from the Truchas Mountains, New Mexico, USA.  J. Met. Geol. 23, 847-863.
• Savard, M.M., Begin, C., Smirnoff, A., Marion, J., Sharp, Z.D. and Parenti, M.(2005) Fractionation change of hydrogen isotopes in trees due to atmospheric pollutants. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 69, 3723–3731.
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• Barnes, J. D., Selverstone, J. and Sharp, Z.D. (2004) Interaction between serpentinites devolatilization, measomatism, and strike-slip strain localization during deep-crustal shearing in the Eastern Alps.  J. Met. Geol. 22, 283-300.
• Chlor, L.E., Fischer, T.P., Hilton, D.R., Sharp, Z.D., Hartono, U. (2005) Volatile and N isotope chemistry  of the Molucca Sea collision zone: Tracing source components along the Sangihe Arc, Indonesia.  Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 6, Q03J14, doi:10.1029/2004GC000825 PDF version
  
• Moecher, David P.; Sharp, Zachary D. Stable isotope and chemical systematics of pseudotachylyte and wall rock, Homestake shear zone, Colorado, USA: Meteoric fluid or rock-buffered conditions during coseismic fusion? J. Geophys. Res., 109, No. B12, B12206 10.1029/2004JB003045 PDF version.
  
• Sharp, Z.D., Atudorei, V., Panarello, H., Fernandez, J. and Douthitt, C. (2003) Hydrogen isotope systematics of hair: archeological and forensic applications. J. Arch. Sci. 30, 1709-1716.  PDF version
  
• Seidel, M., Pack, A. Sharp, Z.D. and Seidel, E. (2005) The Kakopetros and Ravdoucha iron-oxide deposits, Western Crete, Greece: Fluid transport and mineralization within a detachment zone. Econ. Geol. 100, 165-174.
  
• Barnes, J. D., Selverstone, J. and Sharp, Z.D. (2004) Interaction between serpentinites devolatilization, measomatism, and strike-slip strain localization during deep-crustal shearing in the Eastern Alps.  J. Met. Geol.22, 283-300 PDF version.
• Moecher, D.P., and Sharp, Z.D. (2004) Stable isotope and chemical systematics of pseudotachylyte and wall rock, Homestake shear zone, Colorado, USA:
  Meteoric fluid or rock-buffered conditions during coseismic fusion? J. Geophys. Res. 109, B12206, PDF version
  
• Larson, T.E and Sharp, Z.D. (2003) Stable isotope constraints on the Al₂SiO₅ ‘triple-point’ rocks from the Proterozoic Priest pluton contact aureole, New Mexico, USA.  J. Met. Geol.  21, 785-798 PDF version 
• Zimmer M. M., Fischer, T.P., Hilton, D.R., Alvarado, G.E., Sharp, Z.D., Walker, J.A. Nitrogen systematics and gas fluxes of subduction zones: Insights from Costa Rica arc volatiles, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 5, Q05J11, doi:10.1029/2003GC000651 PDF version.
  
• Jones, R.H., Leshin, L.A., Guan, Y., Sharp, Z.D., Durakiewicz, T., Schilk, A.J. (2004)  Oxygen isotope heterogeneity in chondrules from the Mokoia CV3 carbonaceous chondrite. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 68, 3423-3438. PDF version
  
• Sharp, Z.D., Durakiewicz, T., Migaszewski, Z.M. and Atudorei, V.N. (2002) Antiphase hydrogen and oxygen isotope periodicity in chert nodules.  Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta. 66, 2865–2873. PDF version
• Sharp, Z.D., Papike, J.J. and Durakiewicz, T. The effect of thermal decarbonation on stable isotope compositions of carbonates.   American Minerallogist, 88, 87-92. PDF version
  
• Dallai, L., Ghezzo, C. and Sharp, Z.D. (2003) Oxygen isotope evidence for crustal assimilation and magma mixing in the Granite Harbour Intrusives, Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Lithos, 67 , 135-151. PDF version  
• Moecher, D.P. and Sharp, Z.D. (2004) Stable Isotope and Chemical Systematics of pseudotachylyte and Wall Rock, Homestake Shear Zone, CO, USA: Meteoric Fluid or Rock-Buffered Conditions during Coseismic Fusion?  Tectonophysics (submitted).
• Rodland, D.L., Dowalewski, M., Dettman, D.L., Flessa, K.W., Atudorei, V. and Sharp, Z.D. (2003) High-resolution analysis of d18O in the biogenic phosphate of modern and fossil lingulid brachiopods. J. Geol. 111, 441-453.
• Edwards, M.S., Turner, T.F. and Sharp, Z.D. Short- and long-term effects of fixation and preservation on stable isotope values (δ¹³ C, δ ³⁴S) of fluid-preserved museum specimens. Copeia 2002, 1106-1112 PDF version  
• Solé, J., Cosca, M., Sharp, Z.D., Enrique, P. (2002) ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹ Ar Geochronology and stable isotope geochemistry of Late-Hercynian intrusions from north-eastern Iberia with implications for argon loss in K-feldspar. Int. J. Earth Sci. 91, 865–881. PDF version
  
• Smith, K.F., Sharp, Z.D., Brown, J.H. (2002) Isotopic composition of carbon and oxygen in desert fauna: investigations into the effects of diet, physiology, and seasonality. Journal of Arid Enviironments, 52, 419-430.  PDF version
  
• Cavosie, A.J., Sharp, Z.D. and Selverstone, J. (2002) Co-existing aluminum silicates in quartz veins: A quantitative approach for determining andalusite-sillimanite equilibrium in natural samples using oxygen isotopes.  Am. Mineral. 87, 417-423 PDF version .
  
• Fischer, T.P., Hilton, D.R., Zimmer, M.M., Shaw, A.M., Sharp, Z.D. and Walker, J.A.(2002) Contrasting nitrogen isotope behavior along the Central America margin: implications for the nitrogen balance of the Earth. Science 297, 1154-1157.
  
• Kelly, J.F., Finch, D.M., Atudorei, V. and Sharp, Z.D. (2002) Insights into Wilson’s warbler migration from analyses of hydrogen stable-isotope ratios. Oecologia 130, 199-204. PDF version
• Oberdörster, G., Sharp, Z., Atudorei, V., Elder, A., Gelein, R., Lunts, A., Kreyling, W. and Cox, C. Extrapulmonary translocation of ultrafine carbon particles following inhalation exposure. J. Tox. & Environ. Health A, 65, 1531-1543.PDF version.
  
• Gotze, J., Tichomirowa, M., Fuchs, H., Pilot, J., Sharp, Z.D. Geochemistry of agates: a trace element and stable isotope study. Chem. Geol. 175, 523-541. PDF version .
  
• O’Hara, K.D. and Sharp, Z.D.(2001) Chemical and oxygen isotope composition of natural and artificial pseudotachylites: Role of water during frictional fusion. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 184 , 393-406.
• Sharp, Z.D., Atudorei, V. and Durakiewicz, T. (2001) A rapid method for determination of hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios from water and solid hydrous substances. Chem. Geol. 178 , 197-210 . PDF version
• Sharp, Z.D., Atudorei, V. and Furrer, H. (2000) The effects of diagenesis on oxygen isotope ratios of biogenic phosphates Am. J. Sci. 300 , 222-237.
  
• Sharp, Z.D. and Cerling, T.E. (1998) Fossil isotope records of seasonal climate and ecology: Straight from the horse’s mouth. Geology 26, 219-222.
• Sharp, Z.D. ( 1999) Application of stable isotope geochemistry to low grade metamorphic rocks, In Frey, M. and Robinson, D. eds. Low Grade Metamorphism, Blackwell Publishers, London. 227-260.
• Sharp, Z.D. and Cerling, T.E. (1998) A laser GC-IRMS technique for in situ stable isotope analyses of carbonates and phosphates. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 60, 2909-2916.
• Cerling, T.E and Sharp, Z.D. Stable carbon and oxygen isotope analysis of fossil tooth enamel using laser ablation. Paleo. III 126, 173-186.
• Sharp, Z.D. Oxygen isotope geochemistry of the Al2SiO5 polymorphs. Am. J. Sci. 295, 1058-1076.
• Kirschner, D.L., Sharp, Z.D. and Masson, H. Stable isotope analyses of quartz-calcite veins - one key to understanding the thermal history of structural events. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 106, 1144-1156.
• Sharp, Z.D. and Kirschner, D.L. Quartz-calcite oxygen isotope thermometry: A calibration based on natural isotopic variations. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 58, 4491-4501.
• Sharp, Z.D., Essene, E.J. and Hunziker, J.C. Stable isotope geochemistry and phase equilibria of coesite-bearing whiteschists, Dora Maira Massif, Western Alps. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 114, 1-12

Favorite Spots on the Internet:

SharCh02v2_111505.pdf

STABLE ISOTOPE STUFF (and pictures of the lab) 

The Blue Planet, (Env. Sci. 101), click here

Evolution and Age of the Earth (EPS 110) click here

Stable Isotope Geochemistry (EPS 505), click here

Thermodynamics (EPS 407, 507) click here

IGERT Biology Seminar click here

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