Projects per year
Overview
Profile summary
Associate Professor in Earth Sciences
Lead of Geochemistry Group
Marine Institute Strategy Board Member
Supervised research degrees
Ph.D. supervision:
Ms Lottie Atton "Exploring seafloor hydrothermal systems with novel high resolution mineral mapping"
Dr James Hepworth "Novel Insights into CO2 sequestration in peridotites"
Dr Marta Grabowska "Deciphering the signal of fluid/rock reaction in the lower oceanic crust: The Oman ophiolite analogue" 2023
Dr Jennifer Rutter "Characterising low temperature alteration and oxidation of the upper oceanic crust", University of Southampton, completed 2015
Dr Louise Koornneef "The sheeted dyke-gabbro transition zone: the key to unravelling the paleomagnetic record of the Oman ophiolite" Plymouth University
Additional information
Research interests:
My research interests relate to understanding and quantifying the role of hydrothermal circulation through the ocean crust, a fundamental Earth process that is responsible for the transfer of heat from the ocean crust and modifies the chemistry of the ocean crust and the oceans. I use a combination of petrology (inlcuding novel imaging spectroscopy) and geochemistry on samples recovered from ocean crust and ophiolites through scientific drilling to address key questions about the timing, distribution and magnitude of hydrothermal fluid fluxes in the upper and lower ocean crust. I also use calcium carbonate veins precipitated from low temperature hydrothermal fluids as a past record of ocean chemistry.
My research interests relate to understanding and quantifying the role of hydrothermal circulation through the ocean crust, a fundamental Earth process that is responsible for the transfer of heat from the ocean crust and modifies the chemistry of the ocean crust and the oceans. I use a combination of petrology (inlcuding novel imaging spectroscopy) and geochemistry on samples recovered from ocean crust and ophiolites through scientific drilling to address key questions about the timing, distribution and magnitude of hydrothermal fluid fluxes in the upper and lower ocean crust. I also use calcium carbonate veins precipitated from low temperature hydrothermal fluids as a past record of ocean chemistry.
Research Cruises:
IODP Expedition 393 South Atlantic Age Transect II, Lead Metamorphic Petrologist
IODP Expedition 357 Atlantis Massif Seafloor Processes: Serpentinization and Life, Metamorphic Petrologist
IODP Expedition 335 Superfast Spreading Rate Crust 4, Metamorphic Petrologist
IODP Expedition 327 Juan de Fuca Ridge Flank Hydrogeology, Petrologist (Group Leader)
JC21 Hess Deep Rift
JC7 Mid Atlantic Ridge 13N Oceanic Core Complexes
Academic qualifications
Physical sciences, Doctorate, The accretion of the lower oceanic crust, University of Southampton
Award Date: 1 Jul 2011
Geography, earth and environmental studies, First Degree, Geological Sciences (International), University of Leeds
Award Date: 1 Jul 2006
External positions
Science Evaluation Panel (Science Member), International Ocean Discovery Programme (IODP)
Jun 2023 → …
Member of UKIODP Programme Advisory Group (PAG), UK IODP
May 2023 → …
Teaching Fellow, University of Southampton
2014 → 2015
Post Doctoral Researcher, University of Southampton
2011 → 2015
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 14 Life Below Water
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
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Zero age drilling workshop
Harris, M. (PI - Principal Investigator)
International Ocean Discovery Program
1/11/25 → 28/02/26
Project: Research
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NSFGEO-NERC: Data Mining the Deep, Combining Geochemistry and Imaging Spectroscopy to Quantify the Impact on Ocean Chemistry of Deep Hydrothermal Circulation at Mid-Ocean Ridges
Harris, M. (PI - Principal Investigator)
Natural Environment Research Council
1/11/21 → 31/10/25
Project: Research
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Investigating the Oceanic Life Cycle of Tectonic Plates with Mission-Specific Scientific Drilling
Harris, M. (PI - Principal Investigator)
European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling
1/01/22 → 1/05/22
Project: Research
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Hydrothermal alteration during the aging of the ocean crust: IODP Expedition 393 South Atlantic Transect
Harris, M. (PI - Principal Investigator)
Natural Environment Research Council
1/06/22 → 1/10/24
Project: Research
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Hydrothermal alteration of Petit-Spot magmatism: IODP Expedition 502
Harris, M. (PI - Principal Investigator) & Atton, L. (RA - Research Assistant)
Natural Environment Research Council
1/11/25 → 31/10/27
Project: Research
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Porosity-dependent physical property changes of the oceanic crust at the South Atlantic Transect (IODP X390-393)
Amadori, C., Test, C. R., Harris, M., Alvarez-Borges, F., Coggon, R. & Teagle, D., 14 Mar 2026.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
Open Access -
A geological carbon cycle sink hosted by ocean crust talus breccias
Coggon, R. M., Carter, E. J., Grant, L., Evans, A. D., Lowery, C., Teagle, D. A. H., Kempton, P., Cooper, M. J., Routledge, C., Albers, E., Estep, J., Christeson, G., Harris, M., Belgrano, T., Sylvan, J., Reece, J., Estes, E. & Williams, T., 24 Nov 2025, In: Nature Geoscience. 18, 12, p. 1279-1286 8 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
Hydrothermal alteration of the oceanic lithosphere
Schwarzenbach, E. & Harris, M., 1 Jan 2025, Treatise on Geochemistry. 3rd ed. Science Direct (Elsevier), Vol. 2. p. 1-37 (Treatise of Geochemistry).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Ocean crustal veins record dynamic interplay between plate-cooling-induced cracking and ocean chemistry
Evans, A. D., Coggon, R. M., Harris, M., Carter, E. J., Albers, E., Guérin, G. M., Belgrano, T. M., Jonnalagadda, M., Grant, L. J. C., Kempton, P. D., Sanderson, D. J., Milton, J. A., Henstock, T. J., Alt, J. C. & Teagle, D. A. H., 15 Jan 2025, In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 650, 119116.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile32 Downloads (Pure) -
Sulfur cycling in the gabbroic section of the Oman ophiolite
Jesus, A. P., Strauss, H., Gonçalves, M. A., Harris, M., Silva, D., Whitehouse, M. J. & Teagle, D. A. H., Feb 2025, In: Lithos. 494-495, 107913.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile6 Downloads (Pure)
Prizes
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VCs Award EDI
Boulton, S. (Recipient), Fisher, J. (Recipient), FitzPatrick, M. (Recipient), Gales, J. (Recipient), Harris, M. (Recipient), Mather, A. (Recipient) & Mildon, Z. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize / award