Professor Nekvasil's research integrates experiments and theory in the study of the effects of geologically important extensive and intensive variables (e.g., pressure, volatile abundance) on crystal/melt equilibria in natural igneous systems. Her research ranges from the large-scale investigation of the compositional diversity within intra-plate magmatic suites to the molecular effects of volatile dissolution on the structure of silicate melts and glasses. These results are being applied to evaluating magmatism on the terrestrial planet, most specifically Mars.

Experimental Studies 
Recent lines of investigation have focused on understanding the genesis and evolution of intra-plate magmatic suites that include the large Proterozoic massif anorthosite/potassic granite associations, the alkalic suites of the hotspots and young continental rift regimes, and the tholeiitic suites of the ocean islands. Ongoing experiments are clarifying the role of igneous processes vs. source compositional constraints on producing the variety of lithologies found in these regimes. These results are being used to constrain the magmatic history of the Martian meteorites. Future studies will include evaluation of open system magma/wallrock interactions, trace element mobility in fluids under high pressures and temperatures, and magma production and evolution in the early Earth.

NMR investigations on silicate glass focus on understanding the structural controls on F and water dissolution in silicate melts. New directions will include investigations of the molecular environment of Nd, Sm and Sr in hydrous and fluorinated silicate melts.

Theoretical Studies 
Theoretical initiatives focus on constraining F and OH-bearing species in silicate glasses using ab initio quantum chemistry calculations. These calculations are directly linked to experimental NMR investigations of silicate glasses.

Research Interest:   Experimental igneous petrology, planetary petrology, high temperature fluids, and structure of glass.

Teaching Interest:   Petrology

Selected Publications 

H. Nekvasil, A. Dondolini, J. Horn, J. Filiberto, H. Long, D. H. Lindsley (2004) The origin and evolution of silica-saturated alkalic suites: an experimental study. Journal of Petrology 45, 693-721.

Liu, Y., Nekvasil, H. and Long, H. (2002) Water dissolution in albite melts: Constraints from ab initio NMR Calculations. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 66, 4149-4163.

Liu, Y. and Nekvasil, H. (2002) Si-F bonding in aluminosilicate glasses-inferences from ab initio NMR calculations. American Mineralogist 87, 339-346.

Nekvasil, H., Simon, A. and Lindsley, D.H.L. (2000) Crystal fractionation and the evolution of intra-plate hy-normative igneous suites: insights from their feldspars. Journal of Petrology 41 (12), 1743-1757.

Zeng, Q., Nekvasil, H. and Grey, CP. (2000) In support of a depolymerization model for water in sodium aluminosilicate glasses: Information from NMR spectroscopy. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64 (5) , 883-896.

Zeng, Q., Nekvasil, H. and Grey, C.P. (1999) Proton environments in hydrous aluminosilicate glasses: A ¹H MAS, ¹H/²⁷A1 and ¹H/²³Na TRAPDOR NMR. Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 103 (35) 7406-7415.