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Dr. Andreas Möller


Assistant Professor

Tectonics and Geochronology


Professional EmploymentResearch InterestsResearch ProjectsTeaching
AppointmentsPublicationsElement ICP-MS LaboratorySTUDENT OPPORTUNITY

Andreas Möller, Assistant Professor
Director of KU LA-ICP-MS Geochronology Laboratory
Department of Geology
University of Kansas

1475 Jayhawk Boulevard
120 Lindley Hall
Lawrence, KS 66045-7613

amoller@ku.edu

(785) 864-2727 Lindley Office
(785) 864-1447 IGL Office
(785) 864-5276 Fax

Education

Vordiplom in Geology, 1986, Universität Hamburg
Diplom in Geology, 1990, Universität Kiel
Dr. rer. nat. in Mineralogy, 1996, Universität Kiel

Professional Employment

01/2008-present Assistant Professor, University of Kansas, USA
04/2001-12/2007 Research & Teaching Fellow, Universität Potsdam, Germany
10/1998-03/2001 Post-doc, Universität Mainz, Germany
12/1995-08/1998 Post-doc, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia
04/1990-07/1990 Mine Geologist, Callion Mining/Metal Mining JV, Kalgoorlie, Australia

Research Interests - Geochronology, Petrology and Crustal Evolution

My main research interests are timescales and temperature/depth evolution of geological processes, secular changes in crustal evolution, and the systematics of accessory mineral growth and modification. I am combining age information from isotopic dating and petrologic pressure/temperature estimates to reconstruct the evolution of orogenic belts, mostly by studying high grade metamorphic terrains. In-situ analyses with electron-beam-, ion-beam- or laser-techniques have a high priority in my research approach, which allows to maintain control on the textures that provide relative time information. The systematic studies on the growth and modification of minerals used for dating and their geochemical fingerprints help to better understand which geological processes are dated by the isotopic techniques.

Element ICP-MS Laboratory

Current Research Opportunities

M.S. and Ph.D. projects and funding available. Please contact Andreas Möller for more information on projects and funding

Current Research Projects

I am currently involved in several international collaborative projects as well as my own.

Dating metamorphism with accessory minerals—integrated in-situ geochronology and trace element budgeting of metamorphic reactions. A combined petrological and geochronological stduy of the UHT granulites in the Gruf Complex, Italian central Alps.
International collaboration with R. Bousquet (Potsdam, Germany).
NSF EAR-911933 with funding for 3 years.
PhD student: Jeffrey Oalmann

Detrital zircon in the Green River basin, Wyoming: a combined QUEMSCAN - LA-ICP-MS approach. In collabroation with N.M. Kelly, S. Appleby, both Colorado School of Mines, Golden.
MS student: Peter G. Lippert

Microgeochronology in ultra-high temperature (UHT) granulites. Dating of metamorphic processes in high grade rocks, and Pb diffusion / transport in zircon under ultra high temperature (UHT) conditions. Using metamorphic textures and trace element characteristics to interpret radiometric ages in:
- Rogaland, Norway; - Labwor Hills, Uganda; - Brasilia Belt, Brazil.  Mostly finished, writing up publications
(with P.J. O’Brien, Potsdam, Germany; A. Kröner, Mainz; A. Kennedy, Perth, Australia; R. Moraes, Sao Paulo, Brazil; E. Hellebrand, Hawaii, B. Mocek , KU).

Evolution of strongly fractionated magmatic rocks at mid-oceanic ridges. In-situ dating, trace element and oxygen isotope analyses and geological implications (with E. Hellebrand, University of Hawaii; B Mocek , KU, and M.J. Whitehouse, Royal Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden).

Trace element diffusion in accessory minerals: implications for geothermochronology of metamorphic and igneous rocks. 3D confocal synchrotron-XRF analysis of monazite funded by ESRF (European Synchrotron Research Facility), Grenoble.
Lead-PI: K. Rickers-Appel (DESY, Hamburg), Co-PI's: B. Mocek (KU), P. Appel (University Kiel).

LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of detrital zircon in the project: Volcanic material in Triassic sedimentary units of southwestern North America: understanding the initiation of arc magmatism.
PI's, N.R. Riggs (Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff), J.D. Walker (KU), A.P. Barth (Purdue University, Indianapolis).

Teaching

At KU:

  • Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (Geol 512)
  • Geochronology (Geol 717)
  • History of the Earth (Geol 105/304)
  • Geochemistry & Tectonics seminar (Geol 791, co-teaching)
  • Field camp (Geol 561, co-teaching)

Previously:

  • Field courses: mapping and excursions (co-taught)
  • Optical mineralogy: rock-forming minerals
  • Optical mineralogy: magmatic rocks
  • Regional and historical geology of Australia and Africa
  • Thermobarometry

Appointments

Associate Editor for Mineralogy and Petrology
Guest Editor for Chemical Geology special volume, Jung & Möller (eds.) Crustal dynamics: links between geochronology and petrology (2007), Vol. 241, Issue 1-2, 148 pp.

Publications

20) R. Hajialioghli, M. Moazzen, A. Möller, G.T.R. Droop & R. Oberhänsli, (in revision) Archaean inheritance and Oligocene partial melting in the Takab metamorphic complex, NW Iran: evidence from in situ U-Pb geochronology – In revision with Journal of Metamorphic Geology.
19) Köksal, S., Möller, A., Göncüoglu, M.C., Frei, D. & Gerdes A. (in revision) Crustal homogenization during granitoid generation: evidence from zircon U-Pb ages and Lu-Hf isotope data from the late Cretaceous granitoids of the Agaçören Intrusive Suite (Central Anatolia/Turkey) – In revision with Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology.
18) Riemann, A., Oberhänsli, R. Möller, A., Gerdes, A. & Xu, Z. (2009) In situ LA-SF-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of metasomatic zircon growth during retrogression of UHP eclogites, Sulu deep drill hole, China – European Journal of Mineralogy 21: 1251-1264. DOI: 10.1127/0935-1221/2009/0021-2005.
17) Schmitz, S., Möller, A., Wilke, M., Malzer, W., Kanngiesser, B., Bousquet, R., Berger, A. & Schefer S. (2009) Chemical U-Th-Pb dating of monazite by 3D-Micro x-ray fluorescence analysis with synchrotron radiation – European Journal of Mineralogy 21: 927-946.
16) Moazzen, M. Oberhänsli, R., Hajialioghli, R.  Möller, A., Droop, G.T.R., Jahangiri, A. & Bousquet, R. (2009) Peak and post-peak P-T conditions and fluid composition for scapolite-clinopyroxene-garnet calcsilicates from the Takab area, NW Iran – European Journal of Mineralogy 21: 149-162. 14) Jung, S. & Möller, A. (2007) Editorial for Special Issue of Chemical Geology – Crustal dynamics: links between geochronology and petrology, 7 contributions, 241, 1-3.
15) Bousquet, R., El Mamoun, R., Saddiqi, O., Goffé, B., Möller, A. & Madi, A. (2008) Mélanges and ophiolites during the Pan-African orogeny: the case of the Bou-Azzer ophiolite suite (Morocco) In: Liégois, J.-P. & Ennih, N. (eds) Boundaries of the Western African Craton - Geological Society, London, Special Publications. 238-247.
14) Köksal, S. and Cemal Göncüoglu, M. and Toksoy-Köksal, F. and Möller, A. and Kemnitz, H. (2008) Zircon typologies and internal structures as petrogenetic indicators in contrasting granitoid types from central Anatolia, Turkey. Mineralogy and Petrology 93: 185-211. DOI: 10.1007/s00710-007-0228-y.
13) Harley, S.L., Kelly, N., & Möller, A. (2007) Zircon behaviour and the thermal histories of mountain chains – Elements 3, 25-30.
12) Nasdala, L., Wildner, A., Wirth, R., Groschopf, N., Pal, D.C. & Möller, A. (2006) Alpha particle haloes in chlorite and cordierite – Mineralogy and Petrology, 86, 1-27.
11) Möller, A., O'Brien, P.J., Kennedy, A. & Kröner, A. (2003b) Linking growth episodes of zircon and metamorphic textures to zircon chemistry: an example from the ultrahigh-temperature granu-lites of Rogaland (SW Norway) – In: D. Vance, W. Müller, I.M. Villa (eds) Geochronology: Linking the Isotopic Record with Petrology and Textures - Geological Society, London, Special Publications 220, 65-81.
10) Möller, A., Hensen, B.J., Armstrong, R.A., Mezger, K. & Ballévre, M. (2003a) U-Pb zircon and monazite age constraints on granulite-facies metamorphism and deformation in the Strangways Metamorphic Complex (central Australia) – Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 145, 406-423.
9) Möller, A., Post, N.J. & Hensen, B.J. (2002b) Crustal residence history and Grt Sm-Nd ages of high-grade metamorphic rocks from the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica – International Journal of Earth Science / Geologische Rundschau 91, 993-1004.
8) Möller, A., O'Brien, P.J., Kennedy, A. & Kröner, A. (2002a) Polyphase zircon in ultrahigh-temperature granulites (Rogaland, SW Norway): constraints for Pb diffusion in zircon - Journal of metamorphic Geology 20, 727-740.
7) Ballèvre, M., Möller, A. & Hensen, B.J. (2000) Exhumation of the lower crust during crustal shortening: an Alice Springs (380 Ma) age for a prograde amphibolite facies shear zone in the Strangways Metamorphic Complex (central Australia) – Journal of metamorphic Geology 18, 737-748.
6) Möller, A., Mezger, K. & Schenk, V. (2000) U-Pb dating of metamorphic minerals: Pan-African metamorphism and prolonged slow cooling of high-pressure granulites in Tanzania, East Africa – Precambrian Research 104, 123-147.
5) Bruhn, F., Möller, A., Sie, S.H. & Hensen, B.J. (1999) U-Th-Pb chemical dating of monazites using the proton microprobe – Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Series B 158, 616-620.
4) Möller, A., Mezger, K. & Schenk, V. (1998) Crustal age domains and the evolution of the continental crust in the Mozambique Belt of Tanzania: combined Sm-Nd, Rb-Sr, and Pb-Pb isotopic evidence – Journal of Petrology 39, 749-783.
3) Appel, P., Möller, A. & Schenk, V. (1998) High-pressure granulite facies metamorphism in the Pan-African belt of eastern Tanzania: P-T-t evidence against granulite formation by continent collision – Journal of metamorphic Geology 16, 491-509.
2) Möller, A., Mezger, K., Appel, P. & Schenk, V. (1995) Evidence for a 2 Ga old subduction zone: eclogites in the Usagaran Belt of Tanzania – Geology 23, 1067-1070.
1) Isenbeck-Schröter, M., Döring, U., Möller, A., Schröter, J. & Mattheß, G. (1993) Experimental approach and simulation of the retention processes limiting orthoposphate transport in groundwater – Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 14, 143-161.

Articles in books and reports

5) Rammlmair, D. Wilke, M., Rickers, K., Schwarzer, R.A., Möller, A. & Wittenberg, A. (2006) Chapter 5.6 Geology, Mining, Metallurgy – In: Beckhoff, B., Kanngießer, B., Langhoff, N., Wedell, R. & Wolff, H. (eds.) Handbook of Practical X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis. Springer, Berlin.
4) Appel, P., Möller, A., Schenk, V. & Muhongo, S. (1993) Granulite facies metamorphism and P-T evolution in the Mozambique Belt of Tanzania – In: Thorweihe, U. & Schandelmeier, H. (eds.): Geoscientific Research in NE Africa, 171-175.
3) Möller, A., Post, N.J. & Hensen, B.J. (2000) Sm-Nd isotopic evidence for the Early Proterozoic / Late Archaean crustal evolution of the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica – Centre for Isotope Studies Research Report (1995-2000), 1-7.
2) Post, N.J., Möller, A. & Hensen, B. J. (2000) Garnet Sm-Nd age constraints in the Windmill Islands, East Antarctica: the problem of monazite inclusions in dating high grade metamorphism – Centre for Isotope Studies Research Report (1995-2000), 7-10.
1) Ballèvre, M., Hensen, B.J. & Möller, A. (1999) Granulite-facies rocks from the Strangways Metamorphic Complex and crosscutting, amphibolite-facies, shear zones – In: Hand, M., Mawby, J., Miller, J.A., Ballèvre, M., Hensen, B.J., Möller, A. & Buick, I.S., Tectonothermal evolution of the Harts range and Strangways Range Region, eastern Arunta Inlier, central Australia. Specialist Group in Geochemistry, Mineralogy, and Petrology, Field Guide No. 4, Geological Society of Australia, 5-10.

Monographs

Diplom Thesis (1990) Part I: Weichselzeitliche Ablagerungen einer Eisrandlage südlich von Wankendorf (Weichselian ice-rim deposits south of Wankendorf)
Part II: Transport- und Sorptions-Verhalten von Phosphat in kalkfreien Sanden (Transport- and sorption behaviour of phosphate in non-calcareous sands)

Dr. rer. nat. dissertation (1996): Pan-African granulites and Early Proterozoic eclogites in the Precambrian basement of Eastern Tanzania: P-T-t history and crustal evolution of the complex Mozambique Belt