Geology and Geophysics
Tectonics
EAPS faculty and students in tectonics study how the Earth has evolved over billions of years, integrating observations from the building and breaking of mountain ranges to the rise and filling of ocean basins, with an eye to their impact on the evolution of life.
Geophysics
Our geophysics faculty and students quantify the forces that currently shape the surface of our planet, from plate tectonics to mountain building, and the strength of the crust and mantle, from cold rocks that break as earthquakes to warm rocks that flow.
Geomorphology
Select EAPS faculty and students focus their research on the study of the origin and evolution of landscapes created by physical and chemical processes including tectonics, the flow of water and ice, and climate change.
Energy
Research in the traditional and unconventional energy thematic areas are conducted by our faculty and students, including the study of the exploration of reservoirs, the sedimentological and structural characterization of wells, and fluid/rock interactions.
Geology and Geophysics News
Lunar meteorite discovery supports Purdue-led model of early Moon evolution
05-07-2025
A rock that crash-landed on Earth has made lunar science history, and a Purdue scientist, Tabb Prissel, played a key role in modeling its formation history. For the first time, researchers have classified a whole-rock meteorite as a lunar norite (Arguin 002), an igneous lunar rock type primarily comprised of the minerals orthopyroxene and plagioclase feldspar.
What’s Going On Inside Io, Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon?
05-01-2025
Quanta Magazine — Recent flybys of the fiery world refute a leading theory of its inner structure — and reveal how little is understood about geologically active moons. EAPS's Michael Sori was quoted in the article.
Mysterious Mars Rock Leaves Scientists Searching For Origin Clues
04-23-2025
Forbes — The Perseverance rover is currently exploring the rim of the Jezero Crater in an area called Witch Hazel Hill. The rover took some time in April to study a spot where lighter and darker rock outcrops meet. That’s where the unusual rock came into focus. Margaret Deahn, a PhD student in EAPS, is featured in the Forbes article.
NASA finds mysterious skull-shaped feature on Mars — where star-gazers say it doesn’t belong
04-21-2025
New York Post — NASA’s Mars rover has spotted something out of this world — a mysterious, skull-shaped elevation – sitting on a slope where star-gazers say it doesn’t belong. The mysterious rock – dubbed “Skull Hill” was discovered April 11 by the Perseverance rover while it was driving down a ridge called Witch Hazel Hill. Margaret Deahn, a Ph.D. student at Purdue University working with NASA was quoted in the article.
Purdue SuperCam helping with Mars research
03-31-2025
Inside Indiana Business—Purdue University is playing a key role in cracking the code on a planet 140 million miles away from Earth. Purdue professor Roger Wiens' state-of-the-art camera perched atop the Perseverance Rover is marking its fourth year on Mars. It's gathering half a million images to help scientists better understand how unique rocks make up this mysterious planet.