Dr. Mark Muller

Dr. Mark Muller – Schröedinger Fellow

mark_m

Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies
Geophysics Section
5 Merrion Square
Dublin 2
Ireland

Tel: +353-1-653-5147 x245
Fax: +353-1-443-0575
Email: mark.muller-at-dias.ie

Research interests

Geophysical imaging for renewable and sustainable energy applications.
Geophysical imaging of crustal and lithospheric-mantle structure.
Relationship between geophysical and geological properties of the crust and lithosphere.
Processes of lithospheric evolution through time.

Qualifications

Ph.D. 1998. Geophysics. St. John’s College, University of Cambridge. U.K.
M.Sc. 1991. Geophysics. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
B.Sc. (Hons) 1988. Geophysics. University of the Witwatersrand.
B.Sc. 1987. Geology and Geophysics. University of the Witwatersrand.

Ongoing and past research

Magnetotelluric and CSEM investigations of shallow crustal targets in Ireland within several different geological and sustainable energy contexts:

(i.) Mourne Mountain Granites: to assess the geothermal energy potential and style of magmatic emplacement (with GSNI and Birmingham University).

(ii.) Clare Basin: to investigate the variation in porosity of the Ross Sandstone Formation to assess Carbon Capture and Sequestration potential (with GSI).

(iii.) Larne Basin: to assess the potential of Triassic halite deposits to support Compressed Air Energy Storage (with Gaelectric).

(iv.) Saltwater incursions into shallow freshwater aquifers, Galway (with NUIG).

Lithospheric imaging of southern African Archaean and Proterozoic terranes using magnetotellurics (within the SAMTEX project). Integration of subsurface resistivity models with mantle xenolith chemistry and thermobarometry to determine temporal and spatial variations in the lithospheric-mantle geotherm and composition, to constrain models of lithospheric evolution.

Modelling of heat-flow and surface elevation observations (using the LitMod approach) to define lithospheric evolution and modification.
Magnetotelluric imaging of shallow-crustal Permian–Jurassic and Quaternary sediments in southern Africa to determine the uplift and subsidence history since 100 Ma, to assess the nature of lithospheric modification in response to kimberlite thermalism/magmatism.
Investigation of the oceanic crustal structure of the Southwest Indian Ridge using controlled-source refraction/reflection seismic, gravity and magnetic data, to provide constraints on mid-ocean ridge mantle melting processes.

Publications

Fullea, J., Muller, M.R. and A.G. Jones, 2011. Electrical conductivity of continental lithospheric mantle from integrated geophysical and petrological modeling: application to the Kaapvaal Craton and Rehoboth Terrane, southern Africa. J. Geophys. Res. – Solid Earth, accepted, 29 June, 2011.
Evans, R.L., Jones, A.G., Garcia, X., Muller, M.R., Hamilton, M., Evans, S., Fourie, S., Spratt, J., Webb, S., Jelsma, H. and Hutchins, D., 2011. The electrical lithosphere beneath the Kaapvaal Craton, Southern Africa. J. Geophys. Res. – Solid Earth, 116, B04105, doi:10.1029/2010JB007883.
Miensopust, M.P., Jones, A.G., Muller, M.R., Garcia, X. and Evans, R.L., 2011. Lithospheric structures and Precambrian terrane boundaries in northeastern Botswana revealed through magnetotelluric profiling as part of the Southern African Magnetotelluric Experiment. J. Geophys. Res. – Solid Earth, 116, B02401, doi:10.1029/2010JB007740.
Muller, M.R., Jones, A.G., Evans, R.L., Grütter, H.S., Hatton, C., Garcia, X., Hamilton, M.P., Miensopust, M.P., Cole, P., Ngwisanyi, T., Hutchins, D., Fourie, C.J., Jelsma, H.A., Aravanis, T., Webb, S.J., Wasborg, J. and the SAMTEX Team, 2009. Lithospheric structure, evolution and diamond prospectivity of the Rehoboth Terrane and western Kaapvaal Craton, southern Africa: constraints from broadband magnetotellurics. Lithos, doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2009.06.023.
Jones, A.G., Evans, R.L., Muller, M.R., Hamilton, M.P., Miensopust, M.P., Garcia, X., Cole, P., Ngwisanyi, T., Hutchins, D., Fourie, C.J., Doucouré, C.M., Aravanis, T., Pettit, W., Webb, S.J., Wasborg, J. and the SAMTEX Team. Area selection for diamonds using magnetotellurics: examples from southern Africa. Lithos, doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2009.06.011.
Minshull, T.A., Muller, M.R. and White, R.S., 2006. Crustal structure of the Southwest Indian Ridge at 66°E: seismic constraints. Geophys. J. Int., 166, 135-147.
Pretorius, C.C., Muller, M.R., Larroque, M. and Wilkens, C., 2003. A review of 16 years of hard-rock seismics on the Kaapvaal Craton. In: Hardrock Seismic Exploration, eds. D.W. Eaton, B. Milkereit, and M.H. Salisbury, SEG Spec. Publ., Geophys. Developments, 10, 247-268.
Muller, M.R., Minshull, T.A. and White, R.S., 2000. Crustal structure of the Southwest Indian Ridge at the Atlantis II Fracture Zone. J. Geophys. Res., 105, 25,809-25,828.
Cannat, M., Briais A., Deplus, C., Escartin, J., Georgen, J., Lin, J., Mercouriev, S., Meyzen, C., Muller, M., Pouliquen, G., Rabain, A. and da Silva, P., 1999. Mid-Atlantic Ridge – Azores hotspot interactions: Along-axis migration of a hotspot-derived event of enhanced magmatism 10 to 4 Ma ago. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 173, 257-269.
Muller, M.R., Minshull, T.A. and White, R.S., 1999. Segmentation and melt supply at the Southwest Indian Ridge. Geology, 27, 867-870.
Minshull, T.A., Muller, M.R., Robinson, C.J., White, R.S. and Bickle, M.J., 1998. Is the oceanic Moho a serpentinization front? Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., 148, 71-80.
Muller, M.R., Robinson, C.J., Minshull, T.A., White, R.S. and Bickle, M.J., 1997. Thin crust beneath Ocean Drilling Program borehole 735B at the Southwest Indian Ridge? Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 148, 93-107.