ARTICLES
Stimulus Material for depth studies, courtesy of Macquarie University (continued)
How do the elements of life cycle through the Earth’s crust and
mantle?
And where should we look for the minerals that our civilisation depends on? These are two of the big questions
that Macquarie University’s Stephen Foley (Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences) is attempting to
answer.
Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen are arguably the elements of life. They cycle not just through the
atmosphere but also through the Earth’s crust. For example, only 10 per cent of the Earth’s carbon is on
the surface or in the atmosphere. Understanding how these elements cycle through the Earth is essential to
understanding the movement of the continents and the development of many mineral deposits.
In September Stephen received a $3 million Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship to study how
carbon, water and nitrogen cycle kilometres underground, how rocks melt, and how that influences the
movement of continents and the concentration of minerals.
Macquarie University will open a new high-pressure laboratory in 2019 that will enable Stephen and his
colleagues to recreate the conditions of the deep Earth.
Read more about Stephen’s research on The Lighthouse
Syllabus link: Earth and Environmental Science syllabus Module 1 Inquiry question 2
FACULTY OF SCIENCE
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SCIENCE EDUCATIONAL NEWS VOL 67 NO 4