My research relates to the compositional evolution of the Earth’s mantle through the study of mafic and ultramafic terranes and xenoliths. I use trace-element and isotope geochemistry and petrological modelling to understand the genesis of mantle-derived magmas, their sources and differentiation processes. I am especially interested in elemental mobility and isotopic fractionation in the sub-arc mantle and the role of melt-peridotite interaction during the formation of pyroxenites.
Find out more on ResearchGate.
Current projects
Oceanic basalt sources and melting processes
Constraining the impact of melting and lithospheric melt-rock interaction processes to identify the signature of recycled lithologies and other source components in primary oceanic basalts, intra-plate volcanics and associated xenoliths.
Melt-rock interaction in the oceanic lithosphere
Differentiation of arc magmas and subduction-related recycling
Characterizing the nature and composition of magmatic products (and their metamorphic and metasomatic overprints) in the sub-arc mantle and lower crust to constrain:
- the impact of fluid-melt-rock interaction on the evolution of arc magmas;
- the impact of their potential recycling on the dynamics and magmatism of the convective mantle.
Studied localities include the Cabo Ortegal Complex (Galicia, NW Spain) and the Trinity Ophiolite (California, USA).
Previous projects
Tethysian ophiolites
Geochemistry of subduction-related magmatics along the Paleo- and Neo-Tethys suture of Anatolia, Iran and the Himalayas.
Sedimentary basins and carbonate diagenesis
During the 2nd year of my MSc at Paul Sabatier University, I carried out a research project on fluid inclusion microthermometry and X-ray diffraction clay mineralogy at Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET). I am of this project was to study relationships between fluid circulation and tectonic deformation in the flysch basin of St Jean de Luz in the NW Pyrenees (France).
Recumbent fold in the Guéthary flysch.
Related publication: Tilhac et al., 2013.
As part of my 1st year MSc at Paul Sabatier University, I worked on the textural identification and geochemical characterization of original and diagenetic features in carbonate speleothems and implications for their dating and use as paleo-environmental and paleo-climate proxies. My case study targeted the Pont-de-Ratz Cave (Hérault, S. France).
Related publications: Perrin et al., 2014, Perrin et al., 2019.