Charles K. Shearer, Jr

Charles K. Shearer, Jr is a Research Professor and Senior Research Scientist III at the Institute of Meteoritics, University of New Mexico. His research focuses on trace element behavior in magmatic systems, planetary basaltic magmatism, and astrobiological investigations related to life on Mars. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts (1983).

Research Interests:

• Magmatic processes in terrestrial and extraterrestrial systems
• Geochemistry of silicate minerals in planetary basalts
• Origins of diogenites and HED meteorites
• Lunar and Martian sample analysis
• High-temperature metamorphic assemblages
• Granite petrogenesis and evolution

Publications Trends: Over 30 years, his work has concentrated on planetary materials analysis, with major contributions to lunar magmatic evolution (1998-1999), Martian meteorite studies (1996-1999), and metamorphic mineral assemblages (1994-1998). Recent work has emphasized planetary sample curation and astrobiology implications of extraterrestrial materials.

Key Facilities: Primary affiliation with the Institute of Meteoritics lab facilities at UNM, including sample preparation, microanalytical instrumentation, and planetary material curation.