Cornelia Class

Cornelia Class is a Lamont Associate Research Professor at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) of Columbia University. Her research focuses on mantle plumes, geochemical tracing of mantle sources, and the evolution of oceanic basalt provinces. She has led studies on the Tristan-Gough-Walvis hotspot track, the Rio Grande Rise, and the South Atlantic's tectonic history. Class's work integrates field observations, geochemical analysis, and computational tools (e.g., EarthChem) to unravel mantle dynamics and plume processes. Recent projects include IODP Expedition 391, investigating seamount formation and mantle source heterogeneity. Her research highlights include isotopic studies of helium, sulfur, and trace elements in basalts, as well as the thermal evolution of mantle plumes.

Education and affiliations: While specific academic training details are not provided in the text, her role at LDEO indicates a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences. She collaborates with international institutions on deep-earth processes and large igneous provinces.

Publications highlight a focus on plume-ridge interactions, mantle source composition, and the South Atlantic's geodynamic evolution. Over 50 peer-reviewed articles span 20+ years of research, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to mantle geochemistry and tectonics.