معرفی
Phillip D. Ihinger is a Professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Science at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. His research focuses on mantle plume dynamics, magmatic volatile cycling, and crystal growth kinetics in hydrothermal systems.
- Ph.D. in Geology from Caltech
- M.S. in Geochemistry from Caltech
- B.A. in Geology from Pomona College
Ihinger’s work on hotspot magmatism challenges conventional mantle convection models by proposing plume segmentation mechanisms. His volatiles in magmas program elucidates how water and CO₂ influence magma crystallization and eruption dynamics, leading to industrial applications like ceramic crystallinity control. The quartz crystal growth studies established hydroxyl concentration gradients as proxies for growth rates and thermal histories, featured on Nature in 2000.
Scientific Contributions:
- Patent for crystal nucleation control in ceramics
- NSF Funding for quartz growth calibration
He has mentored students in projects spanning continental and oceanic magmatic provinces, with recent work linking New England lamprophyres to Atlantic seamounts. Collaborations include Shona Smith (stable isotopes), Mark Davis (nucleation kinetics), and Steve Zink (hydroxyl analysis).
