The focus of my research group is to determine the origin, scale, composition and evolution of the heterogeneity in the Earth's and Moon's mantle using isotope, major, trace and volatile element geochemistry. One of the simplest ways of mapping the heterogeneity in the mantle is using the geochemistry of erupted basalts and mantle peridotites. However, to extract the deep mantle signature from basalts and mantle rocks we must first evaluate the effect that the interaction between melts and the oceanic lithosphere plays in modifying the composition of oceanic island and mid-ocean ridges basalts and massif peridotites. Recycling processes at subduction zones are considered one of the most important means of generating heterogeneity in the mantle. Thus, we have to understand the role that subduction dynamics plays on regulating the distribution of slab, mantle and crustal components between the volcanic arc and the deep mantle. Our research combines field and laboratory work for the collection and analysis of radiogenic isotope (Sr, Nd, Pb, Hf and U-series) and major, trace and volatile contents of basalts, phenochrysts and melt inclusions. Our analytical work utilizes state-of-the-art instruments such as electron and ion microprobe, thermal ionization mass spectrometer, and multi-collector inductively-coupled-plasma mass spectrometer, either using sample solution or in-situ laser ablation.

NSF Ocean Sciences-0335310 "Deconvolving the Galapagos Plume" Period: 4/1/03-1/31/06

NSF Earth Sciences-0403107 "The Galapagos Plume Geodynamics, A Geochemical Approach" Period: 6/1/03-5/31/06

NSF Ocean Sciences-0527152 "Sampling Basalts in the Quebrada-Discovery-Gofa Transform Fault System: Testing Models of Mantle Flow and Melt Transport" Period: 1/1/06-12/31/09. This proposal included support for Research Experience for Undergraduates, which made possible to integrate four Freshmen, from the course taught by Saal, in the research cruise and to support their Group Independent Study at Brown University.

NASA Cosmochemistry "Abundance and Distribution of Volatile Elements (CO ₂ , H ₂ O, F, S and CI) in the Lunar Picritic Glasses" PI: Saal. Period: 4/1/07-3/31/10

NASA LASER "In Search of the Primitive Volatile Content of Lunar Magmas" Period: 8/15/08-8/14/11

NSF EAR-0810191 "Collaborative Research: the Geodynamics of the Andean Southern Volcanic Zone, A Geochemical Approach" Period: 7/1/08-6/30/2011.

NASA Lunar Science Institute Cooperative Agreement Notice "The Moon as Cornerstone to the Terrestrial Planets: The Formative Years" Period 1/1/09-12/31/2012. Proposal Pending.

Refereed Publications († denotes Saal’s student or postdoc):

Renggli, C.J., Steenstra, E.E., Saal, A.E. (2026). Sulfur in the Moon and Mercury. In D. E. Harlov & G. S. Pokrovski

(Eds.), The Role of Sulfur in Planetary Processes: From Cores to Atmospheres (Chapter 15). Springer

Camilletti, G., Otamendi, J., Saal, A.E., Mallick, S., Bachmann, O. (2026) Evaluating mantle source contamination

versus crustal assimilation in the Famatinian Arc, Argentina. Submitted to Journal of Petrology.

Moussallam,Y., Rose-Koga, E. F., Aubaud, C., Georgeais, G., Cartigny, P., Koga, K. T., Devidal, J.-L., Michael, P.

J., Shimizu, K., Saal, A.E. (2025). Enigmatic carbon isotopic variability in the oceanic upper mantle. Proc. Nat.

Acad. Sc. Doi:10.1073/pnas.2502886122

†Williams, T.A., Parman, S.W., Saal, A.E., Akey, A.J., Gardener, J.A., and Ogliore, R.C. (2025) Lunar volcanic gas

cloud chemistry: Constraints from glass bead surface sublimates. Icarus, 438, 116607.

Durkin, K., Castillo, P.R., Straub, S.M., Mallick, S., Saal A.E., Muller, J.K. (2025) Widespread contamination of the

Pacific upper mantle during the mid-Cretaceous. Marine Geology 480, 107460

(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2024.107460

†Guest, I., A.E. Saal, S. Mallick, M. Gorring, S. M. Kay (2024) The volcanism of the meseta del Lago Buenos Aires,

Patagonia: the transition from subduction to slab window. Journal of Petrology, 65, egae052

(https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egae052).

†Anderson, D.W., A.E. Saal, S. Mallick, J. Wang, T. R. Riley, Randall A. Keller, K. M. Haase (2023) Source

variations in volatile contents of Bransfield Strait back-arc and Phoenix/West Scotia mid-ocean ridge lavas, northern

Antarctic Peninsula. Chemical Geology (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2023.121839).

†Mallick, S., †Kuhl, S., Saal A.E., Klein, E., Bach, W., Monteleone, B., Boesenberg J., (2023) Evidence of South

American Lithosphere Mantle beneath the Chile Mid-Ocean Ridge. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 620,

118320.

†D.W. Anderson, A.E. Saal, J.I. Lee et al., (2023) Tracing mantle components and the effect of subduction processes

beneath the northern Antarctic Peninsula, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 343, 234-249.

†K. Shimizu, A.E. Saal, E.H. Hauri et al., (2022) High-C content and CO2/Ba ratio of the Earth’s enriched upper

mantle, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 343, 161-179.

†Parks, B., Calabozo, F., Saal, A. E., Wang, Z., Mallick, S., Petrinovic, I., Frey, F.A (2022) Unraveling the signature

of metasomatized subcontinental lithospheric mantle in the basaltic magmatism of the Payenia volcanic province,

Argentina. Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems doi.org/10.1029/2021GC010071.

†Chin, E. J., †Chilson-Parks, B. H., Boneh, Y., Hirth, G., Saal, A. E., Carter Hearn, B., Hauri, Erik, H. (2021) The

peridotite deformation cycle in cratons and the deep impact of subduction. Tectonophysics 817,

doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2021.229029

Boneh, Y., †Chin, E. J., †Chilson-Parks, B. H., Saal, A. E., Hauri, E. H., Carter Hearn, B., Hirth, G., (2021)

Microstructural shift due to post-deformation annealing in the upper mantle. Geochemistry, Geophysics and

Geosystems. doi.org/10.1029/2020GC009377.

Saal A. E. and Hauri E. H., (2021) Large Sulfur Isotope Fractionation in Lunar Volcanic Glasses Reveals the

Magmatic Differentiation and Degassing of the Moon. Sciences Advances 7, 9, doi/10.1126/sciadv.abe4641.

Head J. W., Wilson L., Deutsch A.N., Rutherford M. J., Saal A. E. (2020) Volcanically Induced Transient

Atmospheres on the Moon: Assessment of Duration, Significance, and Contributions to Polar Volatile Traps.

Geophysical Research Letters 47, 18 doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089509

DeFelice, C., Mallick, S., Saal, A. E., Huang, S. (2019) A depleted lower mantle component is intrinsic to the

Hawaiian mantle plume. Nature Geosc. doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0348-0.

†Peterson, M., Wang, Z., Saal, A. E., Kurz, M., Eiler, J. (2019) Oxygen isotope compositions of lavas from the

Galapagos Archipelago: geochemical contributions from modern crustal sources. Contributions to Minerology and

Petrology 174:17

Yakovlev P.V., Saal A.E., Clark M.K., Hong C., Niemi N. A., Mallick S. (2019) The Geochemistry of Tibetan Lavas:

Spatial and Temporal Relationships, Tectonic Links and Geodynamic Implications. Earth and Planetary Science

Letters 520, 115–126.

†Shimizu, K., Saal, A.E., Hauri, E., Perfit, M.R. and Hekinian R. (2019), Evaluating the roles of melt-rock interaction

and partial degassing on the CO2/Ba ratios of MORBs: implications for the CO2 budget in Earth’s depleted upper

mantle. Geochimica Cosmochimica Acta 260, 29–48.

Hauri E. H., Cottrell E., Kelley K. A., Tucker J. M., †Shimizu K., Le Voyer M., Marske J., Saal A.E. (2019) Carbon

in the Convecting Mantle in: Orcutt B, Daniel I, Dasgupta R, eds. Deep Carbon: Past to Present. Cambridge, UK:

Cambridge University Press doi: 10.1017/9781108677950.

Füri E., Zimmermann L., Saal A.E. (2018) Apollo 15 green glass He-Ne-Ar signatures – In search for indigenous

lunar noble gases. Geochemical perspective Letters doi: 10.7185/geochemlet.1819

Hauri E.H., Saal, A. E., Nakajima, M., Anand, M., Rutherford, M.J., Van Orman J.A., LeVoyer M. (2017) Origin and

Evolution of Water in the Moon’s Interior. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 45, Issue 1, 89-111.

†Shimizu, K., Liang, Y., Sun, C., Jackson, C. R. M., Saal, A. E., (2017) Parameterized lattice strain models for REE

partitioning between amphibole and silicate melt. American Mineralogist,102 (11): 2254-2267.

Rutherford, M. J., Head, J. W., Saal, A. E., Wilson, L., Hauri, E. (2017) Model for the origin, ascent and eruption of

lunar picritic magmas. American Mineralogist,102 (10): 2045-2053.

†Peterson, M., Saal, A. E., Kurz, M.D., Hauri, E.H., Blusztajn, J., Harpp, K.S., Werner, R., Geist, D.J., (2017)

Submarine Basaltic Glasses from the Galapagos Archipelago: Determining the Volatile Budget of the Mantle

Plume. Journal of Petrology 58, Issue 7, 1419–1450.

†Chin, E. J. Soustelle, V., Hirth, G., Saal, A. E., Kruckenberg, S. C., Eiler, J. M. (2016) Microstructural and

geochemical constraints on the evolution of deep arc lithosphere. Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems

Volume 17, Issue 7, Pages 2497–2521.

†Shimizu K., Saal, A.E., †Myers, C.E., †Nagel, A.N.; Hauri, E.H., Forsyth, D.W., Kamenetsky, V.S., Niu, Y., (2016)

Two-component mantle melting-mixing model for the generation of mid-ocean ridge basalts: Implications for the

volatile content of the Pacific upper mantle. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 176, 44–80.

†Wetzel D. T., Hauri E. H., Saal A. E., Rutherford M. J., (2015) Carbon Content and degassing history of the lunar

volcanic glasses. Nature Geoscience 8, 755–758.

Hauri E.H., Saal, A.E., Rutherford, M.C. & Van Orman J.A., (2015) Water in the Moon’s interior: truth and

consequences. Invited paper to Frontiers in Earth and Planetary Sciences 409, 252–264.

†Peterson, M., Saal A., Nakamura, E., Kitagawa, H., Kurz M. D., Koleszar A. M. (2014) Origin of the “ghost

plagioclase” signature in Galapagos melt inclusions: new evidence from lead isotopes. Journal of Petrology 55,

2193-2216.

Kurz, M.D., Rowland, S.K., Curtice, J., Saal, A.E., Naumann, T. (2014) Eruption rates for Fernandina volcano: a new

chronology at the Gal.pagos hotspot center. In The Galapagos: A Natural Laboratory for the Earth Sciences K.S.

Harpp, E. Mittelstaedt, N. d'Ozouville, D.W. Graham (Editors). American Geophysical Union monograph, pp. 41-

54.

Newcombe M. E.; Fabbrizio A.; Zhang Y.; Ma C.; Le Voyer M.; Guan Y.; Eiler J. M.; Saal A. E.; Stolper E. M.

(2014) Chemical Zonation in Olivine-Hosted Melt Inclusions. Contribution to Mineralogy and Petrology, 168 (1).

Art. No. 1030. ISSN 0010-7999.

Saal, A.E., Hauri, E.H., Van Orman, J., Rutherford, M. (2013) Hydrogen Isotopes in Lunar Volcanic Glasses and

Melt Inclusions: a Carbonaceous Chondrite Heritage Revealed. Science 340, 1317-1320.

†Wetzel D. T., Rutherford M. J., Jacobsen S. D., Hauri E. H., Saal A. E. (2013) Degassing of Reduced Carbon from

Planetary Basalts. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 110, pp. 8010–8013.

Handley, H. K., Turner, S., Berlo, K., Beier, C. and Saal, A. E. (2011) Insights into the Gal.pagos plume from

uranium-series isotopes of recently erupted basalts, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 12, Q0AC14,

doi:10.1029/2011GC003676.

Hauri E.H., †Weinreich, T., Saal, A.E., Rutherford, M.C. & Van Orman J.A., (2011) High pre-eruptive water contents

preserved in lunar melt inclusions. Science, 333, 213-215

Van Orman, J.A. and Saal, A.E. (2010) Diffusion constraints on rates of melt production in the mantle, in “Timescales

of Magmatic Processes: From Core to Atmosphere”, A. Dosseto, S.P Turner, J.A. Van Orman, Eds., Wiley-

Blackwell, p. 52-67.

Van Orman, J.A. and Saal, A.E. (2009) Crustal control on 210Pb disequilibria in basalts. Earth and Planetary Science

Letters, 284, 3-4, 284-291.

†Koleszar, A.M., Saal, A.E., Hauri, E.H., Nagle, A.N., Liang, Y. and Kurz, M.D. (2009) The volatile contents of the

Galapagos plume; evidence for H2O and F open system behavior in melt inclusions. Earth and Planetary Science

Letters, 287, 3-4, 442-452.

Pickle, R.C., Forsyth, D.W., Harmon, N., Nagle, A.N. and Saal A.E. (2008) Thermo-mechanical control of axial

topography of intra-transform spreading centers. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 284, 3-4, 343-351.

Jackson, M.G., Hart, S.R., Saal, A.E., Shimizu, N., Kurz, M. D., Blusztajn, J. S. and Skovgaard, A.C., (2008) Globally

elevated titanium, tantalum, and niobium (TITAN) in ocean island basalts with high 3He/4He. Geochemistry,

Geophysics and Geosystems, 9 (4) doi:10.1029/2007GC001876.

Saal, A.E., Hauri, E.H., Lo Cascio, M., Van Orman, J.A., Rutherford, M.J. and Cooper, R.F. (2008) The Volatile

Content of the Lunar Volcanic Glasses: Evidence for the Presence of Water in the Moon’s Interior. Nature 454,

192-195.

Saal, A.E., Kurz, M.D., Hart, S.R., Busztajn, J., Blichert-Toft, J., Liang, Y. and Geist, D. (2007) The role of

lithospheric gabbros on the composition of Galapagos Lavas. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 257, 391-406.

Bourdon, B., Ribe, N.M., Stracke, A., Saal, A.E. and Turner, S.P. (2007) Reply to “Evidence for mantle plumes? by

D.L. Anderson and J.H. Natland. Brief communication arising from Bourdon et al. Nature 444, 713-717”. Nature

450, 11-22-07.

Bourdon, B., Ribe, N.M., Stracke, A., Saal, A.E. and Turner, S.P. (2006) Insights into the dynamics of mantle plumes

from U-series geochemistry. Nature 444, 713-717.

Van Orman, J.A., Saal, A.E., Bourdon, B. and Hauri, E.H. (2006) Diffusive fractionation of U-series nuclides during

mantle melting and shallow level melt-cumulate interaction. Geochimica et Cosmoquimica Acta 70, 4797-4812.

Saal, A.E., Hart, S.R., Shimizu, N., Hauri, E.H., Layne, G.D. and Eiler, J.M. (2005) Pb isotopic variability in melt

inclusions from the EMI-EMII-HIMU end members and the role of the oceanic lithopshere. Earth and Planetary

Science Letters 240, 605-620.

Saal, A.E., Hauri, E.H., Langmuir, C.H. and Perfit, M.R. (2004) Reply to “The role of fO2 in fluid saturation of oceanic

basalt by B. Scaillet and M. Pichavant. Brief communication arising from A.E. Saal et al. Nature vol. 419, 451-

455”. Nature 430, 7-29-04.

Saal, A.E. and Van Orman, J.A. (2004) The 226Ra enrichment in oceanic basalts: evidence for melt-cumulate

diffusive interaction processes within the oceanic lithosphere. Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems vol 5 (2)

2003GC000620.

Saal, A.E., Hauri, E.H., Langmuir, C.H. and Perfit, M.R. (2002) Vapor undersaturation in primitive mid-ocean ridge

basalt and the volatile content of the Earth’s Upper Mantle. Nature 419, 451-455.

Saal, A.E., Takazawa, E., Frey, F.A., Shimizu, N. and Hart, S.R. (2001) Re-Os isotopes in the Horoman peridotite:

Evidence for refertilization? Journal of Petrology 42, (1), 25-37.

Hart, S.R., Staudigel, H., Koppers, A.A.P., Blusztajn, J., Baker, E.T., Workman, R., Jackson, M., Hauri, E., Kurz, M.,

Sims, K., Fornari, D., Saal, A.E. and Lyons, S. (2000) Vailulu'u Undersea Volcano: The New Samoa,

Geochemistry, Geophysics and Geosystems GC000108, 1-13.

Takazawa, E., Frey, F.A., Shimizu, N., Saal, A.E. and Obata, M. (1999) Polybaric petrogenesis of mafic layers in the

Horoman peridotite complex, Japan. Journal of Petrology, 40, (12), 1827-1851.

Saal, A.E., Hart, S.R., Shimizu, N., Hauri, E.H. and Layne, G.D. (1998) Pb isotopic variability in melt inclusions

from oceanic island basalts, Polynesia. Science 282, 1481-1484.

Saal, A.E., Rudnick, R.L., Ravizza, G.E. and Hart, S.R. (1998) Re-Os isotope evidence for the composition, formation

and age of the lower continental crust. Nature 393, 58-61.

Saal, A.E., Toselli, A. y Rossi de Toselli, J. (1996) Granitoides y rocas basicas de la Sierra de Paganzo. In “Geologia

del Sistema de Famatina”, Ace.olaza G.; Miller H. and Toselli A. (Eds). Münchner Geologische Hefte A19, 199-

210.

Martino, R.D., Escayola, M. y Saal, A.E. (1994) Estructura del cuerpo de Kinzigita del R.o Santa Rosa, Departamento

Calamuchita. Provincia de C.rdoba. Revista de la Asociaci.n Geol.gica Argentina. 49, (1-2), 3-10.

Bermudez, A., Delpino, D., Frey, F.A. y Saal, A.E. (1993) Los basaltos de retroarco extraandino. Relatorio del XII

Congreso Geologico Argentino I, (13), 161-172.

Saal, A.E. (1988) Los granitoides de la Sierra de Paganzo, La Rioja, Argentina. V Congreso Geologico Chileno III,

I, 1 - 15.

2025 Elected Fellow Academia Nacional Ciencias, Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales, Buenos Aires, Argentina

2025 Visiting Researcher at Le Studium, Institute for Advance Studies, Loire Valley, France

2025 Moore Distinguished Scholar Division Geological and Planetary Sciences, Caltech

2023 Elected Fellow American Academy of Art and Sciences

2023 Elected Fellow American Geophysical Union

2017 Guggenheim Fellowship

2016 Fulbright Scholar Fellowship

2009 Master of Arts ad eundem gradum

American Geophysical Union
Geochemical Society

GEOL 0160: First Year Seminar: Volcanoes, Windows Into the Deep Earth
GEOL 0230: Geochemistry: Earth, Planetary Materials & their Processes
GEOL 1420: Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
GEOL 2730: Isotope Geochemistry
GEOL 2740: Advanced Topics in Geochemistry
GEOL 2910: The Role of Volatile in Magmatic Processes
GEOL 2920: Evolution of the Moon

ADVISING:
Current Graduate Students:

Benjamin Parks
Mary Peterson
Kei Shimizu
Diane Wetzel

Former Graduate Students:
Alison Koleszar, ScM '08
Corinne Myers, ScM '08
Ashley Nagle, ScM '08