TITLE: Geochemist
ACADEMIC INSTITUTION: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

 

What is your role in Extreme 2008?
I was invited from the Mexican government as observer because a part of the cruise will be in Mexican waters, Guaymas Basin.

What questions are you trying to answer and why?
I have been studying the geochemistry and mineralogy of shallow vents in Bahía Concepción (Baja California Sur) and in Punta Mita (Nayarit). This invitation represents a great opportunity to compare the geochemistry of deep and shallow vents in Baja California.

Why is this research important? What are the benefits?
Deep vents have been extensively studied, but not the shallow ones. It could be very interesting to compare two systems, one of high temperature and the other of low temperature, which has been formed by a similar geological context, the opening of the Gulf of California.

From the processes that originate at the opening of the Gulf of California several sub-tidal and sub-aerial thermal manifestations occur along the Baja California Peninsula. The presence of this kind of thermal activity can be useful to obtain geothermal energy that can be of great benefit to the population of Baja California Peninsula.

What's your background, and what lured you into marine science/education?
I studied chemistry at the UNAM. I have a master science in oceanography chemistry and a Ph.D. in geochemistry.