Francis McCubbin’s research interests are focused on trying to understand the roles and abundances of magmatic volatiles in magmatic and hydrothermal systems within the terrestrial planets. This is accomplished by integrating experimental results with mission data and analysis of natural samples.
His current research is focused on understanding the role that water and carbon have played in magmatic and hydrothermal systems on Mars and The Moon through investigations of SNC meteorites, lunar meteorites and Apollo samples.
Francis received his BS in Geology from Towson University in 2004 and I will receive my PhD in Geosciences from Stony Brook University in 2009.
Mason H.E., McCubbin F.M., Smirnov A. and Phillips B.L. (In Press) Solid-State NMR and IR spectroscopic investigation of the role of structural water and F in carbonate-rich fluorapatite. American Mineralogist
Riner M.A., Lucey P.G., Desch S.J., and McCubbin F.M. (2009) Nature of opaque components on Mercury: Insights into a mercurian magma ocean. Geophysical Research Letters. 36, L02201, doi:10.1029/2008GL036128
McCubbin F.M., Nekvasil H., Harrington A.D., Elardo S.M., and Lindsley D.H. (2008) Compositional diversity and stratification of the Martian crust: Inferences from crystallization experiments on the picrobasalt Humphrey from Gusev Crater, Mars. Journal of Geophysical research-Planets. 113, E11013, doi:10.1029/2008JE003165
McCubbin F.M. and Nekvasil H. (2008) Maskelynite-hosted apatite in the Chassigny meteorite: Insights into late-stage magmatic volatile evolution in Martian magmas. American Mineralogist. 93. 676-684
McCubbin F.M., Mason H.E., Park H., Parise J.B., Phillips B.L., Nekvasil H., and Lindsley D.H. (2008) Synthesis and Characterization of low-OH- fluor-chlorapatite: A single crystal XRD and NMR spectroscopic study. American Mineralogist 93. pp. 210-216.
Nekvasil H., Filiberto J., McCubbin, F.M., and Lindsley D.H. (2007) Alkalic parental magmas for the Chassignites? Meteoritics and Planetary Science. 42. pp. 979-992.