Dr. Wentao Cao
Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences Assistant Professor Wentao Cao gave an invited talk at the Institute for Planetary Materials, Okayama University, Japan.
During the talk, “Probing orogenic lower crust: Partial melting and exhumation of the high-pressure belt, western Grenville Province, Canada,” Dr. Cao discussed the work by his group on the 1-billion-year-old Grenville mountain belt located in eastern North America, extending from Labrador to Texas. It included the various evidence and constraints on the metamorphic conditions, partial melting and geological timing of various events.
The project was one Cao started after joining the Fredonia faculty. A number of Fredonia students, current or graduated, participated in the project.
In addition to the talk, Cao visited the institute and utilized the clean lab and analytical instruments for a collaborative project. He will continue working with Professor Katsura Kobayashi and others at the institute for the project.
The institute is located in Misasa, a rural town in the western section of Honshu Island, known for its hot springs. It hosts multiple departments and conducts various geological and planetary research projects (such as on asteroid Ryugu). The Division of Planetary Materials Analytical Chemistry hosts an amalgamation of advanced analytical and experimental apparatus – to name a few, two secondary ion mass spectrometers, three thermos ionization mass spectrometers, one multi-collector ICP-MS, and electron microprobe – supported by the government.
The institute also hosts an annual Misasa International Student Internship Program for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. The internship is open to students majoring in Earth Sciences, Physics, Chemistry or related fields. All interns receive financial support for the summer internships.
Those who are interested in this summer internship, feel free to discuss it with Cao or reach out to the institute.
