Department of Geology - Portland State University [Geology Home]      [PSU Home]      [Alex's Homepage]  [Alex's CV] Research Page for Dr. Alexander M. Ruzicka

 

Udei Station silicate-bearing iron, with mm-scale at left. (Polished and etched sample CML0264-2.) Cross-polarized transmitted light image of Udei Station showing coarse twinned plagioclase (plag) enclosing orthopyroxene (opx).

Research interests: Dust aggregation and processing in the solar nebula (amoeboid olivine aggregates and agglomeratic olivine objects in chondrites) [Ruzicka et al. (2012a), Ruzicka et al. (2012b)] Formation of silicate-bearing iron  meteorites [Ruzicka et al. (1999),  Ruzicka et al. (2006),  Ruzicka and Hutson (2006),  Ruzicka and Hutson (2010)] Chondrule formation, as revealed by incompletely melted 'relict' olivine grains in chondrules [Ruzicka et al. (2007),  Ruzicka et al. (2008)] and chondrule analogues on the Moon [Ruzicka et al. (2000)] The deformation and thermal histories of chondritic meteorites as evidenced by microstructures [Ruzicka (1990), Hutson et al. (2007b),  Hutson et al. (2009a),  Ruzicka and Hugo (2011)] Origin of large inclusions in ordinary chondrites [Ruzicka et al. (1995), Ruzicka et al. (1998), Ruzicka et al. (2000), Ruzicka et al. (2012)] HED meteorites and asteroid Vesta [Ruzicka et al. (1997), Ruzicka and Schepker (2008)] Origin of the Moon (comparative planetology) [Ruzicka et al. (2001), Ruzicka et al. (2002)]  Chondritic shock melt breccias [Hutson et al. (2007a), Jamsja and Ruzicka (2010), Hauver and Ruzicka (2011)] Portales Valley transitional meteorite [Ruzicka et al. (2005)] Coupled reaction-diffusion processes and petrologic applications, including mesosiderite coronas and CAI rims [Ruzicka et al. (1994), Ruzicka (1997), Ruzicka (1998)]  Chondrite petrology and classification [Ruzicka (1995), Hutson and Ruzicka (2000), Schepker and Ruzicka (2007),  Hutson et al. (2009b),  Hutson and Ruzicka (2010),  Schepker and Ruzicka (2010),  Jamsja and Ruzicka (2011a), Jamsja and Ruzicka (2011b) Angrites not from Mercury [Ruzicka and Hutson (2006),  Hutson et al. (2007)]

 

Image above: A strip of the Vigarano (CV3) meteorite showing typical chondritic texture, including chondrules, CAIs (most white and pink objects), olivine aggregates (irregular grey objects), and interstitial matrix.  (Cut face of CML0377 sample.)

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Last Updated: March 13, 2012

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