February 2022 – Volume 18 Number 1
GUEST EDITORS
Patricia L. Clay and Hirochika Sumino
PRINCIPAL EDITOR
Becky Lange
April 2022 – Volume 18 Number 2
GUEST EDITORS
Sebastian Naeher, Xingqian Cui, Roger Summons
PRINCIPAL EDITOR
John Eiler
June 2022 – Volume 18 Number 3
GUEST EDITORS
Yves Marrocchi and Pierre Beck
PRINCIPAL EDITOR
Richard Harrison
August 2022 – Volume 18 Number 4
GUEST EDITORS
Adam Kent and Josef Dufek
PRINCIPAL EDITOR
Becky Lange
October 2022 – Volume 18 Number 5
GUEST EDITORS
Luca Valentini, Maarten Broekmans, Jan Elsen, and Ruben Snellings
PRINCIPAL EDITOR
Janne Blichert-Toft
December 2022 – Volume 18 Number 6
GUEST EDITORS
Anne Pommier and Alfred McEwen
PRINCIPAL EDITOR
Richard Harrison
The halogen-group elements (F, Cl, Br, and I) are common in theterrestrial inventory, thoughoften present in trace amounts in many Earth and planetary materials. The halogens play akey role in a variety of geologic environments and processes, from mineralization to theirinfluence on the composition of Earth’s atmosphere when released as oceanic, volcanogenic,and anthropogenic emissions. Halogens act as “fingerprints” of fluidmediated processes onEarth and other planetary bodies. These “bioessential” elements are also critically importantto human health. In thisissue of Elements, we explore the role that the halogens play inshaping diverse planetary systems, from the surface of planets to their interiors. We alsoreview the techniques that are suitable for the analysis of halogen elements and of isotopesof Cl and Br in terrestrial and extraterrestrial materials.
Biomarkers are molecular fossils that are preserved in a wide range of environmental archives(e.g., soils, sediments, sedimentary rocks, and petroleum systems). This issue introduces biomarkers and their compound-specific stable isotope compositions to study fundamental biogeochemical processes and their application as proxies for environmental and climate reconstructions. Molecular biosignatures can be used to study the evolution of life, transitions in ocean plankton over time, the microbiota of extreme environments such as hydrothermal systems and the deep- crustal biosphere, and to search for signs of life beyond Earth. Important new discoveries are typically the result of the development and deployment of improved instrumental techniques, multidisciplinary research approaches, and the combination of organic biogeochemistry with the new tools of molecular biology.
Despite being a simple molecule, water has played a key role in shaping the Solar System from the formation of early solids to the processes of planetary and moon formation. Through its astrophysical cycle, water has driven the evolution of protoplanetary disks, which, in turn, has affected the water budget of terrestrial planets and, therefore, their geological activities and habitability. Understanding water’s role in diverse natural processes requires expertise in astrophysics, geophysics, and geochemistry. This issue of Elements will introduce the different environments and processes where water is of fundamental importance, as well as its past and present distribution within the Solar System and how this peculiar molecule affects astrophysical and geological processes.
The canonical Cascadia subduction zone runs along the west coast of North America from Canada to northern California. The issue will emphasize the region as a historically important location for the development of ideas in subduction zone science, a place for understanding the compound hazards of a subduction zone in a populous region, and as a location where science is now moving beyond the traditional disciplinary confines to embrace multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches. The Cascadia subduction zone is a natural laboratory for exploring ideas related to evolving subduction zone geometry and seismicity, melt transport, and the controls on eruptions. This issue will describe our current understanding of the combined tectonic and magmatic systems in this important subduction system.
Portland cement represents an essential commodity in a developing and quickly urbanizing world. However, the downside of its popularity is a massive ecological footprint, in terms of global warming potential and consumption of mineral and water resources. Therefore, the development of sustainable alternatives to ordinary Portland cement constitutes a fundamental technological and societal challenge. In this context, mineralogy and geochemistry play an important role in assessing primary and secondary resources for a new generation of cement and concrete that has a reduced ecological footprint, drawing from the knowledge of both ancient and modern binders. Mineralogical and geochemical tools are also essential to establishing a link between the basic physical and chemical processes that occur during the production, hardening, service life, and degradation of concrete.
Jupiter’s moon Io is the best place to understand a fundamental planetary process that shaped terrestrial planets, icy ocean worlds, and extrasolar planets: tidal heating. Io is the most tidally heated world in our Solar System and may contain a magma ocean. Io’s spectacular volcanic plumes sustain the atmosphere and feed the giant magnetosphere of the Jovian system. The lavas covering its surface reflect heatpipe tectonics, which is analogous to the volcanically hyperactive youth of all rocky planets. Io is the ideal planetscale laboratory to study the intertwined processes of tidal forcing, extreme volcanism, and atmosphere–magnetosphere interactions. This issue of Elements will review our knowledge of Io, emphasizing on its composition, interior dynamics, and surface processes. We will also share perspectives for future missions.