Capitol News

Millions of years ago, Earth's landmasses formed a supercontinent known as Pangea. Over time, tectonic forces have continued to pull these landmasses apart in a process called continental rifting. Tyrone Rooney, a professor at Michigan State University’s Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, has devoted his career to studying these massive shifts.

Since joining MSU in 2007, Rooney has conducted extensive research on volcanic rocks around the world. His work is supported by the National Science Foundation and focuses on using geochemistry to understand the chemical signals left by rifting. This research provides insights into both historical and future tectonic activity.

Rooney shared his journey into geology and his focus on continental rifting: "I was a late convert to the field. I was first interested in studying pharmacology at University College Dublin when I took a geology class on a whim."

He explained that continental rifting involves tectonic forces splitting continents apart from their original state as Pangea. "There’s a question as to whether every plate has within it materials that tend to melt easier," he noted.

Rooney's work involves analyzing basalt rocks made from solidified lava to uncover deep-Earth processes. He stated, "They’re direct from a part of the Earth we can’t get to." His projects include studies at locations like the Angolan margin in West Africa and East Africa's Great Rift Valley.

Rooney emphasized collaboration's role in advancing his research: "It’s inconceivable to me how you could be successful as a scientist without that degree of connectivity with others."

In addition to his research efforts, Rooney mentors students at MSU. He highlighted the importance of training new scientists: "My lab is dedicated to steady productivity and understanding the processes beneath the Earth’s surface."

The lab serves other departments at MSU and some industrial partners in Michigan, providing valuable resources for elemental composition analysis across various materials.

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