Graduate Student, Department of Geosciences & Mineral Physics Institute Graduate Student, Department of Geosciences; 2002-Present Joined Ultrasonics Group; March, 2007 Ph.D. Candidate in Mineral Physics & Geochemistry; Expected 2009 B.S. Geological Sciences, State University of New York at New Paltz, 1997-2002 Office: Earth & Space Sciences 365 Lab Phone: (631) 632-8238 / (631) 632-9706 Cell Phone: (631) 793-3578 FAX: (631) 632-8240 / (631) 632-8140 Email: matt (at) mattwhitaker (dot) net Ultrasonics Group Website Complete Curriculum Vitae - Click Here Matt's Personal Website

Research Interests

• Mineral Physics
  • Determination of physical properties of mineral phases at high pressure and temperature
  • Investigation of iron/light-element alloys, mantle minerals, and analog materials under extreme conditions
  • Combined Ultrasonic Interferometry and Synchrotron X-Radiation Techniques in Multi-Anvil Apparatus
  • High pressure studies using Diamond Anvil Cells and Synchrotron X-Radiation
• Planetary Science
  • Investigation of candidate constituents of terrestrial planetary cores
  • Using terrestrial magmatism as a potential analog for volcanic diversity on Mars
  • Experimental and analytical geochemical studies of martian meteorites (specifically Yamato 980459)
• Experimental Geochemistry/Petrology
  • Phase equilibria in basaltic melts as a function of pressure, temperature, and water content
  • Residual liquid evolution during liquid differentiation; from basalt to rhyolite
  • Finding possible relationships between rock types found in common intraplate suites

Refereed Publications

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., Li, B. (2008) Combined in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ultrasonic interferometry study of e-FeSi at high pressure. High Pressure Research (28)3, 385-395. Click for PDF

Liu, Q., Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Wang, L., Li, B. (2008) Compressional and shear wave velocities of Fe₂SiO₄ spinel at high pressure and high temperature. High Pressure Research (28)3, 405-413. Click for PDF

Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H., and McCurry, M. (2008) Can crystallization of olivine tholeiite give rise to potassic rhyolites? An experimental investigation. Bulletin of Volcanology, 70(3), 417-434. Click for PDF

Whitaker, M.L., Lindsley, D.H., Kubicek-Whitaker, J.M. and Nekvasil, H. (2007) Carbon is not required during crystallization to produce ferrobasalts/ferrodiorites (FTP rocks). American Mineralogist, 92(10), 1750-1755. Click for PDF

Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H., and DiFrancesco, N.J. (2007) The role of pressure in producing compositional diversity in intraplate basaltic magmas. Journal of Petrology, 48(2), 365-393. Click for PDF

Manuscripts In Preparation

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., Li, B. (in preparation) Thermoelasticity of e-FeSi to 8 GPa and 1273 K. American Mineralogist.

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Li, B. (in preparation) Thermal equation of state of e-FeSi and implications for Earth's core.

Whitaker, M.L., McCubbin, F.M., Lindsley, D.H., Filiberto, J., Hanson, G.N., Draper, D.S., Glotch, T.D., McLennan, S.M., and Nekvasil, H. (in preparation) Yamato 980459: Is it really representative of a Martian mantle melt?

Filiberto, J., Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H. (in preparation) An Experimental Study of the Tholeiitic to Silica-Undersaturated Transition.

Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H. and Boccichio, B. (in preparation) The role of water in generating compositional diversity in intraplate basaltic magmas.

Extended Abstracts

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., Li, B. (2007) Combined in situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction and ultrasonic interferometry study of e-FeSi at high pressure and temperature. International Workshop on Synchrotron High-Pressure Mineral Physics and Materials Science. (Abstract & Poster) Click for PDF

Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., and Lindsley, D.H. (2005) Potential magmatic diversity on Mars. Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, XXXVI, Abstract #1440. (Abstract & Talk) Web Link to PDF

McCubbin, F.M., Whitaker, M.L., Lindsley, D.H., and Nekvasil, H. (2005) Kaersutite (Ti-rich amphibole) in the SNC Meteorites: Can it crystallize at low pressure? Lunar and Planetary Science Conference, XXXVI, Abstract #1967. (Abstract & Poster) Web Link to PDF

Nekvasil, H., Filiberto, J., Whitaker, M.L., and Lindsley, D.H. (2003) Magmas Parental to the Chassigny Meteorite: New Considerations. Sixth International Conference on Mars, Abstract #3041, Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston (CD-ROM). (Abstract & Poster) Web Link to PDF

Abstracts

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., Li, B. (2008) Acoustic velocities and thermoelastic properties of FeSi at high P and T, AGU Fall Meeting 2008.

Li, B., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Whitaker, M.L. (2008) Elasticity and Density Measurements on Melts and Amorphous Materials at High Pressure, AGU Fall Meeting 2008.

Liu, Q., Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Wang, L., Li, B. (2008) In-situ elasticity measurements on fayalite to 8.7 GPa and 1073 K, AGU Fall Meeting 2008.

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, Q., Liu, W., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) Compressional and Shear Wave Velocities in e-FeSi to 12 GPa. The 2008 Gordon Research Conference on Research at High Pressure. (Abstract & Poster)

Liu, Q., Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) In situ Ultrasonic observations of elasticity changes across the phase transformation in Fe2SiO4 at 1173 K. COMPRES 2008 Annual Meeting. (Abstract & Poster)

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, Q., Liu, W., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) Compressional and Shear Wave Velocities in e-FeSi to 12 GPa. COMPRES 2008 Annual Meeting. (Abstract & Poster)

Whitaker, M.L., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Wang, L., and Li, B. (2008) High Pressure Synchrotron and Ultrasonic Interferometry Study of e-FeSi. Future Directions In High Pressure Research Workshop, NSLS/CFN 2008 User Meeting. (Abstract & Talk) Link to PowerPoint Talk

Liu, Q., Isaak, D., Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L., Wang, L., Zhao, Y., Li, B. (2008) Thermoelasticity of tantalum: An integrated acoustic and diffraction study at high pressure and high temperature. Stewardship Science Academic Alliances 2008 Program Symposium (Poster Only)

Li, B., Liu, W., Liu, Q., Whitaker, M.L., Zhang, J., Zhao, Y., Isaak, D. (2008) Thermoelasticity of SSP Materials: An Integrated Acoustic and Diffraction Study at High P and High T. Stewardship Science Academic Alliances 2008 Program Symposium (Abstract & Talk)

Liu, W., Whitaker, M.L.,* Wang, L., Li, B. (2007), Sound velocities of iron sulfide at high pressure and high temperature, Eos Trans. AGU, 88(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract MR31B-0374 (*Added late to Abstract, presented Poster at meeting) Web Link to HTML

Whitaker, J.M., Whitaker, M.L., Lindsley, D.H., and Nekvasil, H. (2005) Testing the dependence of liquid evolution paths on the presence of carbon during fractional crystallization. Stony Brook University URECA Program Conference. (Abstract & Poster)

Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., and Lindsley, D.H. (2004) Can fractionation of an olivine tholeiite give rise to potassic rhyolites? GSA Abstracts w/ Program, 36(4), 25. (Abstract & Talk) Web Link to HTML

DiFrancesco, N.J., Whitaker, M.L., Nekvasil, H., and Lindsley, D.H. (2003) A road to rhyolite: Fractional crystallization experiments on a continental olivine tholeiite. GSA Abstracts w/ Program, 35(6), 631. (Abstract & Poster) Web Link to HTML

Nekvasil, H., Lindsley, D.H., Whitaker, M.L., Filiberto, J., DiFrancesco, N.J., Rossier, L., and Horn, J. (2003) Tholeiites, anorthosites, potassic granites, sodic trachytes, and tephriphonolites: Is there a link? GSA Abstracts w/ Program, 35(6), 395. (Abstract & Talk) Web Link to HTML

Whitaker, M.L., DiFrancesco, N.J., Lindsley, D.H., and Nekvasil, H. (2003) Can fractionation of an olivine tholeiite give rise to ferrodiorites, ferrobasalts, and anorthosites? GSA Abstracts w/ Program, 35(6), 631. (Abstract & Poster) Web Link to HTML