Research interests:
I investigate the interior evolution of stagnant-lid planets by linking mantle sources and long-lived volcanism to their magmatic processes and habitability.
Planets like Earth dissipate their internal heat efficiently due to the presence of plate tectonics, but this could be very different for a single-plate planet. The internal heat and magmatic-volcanic activity of such planets—like Mars—might dissipate much more slowly, allowing for sporadic and episodic volcanic-magnetic activity over extremely long geological timescales. This applies especially to terrestrial exoplanets, such as Proxima Centauri b, considering the near-total absence of plate tectonics observed outside our Solar System. The goal of this research line is to investigate extraterrestrial lavas using geochemical and petrological methods, to understand what specific magmatic minerals—such as olivine—can reveal about the internal thermal and magmatic state of a single-plate terrestrial planet. For exoplanets, the approach is primarily experimental petrology, starting from analogous or synthetic compositions—based on astronomical data—to recreate in the laboratory the extreme conditions of these distant worlds.
TOP 3 Related Works:
(1) - Mari N., Riches A. J. V., Hallis L. J., Marrocchi Y., Villeneuve J., Becker H., Gleissner P. and Lee M. R., 2019. Syneruptive incorporation of Martian surface sulphur in the nakhlite lava flows revealed by S and Os isotope and highly siderophile elements: implication for mantle sources in Mars. Geochimica & Cosmochimica Acta, vol. 266, pp. 416-434.
(2) - Mari N., Hallis L. J., Daly L., and Lee M. R., 2020. Convective activity in a Martian magma chamber recorded by P-zoning in Tissint olivine. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 55, issue 5, pp. 1057-1072.
(3) - Mari N., Eggers G. L., Filiberto J., Carli C., Pratesi G., Alvaro M., D’Incecco P., Cardinale M., and G. Di Achille, 2023. Boninites as Mercury lava analogues: geochemical and spectral measurements from pillow lavas on Cyprus island.Planetary and Space Science, vol. 236, 105764.
How long can a planet be defined as volcanically active? There is currently no agreed definition. Also, how prolonged volcanism can be on a stagnant-lid planet? The goal of this research line is to investigate lavas from the Solar System, or their terrestrial analogs, from a petrological and geochemical perspective to gather clues and determine whether Mars, Mercury, and Venus can still be considered volcanically active. Ultimately, the aim is to establish a clear definition of active volcanism on a terrestrial planet based on eruptive and temporal parameters.
TOP 3 Related Works:
(1) - Filiberto J., Zolotov M. Y., Kohler E., D'Incecco P., Gorinov D. A., Bhiravarasu S. S., Weller M. B., Brossier J. F., López I., Mason P. J., Edmond J. A., Mari N., Komatsu G., Di Achille G., and Garvin J. B., 2025. Assessing the evidence for active volcanism on Venus: current limitations and prospects for future investigations. Geochemistry, 126316.
(2) - Mari N., Hallis L. J., Daly L., and Lee M. R., 2020. Convective activity in a Martian magma chamber recorded by P-zoning in Tissint olivine. Meteoritics & Planetary Science, vol. 55, issue 5, pp. 1057-1072.
(3) - D’Incecco P., Filiberto J., Garvin J. B., Arney G. N., Getty S. A., Ghail R., Zelenyi L. M., Zasova L. V., Ivanov M. A., Gorinov D. A., Bhattacharya S., Bhiravarasu S. S., Putrevu D., Monaco C., Branca S., Aveni S., López I., Eggers G. L., Mari N., Blackett M., Komatsu G., Kosenkova A., Cardinale M., El Yazidi M. and Di Achille G., 2024. Mount Etna as a Terrestrial laboratory to investigate active volcanism on Venus by future missions: a comparison with Idunn Mons. Icarus, vol. 411, 115959.
How far can life (as we know it) go in a stagnant-lid body? And how long can it persist in such places? And which are the differences with an active tectonic world as Earth? The aim of this research line is to explore the limits of life in particular locations of the Solar System — such as hydrothermal vents on the ocean floors of icy moons — through innovative astrobiological investigations. These findings could then be applicable to other corners of the galaxy and beyond.
TOP 3 Related Works:
(1) - Mari N. and Riches A. J. V., 2020. Investigating Mars’ recent surface habitability via correlative petrology and highly siderophile element systematics in meteorites. Goldschmidt 2020 Abstracts, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
(2) - O'Brien A. C., Hallis L. J., Regnault C., Morrison D., Blackburn G., Steele A., Daly L., Tait A., Tremblay M., Telenko D. E. P., Gunn J., McKay E., Mari N., Salik M. A., Ascough P., Toney J., Griffin S., Whitfield P., and Lee M., 2022. Using organic contaminants to constrain the terrestrial journey of the Martian meteorite Lafayette. Astrobiology, vol. 22, issue 11, pp. 1351-1362.