Academic Appointments

Contact

  • Academic
    rcoleman@stanford.edu
    University - Emeritus faculty Department: Department of Geological Sciences Position: Emeritus Faculty, Acad Council

All Publications

  • Anoxic oxidation of chromium GEOLOGY Oze, C., Sleep, N. H., Coleman, R. G., Fendorf, S. 2016; 44 (7): 543-546

    View details for DOI 10.1130/G37844.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 000379358300019

  • THE OPHIOLITE CONCEPT EVOLVES ELEMENTS Coleman, R. G. 2014; 10 (2): 82-84

    View details for DOI 10.2113/gselements.10.2.82

    View details for Web of Science ID 000335940100003

  • Growing up green on serpentine soils: Biogeochemistry of serpentine vegetation in the Central Coast Range of California APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY Oze, C., Skinner, C., Schroth, A. W., Coleman, R. G. 2008; 23 (12): 3391-3403

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2008.07.014

    View details for Web of Science ID 000261963700011

  • Coexisting retrograde jadeite and omphacite in a jadeite-bearing lawsonite eclogite from the Motagua Fault Zone, Guatemala Annual Meeting of the Geological-Society-of-America Tsujimori, T., Liou, J. G., Coleman, R. G. MINERALOGICAL SOC AMER. 2005: 836–42

    View details for DOI 10.2138/am.2005.1699

    View details for Web of Science ID 000229305300007

  • H-2-rich fluids from serpentinization: Geochemical and biotic implications PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Sleep, N. H., Meibom, A., Fridriksson, T., Coleman, R. G., Bird, D. K. 2004; 101 (35): 12818-12823

    Abstract

    Metamorphic hydration and oxidation of ultramafic rocks produces serpentinites, composed of serpentine group minerals and varying amounts of brucite, magnetite, and/or FeNi alloys. These minerals buffer metamorphic fluids to extremely reducing conditions that are capable of producing hydrogen gas. Awaruite, FeNi3, forms early in this process when the serpentinite minerals are Fe-rich. Olivine with the current mantle Fe/Mg ratio was oxidized during serpentinization after the Moon-forming impact. This process formed some of the ferric iron in the Earth's mantle. For the rest of Earth's history, serpentinites covered only a small fraction of the Earth's surface but were an important prebiotic and biotic environment. Extant methanogens react H2 with CO2 to form methane. This is a likely habitable environment on large silicate planets. The catalytic properties of FeNi3 allow complex organic compounds to form within serpentinite and, when mixed with atmospherically produced complex organic matter and waters that circulated through basalts, constitutes an attractive prebiotic substrate. Conversely, inorganic catalysis of methane by FeNi3 competes with nascent and extant life.

    View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0405289101

    View details for Web of Science ID 000223694700010

    View details for PubMedID 15326313

  • Geologic nature of the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, San Francisco Peninsula, California INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW Coleman, R. G. 2004; 46 (7): 629-637

    View details for Web of Science ID 000222487300004

  • Crustal structure along the geosciences transect from Altay to Altun Tagh CHINESE JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICS-CHINESE EDITION Wang, Y. X., Han, G. H., Jiang, M., Yuan, X. C., Mooney, W. D., Coleman, R. G. 2004; 47 (2): 240-249

    View details for Web of Science ID 000220590000010

  • Chrominium geochemistry of serpentine soils INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW Oze, C., Fendorf, S., Bird, D. K., Coleman, R. G. 2004; 46 (2): 97-126

    View details for Web of Science ID 000220348700001

  • Chromium geochemistry in serpentinized ultramafic rocks and serpentine soils from the Franciscan Complex of California AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE Oze, C., Fendorf, S., Bird, D. K., Coleman, R. G. 2004; 304 (1): 67-101

    View details for Web of Science ID 000189188000003

  • Re-Os isotopic evidence for long-lived heterogeneity and equilibration processes in the Earth's upper mantle NATURE Meibom, A., Sleep, N. H., CHAMBERLAIN, C. P., Coleman, R. G., Frei, R., Hren, M. T., Wooden, J. L. 2002; 419 (6908): 705-708

    Abstract

    The geochemical composition of the Earth's upper mantle is thought to reflect 4.5 billion years of melt extraction, as well as the recycling of crustal materials. The fractionation of rhenium and osmium during partial melting in the upper mantle makes the Re-Os isotopic system well suited for tracing the extraction of melt and recycling of the resulting mid-ocean-ridge basalt. Here we report osmium isotope compositions of more than 700 osmium-rich platinum-group element alloys derived from the upper mantle. The osmium isotopic data form a wide, essentially gaussian distribution, demonstrating that, with respect to Re-Os isotope systematics, the upper mantle is extremely heterogeneous. As depleted and enriched domains can apparently remain unequilibrated on a timescale of billions of years, effective equilibration seems to require high degrees of partial melting, such as occur under mid-ocean ridges or in back-arc settings, where percolating melts enhance the mobility of both osmium and rhenium. We infer that the gaussian shape of the osmium isotope distribution is the signature of a random mixing process between depleted and enriched domains, resulting from a 'plum pudding' distribution in the upper mantle, rather than from individual melt depletion events.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/nature01067

    View details for Web of Science ID 000178615200036

    View details for PubMedID 12384694

  • Geology and plant life of the Klamath-Siskiyou mountain region NATURAL AREAS JOURNAL Coleman, R. G., Kruckeberg, A. R. 1999; 19 (4): 320-340

    View details for Web of Science ID 000083380900005

  • Tectonic emplacement of Serpentinite southeast of San Jose, California INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGY REVIEW Page, B. M., De Vito, L. A., Coleman, R. G. 1999; 41 (6): 494-505

    View details for Web of Science ID 000081007000002

  • A millennia of innovation and discovery GONDWANA RESEARCH Coleman, R. G. 1999; 2 (1): 11-13

    View details for Web of Science ID 000080990900003

  • Extension and mantle upwelling within the San Andreas fault zone, San Francisco bay area, California TECTONICS Jove, C. F., Coleman, R. G. 1998; 17 (6): 883-890

    View details for Web of Science ID 000077464400005

  • Late Cenozoic tectonics of the central and southern coast ranges of California GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Page, B. M., Thompson, G. A., Coleman, R. G. 1998; 110 (7): 846-?

    View details for Web of Science ID 000074795100002

  • ECLOGITES AND BLUESCHISTS FROM NORTHEASTERN OMAN - PETROLOGY AND P-T EVOLUTION JOURNAL OF PETROLOGY ELSHAZLY, A. E., Coleman, R. G., Liou, J. G. 1990; 31 (3): 629-666

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990DM67300004

  • OPHIOLITE GENESIS AND EVOLUTION OF OCEANIC LITHOSPHERE - MUSCAT, SULTANATE OF OMAN, 7-18 JANUARY 1990 EPISODES Coleman, R. G., ALAZRY, H. 1990; 13 (1): 32-33

    View details for Web of Science ID A1990DX50600007

  • ISOTOPIC STUDIES BEARING ON THE TECTONICS OF THE WEST JUNGGAR REGION, XINJIANG, CHINA TECTONICS Kwon, S. T., Tilton, G. R., Coleman, R. G., Feng, Y. 1989; 8 (4): 719-727

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AM85300004

  • TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE WEST JUNGGAR REGION, XINJIANG, CHINA TECTONICS Feng, Y., Coleman, R. G., Tilton, G., Xiao, X. 1989; 8 (4): 729-752

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AM85300005

  • BLUESCHISTS IN MAJOR SUTURE ZONES OF CHINA TECTONICS Liou, J. G., Wang, X. M., Coleman, R. G., Zhang, Z. M., Maruyama, S. 1989; 8 (3): 609-619

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AD89700012

  • CONTINENTAL GROWTH OF NORTHWEST CHINA TECTONICS Coleman, R. G. 1989; 8 (3): 621-635

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989AD89700013

  • EXAMINATION OF THE DEEP LEVELS OF AN ISLAND-ARC - EVIDENCE FROM THE TONSINA ULTRAMAFIC-MAFIC ASSEMBLAGE, TONSINA, ALASKA JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH AND PLANETS DeBari, S. M., Coleman, R. G. 1989; 94 (B4): 4373-4391

    View details for Web of Science ID A1989U090200036

  • MAGMA SYSTEMS RELATED TO THE RED-SEA OPENING TECTONOPHYSICS Coleman, R. G., McGuire, A. V. 1988; 150 (1-2): 77-100

    View details for Web of Science ID A1988P640700005

  • THE JABAL TIRF LAYERED GABBRO AND ASSOCIATED ROCKS OF THE TIHAMA ASIR COMPLEX, SW SAUDI-ARABIA JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY McGuire, A. V., Coleman, R. G. 1986; 94 (5): 651-665

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986E142000002

  • OPHIOLITES AND ACCRETION OF THE NORTH-AMERICAN CORDILLERA BULLETIN DE LA SOCIETE GEOLOGIQUE DE FRANCE Coleman, R. G. 1986; 2 (6): 961-968

    View details for Web of Science ID A1986E832700010

  • A NEOGENE STRUCTURAL DOME IN THE KLAMATH MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA AND OREGON GEOLOGY Mortimer, N., Coleman, R. G. 1985; 13 (4): 253-256

    View details for Web of Science ID A1985AFR4200008

  • AN OUTLINE OF THE PLATE-TECTONICS OF CHINA GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA BULLETIN Zhang, Z. M., Liou, J. G., Coleman, R. G. 1984; 95 (3): 295-312

    View details for Web of Science ID A1984SM35400004

  • THE DIVERSITY OF OPHIOLITES GEOLOGIE EN MIJNBOUW Coleman, R. G. 1984; 63 (2): 141-150

    View details for Web of Science ID A1984TG91500003