Stephen J. Mojzsis

Stephen J. Mojzsis

Assistant Professor of Geological Sciences
Co-Investigator, CU Center for Astrobiology

Ph.D., Earth Sciences, 1997, Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO, UCSD)

Research Interests:
Archean biogeochemistry; constraining Hadean/Archean surface states from the geochemical record; stable and radiogenic isotope geology; origin and evolution of life; surface chemistry and materials characterization; chemistry of phosphates, carbonates, sulfides, graphite and zircon; Platinum Group element geochemistry; mineralogy of martian meteorites; serpentinization and Fischer-Tropsch reactions; arid land geomorphology and paleohydrology.

Current Research Projects:
Evaluation of Biogenicity in ALH84001 (NASA-AMM)

Constraining the timing and nature of life's emergence (NSF-LExEn)

Isotopic and chemical composition of carbonaceous matter (UCLA-LLNL)

NASA Astrobiology Institute (NASA-Astrobiology)

Sulfur isotopes in meteorites (NASA-Cosmochemistry)

Courses Offered:

GEOL 1020, Introduction to Geology 2 (Historical Geology) Semester 2, 2001

Recent Publications:
Organized by: Research Articles^#, Book Chapters^§ and Theses^‡

^‡Mojzsis, S. J. (1992) Paleodrainage patterns of the Bahariya region – Western Desert of Egypt: MA thesis (Geology), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 121 p.
^§Arrhenius, G., Gedulin, B., and Mojzsis, S.J. (1993) Phosphate in models for chemical evolution, In: Chemical Evolution: Origin of Life, edited by Ponnamperuma, C., and Chela-Flores, J.: A. Deepak, Hampton, Virginia, pp. 25-50.
^#Arrhenius, G., and Mojzsis, S.J. (1996) Life on Mars – then and now: Curr. Bio. 6(10): 1213-1216.
^#Mojzsis, S.J., Arrhenius, G., McKeegan, K.D., Harrison, T.M., Nutman, A.P., and Friend, C.R.L. (1996) Evidence for life on Earth by 3800 million years ago: Nature 384(6604): 55-59.
^#Eiler, J., Mojzsis, S.J., and Arrhenius, G. (1997) Carbon isotope evidence for early life: Nature 386(6626): 665.
^#Arrhenius, G., Sales, B., Mojzsis, S.J., and Lee, T. (1997) Entropy and charge in molecular evolution: the role of phosphate: J. Theor. Bio. 187: 503-522.
^#Nutman, A.P., Mojzsis, S.J., and Friend, C.R.L. (1997) Identification of the oldest water-lain sediments at >3850 Ma from Akilia island, southern West Greenland: Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 61(12): 2475-2484.
^‡Mojzsis, S.J. (1997) Ancient sediments of Earth and Mars: Ph.D. dissertation (Earth Sciences), University of California San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 300 p..
^#Mojzsis, S.J., and Arrhenius, G. (1998) Phosphates and carbon on Mars: exobiological implications and sample return considerations: J. Geophys. Res. 103(E12): 28,495-28,511.
^§Mojzsis, S.J., Krishnamurthy, R., and Arrhenius, G. (1999) Before RNA and After: geophysical and geochemical constraints on molecular evolution, In: The RNA World II, edited by Gesteland, R., Cech, T. and Atkins, J.: Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York pp. 1- 47.
^#Mojzsis, S.J., Harrison, T.M., Arrhenius, G., McKeegan, K.D., and Grove, M. (1999) Origin of life from apatite dating? – Reply: Nature 400: 127-128.
^#Mojzsis, S.J., and Harrison, T.M. (2000) Vestiges of a beginning: clues to the emergent biosphere recorded in the oldest known sedimentary rocks: GSA Today 10: 1-6.
^§Ryder, G., Koeberl, C., and Mojzsis, S.J. (2000) Heavy bombardment of the Earth at ~3.85 Ga: The search for petrographic and geochemical evidence, In: Origin of the Earth and Moon; edited by K. Righter and R. Canup: University of Arizona Press pp.475-492.
^#Anbar, A.D., Zahnle, K.J., Arnold, G.L., and Mojzsis, S.J. (2000) Extraterrestrial iridium and sediment accumulation on the Hadean Earth: Journal of Geophysical Research – Planets (in press).
^#Greenwood, J.P., Mojzsis, S.J. and Coath, C.D. (2000) Sulfur isotopic compositions of individual sulfides in ALH84001 and Nakhla: implications for crust-atmosphere exchange and biological processes on Mars: Earth and Planetary Science Letters (in press).
^§Mojzsis, S.J., and Ryder, G. (2001) Extraterrestrial accretion to the Earth and Moon ca. 3.85 Ga, In: Accretion of Extraterrestrial Matter Throughout Earth History, edited by B. Peuckner-Ehrinbrink and B. Schmitz: Kluwer (in press).
^§Mojzsis, S.J. (2001) Life and the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, In Scientists on the Earth, edited by E. Mathez: American Museum of Natural History Press (in press).
^#Mojzsis, S.J., and Harrison, T.M. (2000) Life on Earth prior to 3.8 Gyr? Resolving the age of the oldest known sedimentary rock: Nature (in review).
^#Mojzsis, S.J., Harrison, T.M., Pidgeon, R.T., C.D. (2000) Oxygen Isotopic Compositions of Ancient Terrestrial Zircons: Liquid Water at the Earth’s Surface ca. 4300 Ma: Nature (in review).
^#Mojzsis, S.J., and Harrison, T.M. (2000) Akilia island, southern West Greenland: A repository of early life: Journal of Geophysical Research – Solid Earth (in preparation).

Relevant Links:

Newspaper article on a recent expedition to Greenland

Recent review article on my research

Research on the origin of the Earth and Moon

West Greenland project news

University of Colorado Center for Astrobiology l

University of California Los Angeles Center for Astrobiology

UCLA Ion Microprobe Facility

Research on earliest records of life on Earth

Email address: mojzsis@colorado.edu

Phone: FAX: (303)492-2606

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