Photo of Hernández Uribe, David

David Hernández Uribe, PhD

Assistant Professor

Subduction-zone processes, Economic geology, Metamorphic geology and tectonics, Phase equilibria

Pronouns: He/him/his/él

Contact

Building & Room:

2472 SES

Email:

davidhu@uic.edu

About

I am a petrologist who uses igneous and metamorphic rocks to investigate the physical and chemical processes operating in subduction zones and during continental crust formation. My research integrates field geology, petrology, and thermodynamic modeling to understand how mineral reactions in the lithosphere control fundamental Earth processes, including elemental cycling, magmatism, and earthquake nucleation. A central goal of my work is to link mineral-scale processes to large-scale tectonic evolution and to geologic phenomena with direct societal relevance.

Research Themes

My research focuses on the evolution of the lithosphere at convergent margins, with particular emphasis on quantifying the sources, timing, and consequences of mass and heat transfer during subduction. I apply an integrated toolkit that includes thermodynamic modeling, petrochronology, mineral chemistry, and high-temperature geochemistry, combined with detailed field observations.

Current and recent projects examine the role of oxidized and hydrous magmas in the formation of Earth’s earliest continents and in the concentration of critical metals, including porphyry copper systems. My group also investigates how metamorphism governs the densification, oxidation state, and hydration of the subducting lithosphere, and how these properties influence seismicity, arc magmatism, and the formation of continental crust.

Prospective Students

I welcome applications from highly motivated undergraduate students, M.S. and Ph.D. students, and postdoctoral researchers interested in economic geology, subduction-zone processes, metamorphic and igneous petrology, phase equilibria, and geochemical cycling.

A defining component of my research program is the use of computational approaches, including phase-equilibria and trace-element modeling. As a result, my group offers a range of projects that can be tailored to different interests and strengths, including opportunities that do not require extensive fieldwork. I am particularly committed to creating an inclusive research environment and strongly encourage students from diverse backgrounds, including students with disabilities and those who prefer computational or laboratory-based research, to reach out.

Prospective students are encouraged to email me with a brief description of their research interests and questions at davidhu@uic.edu.

 

En Español

Soy un petrólogo que estudia los procesos físicos y químicos que ocurren en las zonas de subducción y durante la formación de la corteza continental a través del registro de rocas ígneas y metamórficas. Mi investigación integra trabajo de campo, petrología y modelado termodinámico para comprender cómo las reacciones minerales controlan el ciclo de elementos, el magmatismo y la nucleación de terremotos, conectando procesos a escala mineral con la evolución tectónica a gran escala y fenómenos geológicos de relevancia social.

Mis proyectos se enfocan en la evolución de la litosfera en márgenes convergentes, evaluando la transferencia de masa y calor durante la subducción. También investigo el papel de magmas oxidados e hidratados en la formación de los primeros continentes y en la génesis de depósitos tipo pórfido de cobre.

Busco activamente estudiantes de licenciatura, maestría, doctorado y postdocs interesados en yacimientos minerales, petrología, procesos de subducción y modelado computacional. Gran parte de mi trabajo científico se basa en modelado de elementos traza y equilibria de fases, por lo que existen oportunidades tanto para estudiantes interesados en investigación computacional como para aquellos que no pueden participar en trabajo de campo. Las personas interesadas pueden escribir a davidhu@uic.edu.

Selected Grants

NSF-EAR 2414025, Tracing the origins of fertile magma formation in the porphyry copper systems of Sonora, Mexico, PI

Selected Publications

Complete list of publications on Google Scholar

 

Economic Geology

  • Hernández-Uribe, D., & Tassara, S. (2025). Source-oxidized and (super-)wet magmas explain porphyry copper fertility vectors: A thermodynamic modeling approach. Geology, 53(12), 995–1000. https://doi.org/10.1130/G53405.1

Seisimicty

  • Gutiérrez-Aguilar, F.* Hernández-Uribe, D., Holder, R. M., & Condit, C. B. (2022). Fluid-induced fault reactivation due to brucite + antigorite dehydration triggered the Mw 7.1 September 19 Puebla-Morelos (Mexico) intermediate-depth earthquake. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(20), e2022GL100814. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022GL100814
  • Lindquist, P. C., Condit, C. B., Hoover, W. F., Hernández‐Uribe, D., & Guevara, V. E. (2023). Metasomatism and slow slip: Talc production along the flat subduction plate interface beneath Mexico (Guerrero). Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24(8), e2023GC010981. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023GC010981

Formation of Earth’s first continents

  • Hernández-Uribe, D. (2024). Generation of Archaean oxidizing and wet magmas from mafic crustal overthickening. Nature Geoscience, 17, 809–813. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-024-01489-z
  • Palin, R. M., Santosh, M., Cao, W., Li, S. S., Hernández-Uribe, D., & Parsons, A. (2020). Secular metamorphic change and the onset of plate tectonics. Earth-Science Reviews, 207, 103172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103172
  • Hernández-Montenegro, J. D., Palin, R. M., Zuluaga, C. A., & Hernández-Uribe, D. (2021). Archean continental crust formed by magma hybridization and voluminous partial melting. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 5263. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-84300-y

Subduction-zone processes

  • Hernández-Uribe, D., & Tsujimori, T. (2023). Progressive lawsonite eclogitization of the oceanic crust: Implications for deep mass transfer in subduction zones. Geology, 51(7), 678–682. https://doi.org/10.1130/G51052.1
  • Hernández-Uribe, D., Hernández-Montenegro, J. D., Cone., K. A., & Palin, R. M. (2020). Oceanic slab-top melting during subduction: implications for trace-element recycling and adakite petrogenesis. Geology, 48(3), 216–220. https://doi.org/10.1130/G46835.1
  • Hernández-Uribe, D., & Palin, R. M. (2019). A revised petrological model for subducted oceanic crust: insights from phase equilibrium modelling. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 37, 745–768. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmg.12483

Metamorphic Petrology and Tectonics

  • Hernández‐Uribe, D., Mattinson, C. G., Regel, M. E., Zhang, J., Stubbs, K. A., & Kylander‐Clark, A. R. (2023). Protracted eclogite‐facies metamorphism of the Dulan area, North Qaidam ultrahigh‐pressure terrane: Insights on zircon growth during continental subduction and collision. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 41(4), 557-581. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmg.12708
  • Hernández-Uribe, D., & Palin, R. M. (2019). Catastrophic shear-removal of subcontinental lithospheric mantle beneath the Colorado Plateau by the subducted Farallon slab. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 8153. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44628-y
  • Hernández-Uribe, D., Gutiérrez-Aguilar, F., Mattinson, C. G., Palin, R. M., & Neill, O. K. (2019). A new record of deeper and colder subduction in the Acatlán complex, Mexico: Evidence from phase equilibrium modelling and Zr–in–rutile thermometry. Lithos, 324, 551–568. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2018.10.003
  • Hernández-Uribe, D., Mattinson, C. G., & Zhang, J. X. (2018). Phase equilibrium modelling and implications for P–T determinations of medium‐temperature UHP eclogites, North Qaidam terrane, China. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 36(9), 1237–1261. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmg.12444

Phase equilibria

  • Hernández-Uribe, D., Holder, R. M., & Hernández-Montenegro, J. D. (2024). Eclogite thermobarometry: Consistency between conventional thermobarometry and forward phase-equilibrium modelling. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 42(1), 89–108. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmg.12747
  • Hernández-Uribe, D., Spera F. J., Bohrson W. A. & Heinonen, J. S. (2022), A comparative study of two phase equilibria modeling tools: MORB equilibrium states at variable pressure and H2O concentrations. American Mineralogist. https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2022-8211
  • Hernández‐Uribe, D., & Gutiérrez‐Aguilar, F. (2021). The versatility of petrological modeling: thermobarometry of high‐pressure metabasites from the Renge and Sanbagawa belts and phase evolution during warm subduction at Nankai. Island Arc, e12406. https://doi.org/10.1111/iar.12406

Education

Ph.D., Geology, 2020, Colorado School of Mines (U.S.A)

M.S., Geological Sciences, 2017, Central Washington University (U.S.A.)

Licenciatura en Ingeniería Geológica (equivalent to B.S., Geological Engineering), 2015, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (Mexico)