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NSF Petrology and Geochemistry (09-543) FAQs

What is the NSF Petrology and Geochemistry grant opportunity (09-543)?

NSF 09-543 was a National Science Foundation funding opportunity that supported basic, fundamental research in petrology and geochemistry. The goal was to improve understanding of how Earth forms and evolves by studying chemical, mineralogical, and physical signatures preserved in Earth materials from the crust, mantle, and core.

What kinds of research questions did this program focus on?

The program focused on core geoscience questions that can be answered through the chemistry, mineralogy, and physical behavior of rocks and minerals, particularly under high-temperature conditions that influence igneous and metamorphic systems. It emphasized understanding Earth processes over geologic time, including how Earth differentiates chemically and physically.

What research approaches were supported?

Supported projects commonly used field observations, laboratory experiments, analytical measurements, and modeling. The intent was to connect observations and measurements to geologic processes and the evolution of Earth materials.

What Earth processes were specifically mentioned as within scope?

The opportunity described funding for research that explains processes such as melting, crystallization, metamorphism, magma generation and transport, volcanic activity, and chemical differentiation of the planet over geologic time.

What topic areas were typically included under this program?

Projects typically fell into closely related areas including: petrology and high-temperature geochemistry of igneous and metamorphic rocks; studies of mantle-derived samples such as xenoliths; mineral physics; economic geology (in a basic-science context); and volcanology where petrologic and geochemical tools illuminate volcanic processes.

Did the program support studies of the mantle or deep Earth?

Yes. A major emphasis included mantle-derived samples (for example, xenoliths and other materials that provide direct windows into deep Earth), along with broader igneous and metamorphic petrology and high-temperature geochemistry.

What is mineral physics in the context of this solicitation?

Mineral physics was included as a supported area, focusing on how minerals behave under the pressures and temperatures found inside Earth. This work often links microscopic mineral properties to large-scale geophysical observations.

Was volcanology eligible under this opportunity?

Yes. Volcanology was supported, especially when geochemical and petrologic tools were used to understand volcanic plumbing systems, eruption triggers, magma storage, and the evolution of volcanic products.

How did the solicitation treat economic geology?

Economic geology was included to reflect interest in the geologic processes that concentrate economically important elements and minerals. The scope was still grounded in basic science rather than applied exploration.

Did NSF encourage interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary proposals?

Yes. A notable feature was encouragement for proposals crossing disciplinary boundaries, as long as the work advanced understanding of Earth materials and processes. Examples mentioned included links to geophysics, tectonics, geodynamics, hydrology, atmospheric science, microbiology, or planetary science.

Were proposals to develop analytical tools or methods allowed?

Yes. The solicitation explicitly welcomed development of analytical tools and methods with broad community value. Examples included new instrumentation approaches, improved measurement techniques, shared reference materials, data workflows, and other capabilities that enable better or more widely accessible petrologic and geochemical analyses.

What agency offered this program, and what type of grant was it?

The program was offered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) as a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.

What CFDA number was associated with this program?

The opportunity was associated with CFDA 47.050 (Geosciences).

How many awards were anticipated?

The program anticipated around 60 awards.

What was the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount listed for the opportunity was approximately $13.9 million.

What was the expected award size range?

Individual awards were expected to range from about $30,000 (award floor) up to about $500,000 (award ceiling).

Was cost sharing or matching required?

No. Cost sharing or matching was not required.

Who was eligible to apply?

Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning proposals could be submitted by any applicant type, subject to any clarifications contained in the full solicitation text.

What were the submission dates for the 2009 cycle?

The original closing date for the 2009 cycle was July 6, 2009. The submission window was shown as June 6 to July 6, 2009.

Were there multiple submission windows each year?

Yes. In addition to the June 6 to July 6 window (and then annually thereafter), an additional window was listed as December 6 to January 6 (and then annually thereafter).

Is this funding opportunity still active?

No. The opportunity is archived.

When was the announcement archived?

The archive date recorded for this announcement is November 13, 2013.

Was this program replaced by another NSF solicitation?

Yes. It was later replaced by NSF 14-501.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this program?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this solicitation is 09-543.

Where could applicants get help accessing the announcement in Grants.gov?

For help accessing the announcement through Grants.gov, the listed support contact was NSF Grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.