ERC METAL Project – Understanding Terrestrial Planet Formation

The METAL project (Making tErresTriAl pLanets) aims to study the accretion and differentiation processes that shaped the current composition of Earth, the Moon, Mars, and other differentiated asteroids. We use advanced isotopic tools to understand the origin of volatile and siderophile elements in the solar system. This project, coordinated by Frédéric Moynier at IPGP, is a European partnership pushing the boundaries of cosmochemistry.

Scientific Publications

Access our scientific publications to discover the latest advances in cosmochemistry, isotopic analysis, and dynamic modeling.

The origin of Cretaceous-Palaeogene impactor revealed by nickel isotopes

Journal: Science Advances

2026

Generation of carbonated peridotite melts via biogenic sediment recycling in modern subduction zones

Journal: Science Advances

2026

Heavy potassium isotopes in carbonatites reveal oceanic crust subduction as the driver of deep carbon cycling

Journal: Science Advances

2025

Heavy potassium isotopes in carbonatites reveal oceanic crust subduction as the driver of deep carbon cycling

Journal: Science Advances

2025

A whole-scale volatile-depleted lunar interior

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

2025

Carbonate metasomatism at mantle wedge conditions, evidence from trace element and stable isotope (Fe, Zn) signatures of orogenic peridotites

Journal: Chemical Geology

2025

Chemical compositions of Chang’e-6 lunar soil and substantial addition of noritic crust ejecta from Apollo basin

Journal: Geology

2025

Copper isotope evidence for recycled crustal sulfides in deep mantle plume source

Journal: Communications Earth and Environment

2025

See Publications

Group dinner during the Goldschmidt meeting 2023

People

Meet the participants of the METAL project, experts in cosmochemistry and planetary sciences working together to uncover the secrets of terrestrial planet formation.

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Visual Highlights

Explore our Visual Highlights, featuring images of scientific instruments and analysis results illustrating the complex processes of planetary formation.

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News and Events

Stay updated with the latest news from the METAL project, including scientific honors, collaborations, and major events.

An article in the CNRS newsletter of the China’s office.

Thanks to the CNRS chinese office to promote our work on extra-terrestrial samples. For the full high resolution newsletter : https://beijing.office.cnrs.fr/publications/

A medal for commitment to Frédéric Moynier from Université Paris Cité

In September, Frédéric was awarded a medal for commitment by Edouard Kaminski, president of Université Paris Cité. This ceremony was created also to celebrate the 5th anniversary of Université Paris Cité. Congratulations Fred!

IPGP features our recent collection of a lunar sample returned by the Chang’e 5 mission.

https://www.ipgp.fr/en/news-and-agenda/news/the-institute-receives-a-precious-sample-of-lunar-basalt-from-the-chinese-change-5-mission/

The Disparity Between the Two Faces of the Moon: A Long-standing Enigma Decoded by Frédéric Moynier

In a recent article, Frédéric Moynier, a cosmochemist at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP), delved into one of the long-standing mysteries of lunar geology: the striking difference between the Moon’s two faces.

Goldschmidt 2025 in Prague

Goldschmidt conference is always a good occasion to gather former and current members of my team

Frédéric Moynier elected member of the Academia Europaea

Frédéric Moynier, professor at the Institut de physique du globe de Paris (IPGP) and Université Paris Cité, and Deputy Director for Research at IPGP, has been elected a member of the Academia Europaea, one of the most renowned scientific academies in Europe. Founded...

First Twitch by the Institut de physique du globe de Paris about space missions and sample return missions in which we are deeply involved

https://youtu.be/x_MS-CxiduM?si=urQQTGaS9NG_6MNn

Very honored to become an AGU fellow during the 2024 meeting in Washington DC attended by over 25000 people.

On stage at the 2024 AGU honor ceremony AGU fellowship

Collaboration between the ERC METAL Project and Nu Instruments for Advances in Cosmochemistry

The ERC METAL project collaborates with Nu Instruments to develop cutting-edge mass spectrometry techniques, offering unique insights into the formation of terrestrial planets and celestial bodies.

A research highlight from the IPGP communication team on PhD student Linru Fang recent articly on the oldest Solar System lava, the meteorite Erg Chech 002.

https://www.ipgp.fr/en/news-and-agenda/news/the-study-of-a-meteorite-provides-insights-into-the-early-stages-of-solar-system-formation/