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 parent bodies of Ryugu and Ivuna formed before those of other carbonaceous chondrites

Journal: Science

2026

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

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.

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...

Frédéric Moynier répond aux lecteurs du Monde à propos de la mission Artemis-2

Lors d’un tchat en direct, Frédéric Moynier (cosmochimiste, spécialiste de la formation des planètes) a répondu avec Philippe Lognonné (expert des instruments d’exploration spatiale) aux lecteurs du journal Le Monde sur les enjeux scientifiques des missions Artemis et...

Linru Fang’s PhD Defense and Post-Doctoral Journey

Congratulations to Dr. Linru Fang for defending her PhD thesis on the origin and evolution of the first asteroids. She now moves on to postdoctoral research at the University of Copenhagen’s StarPlan group.

Wei Dai defended his PhD on Ca and K isotope cosmochemistry

Celebration of Wei's PhD thesis.

Congratulations to Haoxuan Sun for defending his PhD on planetary formation using a triple silicon isotope approach

Congratulations to Haoxuan Sun for defending his PhD on planetary formation using silicon isotope analysis. He is now moving to Washington, DC, for a postdoctoral fellowship at the Carnegie Institution for Science.

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.

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/

Frédéric Moynier is very honored to be the patron (parrain) of the 2024-2027 undergraduate students from the University of Perpignan Via Domitia and is looking forward to follow the journey of these future scientists.

Frédéric Moynier is very honored to be the patron (parrain) of the 2024-2027 undergraduate students from the University of Perpignan Via Domitia and is looking forward to follow the journey of these future scientists.