Professor Gretchen Benedix | Curtin University, Perth, Australia

Introduction

Gretchen is a cosmic mineralogist / astro-geologist using the chemistry, mineralogy, spectroscopy, and petrology of meteorites to understand the formation and evolution of asteroids and other planets. She got her Ph.D. at the University of Hawaii, Manoa in 1997. Her dissertation unraveled the geologic history of a rare group of meteorites that offer a snapshot into planetary differentiation processes. After this, she held a number of post-doctoral positions that broadened her knowledge base, from determining the surface composition of Saturn's moons to looking at how water/ice interacts with silicates on small bodies. She has worked at both the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and The Natural History Museum in London as a researcher. She joined Curtin in 2012 as a Senior Lecturer. She was awarded a Senior Curtin Research Fellowship in 2014. She currently holds an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship and is a member of the Space Science and Technology Centre in the School of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

Research Interests

The evolution of the Solar System is complex due to the number of processes that affected the bodies that formed from the gas and dust of the solar nebula. These processes include rapid (impact, shock waves, lightning) and slow (short-lived radionuclides, accretionary heat) heating events, mixing events, and cooling events, which may or may not occur in the presence of water (most likely in the form of ice, rather than liquid). Exploring how these processes occur is important in order to understand the nature of planet formation in our own Solar System.

Gretchen has a range of interests and strengths within planetary science, broadly concerned with the early evolution of the solar system, including surface evolution of Mars through solar system history; incipient melting, differentiation and core formation of protoplanets; impact, thermal and aqueous processes in asteroids; and the oxidation state of the solar nebula.

More recently her work has focussed on using machine learning and convolutional neural networks to intelligently analyse planetary science images.

Speciality Areas

Application of machine learning techniques to data analysis of solar system bodies

Mineralogy and petrology of chondrites, primitive achondrites, achondrites, and iron meteorites

UV/Vis/NIR and TIR spectroscopy of meteorite minerals

Membership

Asteroid 6579 re-named Benedix in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union for contributions to planetary science

ESA ExoMars MARS-XRD instrument team member

Fellow of the Meteoritical Society

Antarctic Service Medal of the National Science Foundation - she took part in two meteorite searching field trips in Antarctica

Member of: Meteoritical Society (since 1994), American Geophysical Union (since 1994), National Association of Geoscience Teachers (since 1996), Mineralogical Society (since 2008), Geological Society of America (since 2015).

Fields Of Research

Extraterrestrial Geology

Geochemistry

Geochronology

Planetary Science (excl. Extraterrestrial Geology)

Supervision

Teaching Summary

GEOL2001 Structure, Mineralogy and Geochemistry (Unit Coordinator)

GEOL2008 Field Geology Techniques

Publications

2021

Campbell, C. L., S. Meka, D. Marrable, A. L. Rohl, K. Chai, G. K. Benedix, C. L. Smith, and J. E. Moores.. "A self-supervised learning based approach to analyze Martian water–ice cloud properties for planetary atmospheric applications." Acta Astronautica 181 Inpress.

2020

Bellucci, J. J., M. J. Whitehouse, A. A. Nemchin, J. F. Snape, G. G. Kenny, R. E. Merle, P. A. Bland, and G. K. Benedix. 2020. "Tracing martian surface interactions with the triple O isotope compositions of meteoritic phosphates." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 531
Jourdan, F., T. Kennedy, G. K. Benedix, E. Eroglu, and C. Mayer. 2020. "Timing of the magmatic activity and upper crustal cooling of differentiated asteroid 4 Vesta." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 273: 205-225.
Benedix, G., A. Lagain, K. Chai, S. Meka, S. Anderson, C. Norman, P. Bland, J. Paxman, M. Towner, and T. Tan. 2020. "Deriving Surface Ages on Mars using Automated Crater Counting." American Geophysical Union: Journal of Earth and Space Science 7 (3)
Devillepoix, H. A. R., M. Cupák, P. A. Bland, E. K. Sansom, M. C. Towner, R. M. Howie, B. A. D. Hartig, T. Jansen-Sturgeon, P. M. Shober, S. L. Anderson, and 39 more contributors. 2020. "A Global Fireball Observatory." Planetary and Space Science 191
Sansom, E. K., P. A. Bland, M. C. Towner, H. A. R. Devillepoix, M. CupÁk, R. M. Howie, T. Jansen-Sturgeon, M. A. Cox, B. A. D. Hartig, J. P. Paxman, and 2 more contributors. 2020. "Murrili meteorite’s fall and recovery from Kati Thanda." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 55 (9): 2157-2168.
Anderson, S., M. Towner, P. Bland, C. Haikings, W. Volante, E. Sansom, H. Devillepoix, P. Shober, B. Hartig, M. Cupak, and 4 more contributors. 2020. "Machine learning for semi-automated meteorite recovery." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 55 (11): 2461-2471.
Lagain, A., S. Bouley, D. Baratoux, C. Marmo, F. Costard, O. Delaa, A. Pio Rossi, M. Minin, G. Benedix, M. Ciocco, and 53 more contributors.. "Crater Database: a Participative Project for the Classification of Large Martian Craters Morphological Characteristics." In Large Meteorite Impact VI Reimold, W. U..

2019

2018

Bellucci, J. J., A. A. Nemchin, M. J. Whitehouse, J. F. Snape, P. Bland, G. K. Benedix, and J. Roszjar. 2018. "Pb evolution in the Martian mantle." Earth And Planetary Science Letters 485: 79-87.
Devillepoix, H. A. R., E. K. Sansom, P. A. Bland, M. C. Towner, M. Cupák, R. M. Howie, T. Jansen-Sturgeon, M. A. Cox, B. A. D. Hartig, G. K. Benedix, and 1 more contributors. 2018. "The Dingle Dell meteorite: A Halloween treat from the Main Belt." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 53 (10): 2212-2227.

2017

Macke, R. J., G. K. Benedix, and P. A. Bland. 1499843802302. "DINGLE DELL DENSITY AND OTHER PHYSICAL PROPERTIES." In 80th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 23, 2017, Santa Fe, NM: WILEY.
Benedix, G. K., P. A. Bland, J. M. Friedrich, D. W. Mittlefehldt, M. E. Sanborn, Q. Z. Yin, R. C. Greenwood, I. A. Franchi, A. W. R. Bevan, M. C. Towner, and 2 more contributors. 2017. "Bunburra Rockhole: Exploring the geology of a new differentiated asteroid." Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 208: 145-159.
Forman, L. V., P. A. Bland, N. E. Timms, L. Daly, G. K. Benedix, P. W. Trimby, G. S. Collins, and T. M. Davison. 2017. "Defining the mechanism for compaction of the CV chondrite parent body." Geology 45 (6): 559-562.
Hunt, A. C., G. K. Benedix, S. J. Hammond, P. A. Bland, M. Rehkämper, K. Kreissig, and S. Strekopytov. 2017. "A geochemical study of the winonaites: Evidence for limited partial melting and constraints on the precursor composition." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 199: 13-30.
Devillepoix, H. A. R., P. A. Bland, M. C. Towner, E. K. Sansom, R. M. Howie, M. Cupak, G. K. Benedix, T. Jansen-Sturgeon, B. A. D. Hartig, M. A. Cox, and J. P. Paxman. 1499880910368. "FALL AND RECOVERY OF THE DINGLE DELL METEORITE." In 80th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 23, 2017, Santa Fe, NM: WILEY.
Bellucci, J. J., M. J. Whitehouse, T. John, A. A. Nemchin, J. F. Snape, P. A. Bland, and G. K. Benedix. 2017. "Halogen and Cl isotopic systematics in Martian phosphates: Implications for the Cl cycle and surface halogen reservoirs on Mars." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 458: 192-202.
Benedix, G. K., L. V. Forman, L. Daly, B. Godel, L. Esteban, M. M. M. Meier, C. Maden, H. Busemann, Q. Z. Yin, and M. Sanborn. 2017. "Mineralogy, Petrology and Chronology of the Dingle Dell Meteorite."

2016

Johnson, T. E., G. K. Benedix-Bland, and P. A. Bland. 2016. "Metamorphism and partial melting of ordinary chondrites: Calculated phase equilibria." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 433: 21-30.
Dyl, K. A., G. K. Benedix, P. A. Bland, J. M. Friedrich, P. Spurný, M. C. Towner, M. C. O'Keefe, K. Howard, R. Greenwood, R. J. Macke, and 6 more contributors. 2016. "Characterization of Mason Gully (H5): The second recovered fall from the Desert Fireball Network." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 51 (3): 596-613.
Forman, L., P. A. Bland, N. E. Timms, G. S. Collins, T. M. Davison, F. J. Ciesla, G. K. Benedix-Bland, L. Daly, P. W. Trimby, L. Yang, and 1 more contributors. 2016. "Hidden secrets of deformation: Impact-induced compaction within a CV chondrite." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 452: 133-145.
Bellucci, J. J., A. A. Nemchin, M. J. Whitehouse, J. F. Snape, R. B. Kielman, P. A. Bland, and G. K. Benedix-Bland. 2016. "A Pb isotopic resolution to the Martian meteorite age paradox." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 433: 241-248.

2015

Bellucci, J. J., A. A. Nemchin, M. J. Whitehouse, J. F. Snape, P. Bland, and G. Benedix. 2015. "The Pb isotopic evolution of the Martian mantle constrained by initial Pb in Martian meteorites." Journal of Geophysical Research E: Planets 120 (12): 2224-2240.
Bland, P., G. Benedix, and N. Desert Fireball. 2015. "Catching a Falling Star (or Meteorite) - Fireball Camera Networks in the 21st Century." Elements: an international magazine of mineralogy, geochemistry, and petrology 11: 160-161.
Spivak-Birndorf, L. J., A. Bouvier, G. K. Benedix, S. Hammond, G. A. Brennecka, K. Howard, N. Rogers, M. Wadhwa, P. A. Bland, P. Spurný, and 1 more contributors. 2015. "Geochemistry and chronology of the bunburra rockhole ungrouped achondrite." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 50 (5): 958-975.
Benedix, G., V. E. Hamilton, and S. M. Reddy. 2015. "CHARACTERISING THE ROLE OF MINERAL ORIENTATION ON IR MICROSPECTRSCOPY." In 78th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 27, 2015, Berkeley, CA: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

2014

Bridgestock, L., H. Williams, M. Rehkämper, F. Larner, M. Giscard, S. Hammond, B. Coles, R. Andreasen, B. Wood, K. Theis, and 3 more contributors. 2014. "Unlocking the zinc isotope systematics of iron meteorites." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 400: 153-164.
Jourdan, F., G. Benedix, E. Eroglu, P. A. Bland, and A. Bouvier. 2014. "(40)AR/(39)AR IMPACT AGES AND TIME-TEMPERATURE ARGON DIFFUSION HISTORY OF THE BUNBURRA ROCKHOLE ANOMALOUS BASALTIC ACHONDRITE." METEORITICS & PLANETARY SCIENCE 49: A192-A192.
Galloway, M. J., G. K. Benedix, P. A. Bland, J. Paxman, M. C. Towner, and S. Tan. 2014. "Automated crater detection and counting using the hough transform." In IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP), Oct 27, 2014, Paris
Jourdan, F., G. Benedix, E. Eraglu, P. Bland, and A. Bouvier. 2014. "40Ar/39Ar impact ages and time-temperature argon diffusion history of the Bunburra Rockhole anomalous basaltic achondrite." Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 140: 391-409.

2013

Theis, K., M. Schoenbaechler, G. Benedix, M. Rehkämper, R. Andreasen, and C. Davies. 2013. "Palladium-silver chronology of IAB iron meteorites." Earth and Planetary Science Letters 361: 402-411.
Benedix, G. K., H. Haack, and T. J. McCoy. 2013. "Iron and Stony-Iron Meteorites." In Treatise on Geochemistry, 2nd Edition, Vol. 1 Holland, H., and K. Turekian., 267-285 Kidlington, Oxford, UK: Elsevier Science BV.

2012

Greenwood, R. C., I. A. Franchi, J. M. Gibson, and G. K. Benedix. 2012. "Oxygen isotope variation in primitive achondrites: The influence of primordial, asteroidal, and terrestrial processess." Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 94: 146-163.
Holness, M. B., and G. K. Benedix. 2012. "DECODING MICROSTRUCTURES IN FOUR CORNERS IAB IRON." In 75th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Aug 12, 2012, Cairns, AUSTRALIA: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
Bland, P. A., P. Spurny, A. W. R. Bevan, K. T. Howard, M. C. Towner, G. K. Benedix, R. C. Greenwood, L. Shrbeny, I. A. Franchi, G. Deacon, and 4 more contributors. 2012. "The Australian Desert Fireball Network: A new era for planetary science." Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 59 (2): 177-187.

2011

2010

Weisberg, M. K., C. Smith, G. Benedix, C. D. K. Herd, K. Righter, H. Haack, A. Yamaguchi, H. Chennaoui Aoudjehane, and J. N. Grossman.. "The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 97." Meteoritics & Planetary Science 45 (3). Inpress.
Howard, K. T., G. K. Benedix, P. A. Bland, and G. Cressey. 2010. "Modal mineralogy of CV3 chondrites by X-ray diffraction (PSD-XRD)." Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 74 (17): 5084-5097.
Theis, K. J., M. Schonbachler, G. K. Benedix, M. Rehkaemper, and R. Andreasen. 2010. "CHRONOLOGY OF IAB IRON METEORITES USING THE Pd-Ag DECAY SYSTEM." In 73rd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 26, 2010, New York, NY: WILEY.
Stephen, N. R., G. K. Benedix, P. A. Bland, V. E. Hamilton, E. Mariani, and D. J. Prior. 2010. "PREFERRED ORIENTATION RELATIONSHIPS OF OLIVINE AND PYROXENE IN THE SHERGOTTITE MARTIAN METERORITES." In 73rd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 26, 2010, New York, NY: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.
Howard, K. T., G. K. Benedix, P. A. Bland, and G. Cressey. 2010. "AQUEOUS ALTERATION, "SERPENTINIZATION'' AND THE CM-C2ung-CI CONNECTION BY PSD-XRD." In 73rd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 26, 2010, New York, NY: WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC.
Benedix, G. K., S. J. Hammond, M. Rehkamper, M. Schonbachler, R. Andreasen, K. Theis, N. W. Rogers, and P. A. Bland. 2010. "TRACE ELEMENT COMPOSITION OF A SULFIDE NODULE IN TOLUCA IAB IRON." In 73rd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 26, 2010, New York, NY: WILEY-BLACKWELL.

2009

2008

2007

Bland, P. A., F. J. Stadermann, C. Floss, D. Rost, E. P. Vicenzi, A. T. Kearsley, and G. K. Benedix. 2007. "A cornucopia of presolar and early solar system materials at the micrometer size range in primitive chondrite matrix." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 42 (7-8): 1417-1427.
CONNOLLY, H. C., C. Smith, G. Benedix-Bland, L. Folco, K. Righter, J. Zipfel, A. Yamaguchi, and H. C. Aoudjehane.. "The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 92, 2007 September." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 42 Inpress.
Floss, C., B. L. Jolliff, G. K. Benedix, F. J. Stadermann, and J. Reid.. "Hammadah al Hamra 193: The first amphibole-bearing winonaite." American Mineralogist 92 Inpress.
Tyra, M. A., J. Farquhar, B. A. Wing, G. K. Benedix, A. J. T. Jull, T. Jackson, and M. H. Thiemens.. "Terrestrial alteration of carbonate in a suite of Antarctic CM chondrites: Evidence from oxygen and carbon isotopes." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 71 Inpress.
Collolly, S., C. L. Smith, M. R. Lee, and G. K. Benedix. 2007. "Carbonate crystallography in the carbonaceous CHONDRITES - A new indicator of impact shock?." In 70th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Aug 13, 2007, Tucson, AZ: METEORITICAL SOC.
Kress, M. E., G. K. Benedix, J. Schutt, and R. P. Harvey. 2007. "An unusual strewn field at the Otway Massif, Grosvenor Mountains, Antarctica." In 70th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Aug 13, 2007, Tucson, AZ: METEORITICAL SOC.
CONNOLLY, H. C., J. Zipfel, L. Folco, C. Smith, R. H. Jones, G. Benedix-Bland, K. Righter, A. Yamaguchi, H. C. Aoudjehane, and J. N. Grossman.. "The Meteoritical Bulletin, No. 91, 2007 March." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 42 Inpress.

2006

2005

Bland, P. A., O. Alard, G. K. Benedix, A. T. Kearsley, O. N. Menzies, L. E. Watt, and N. W. Rogers. 2005. "Volatile fractionation in the early solar system and chondrule/matrix complementarity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 102 (39): 13755-13760.
Benedix, G. K., D. S. Lauretta, and T. J. McCoy.. "Thermodynamic constraints on the formation conditions of winonaites and silicate-bearing IAB irons." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 69 Inpress.
Cruikshank, D. P., T. C. Owen, C. Dalle Ore, T. R. Geballe, T. L. Roush, C. De Bergh, S. A. Sandford, F. C. C. Poulet, G. K. Benedix, and J. P. Emery.. "A spectroscopic study of the surfaces of Saturn’s large satellites: H 2O ice, tholins, and minor constituents." Icarus 175 Inpress.
Corrigan, C. M., T. J. McCoy, D. Rumble, W. McDonough, J. Goldstein, G. Benedix, J. Yang, R. Walker, R. Ash, and J. Honesto. 2005. "EET 83230: Relationship to group IVA irons, and styles and timing of parent body oxidation." In 68th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Sep 12, 2005, Gatlinburg, TN: METEORITICAL SOC.

2004

Benedix, G. K., and P. A. Bland. 2004. "What does the CM chondrite mineralogic alteration index really mean?." In 67th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Aug 2, 2004, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL: WILEY.
Benedix, G. K., R. Ford, T. J. McCoy, T. Rushmer, and C. M. Corrigan. 2004. "Exploring the possible connection between ordinary chondrites and primitive achondrites." In 67th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Aug 2, 2004, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL: WILEY.
Benedix, G. K., and P. A. Bland. 2004. "What does the CM chondrite mineralogic alteration index really mean?." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 39 (SUPPL.)
Benedix, G. K., R. Ford, T. J. McCoy, T. Rushmer, and C. M. Corrigan. 2004. "Exploring the possible connection between ordinary chondrites and primitive achondrites." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 39 (SUPPL.)

2003

Benedix, G. K., L. A. Leshin, J. Farquhar, T. Jackson, and M. H. Thiemens.. "Carbonates in CM2 chondrites: constraints on alteration conditions from oxygen isotopic compositions and petrographic observations." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 67 Inpress.

2002

Kress, M. E., S. J. Desch, C. E. Dateo, and G. Benedix. 2002. "Shock processing of interstellar nitrogen compounds in the solar nebula." Advances in Space Research 30 (6): 1473-1480.
Burbine, T. H., T. J. McCoy, L. R. Nittler, G. K. Benedix, E. A. Cloutis, and T. L. Dickinson.. "Spectra of extremely reduced assemblages: Implications for Mercury." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 37 Inpress.
Benedix, G. K., and T. J. McCoy. 2002. "Aqueous alteration in CM chondrites from elephant moraine.": METEORITICAL SOC.

2000

Benedix, G. K., T. J. McCoy, K. Keil, and S. G. Love.. "A petrologic study of the IAB iron meteorites: Constraints on the formation of the IAB-Winonaite parent body." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 35 Inpress.
Benedix, G. K., M. Cosarinsky, and L. A. Leshin. 2000. "Carbonate petrography along the CM chondrite alteration sequence.": METEORITICAL SOC.
Benedix, G. K., J. Farquhar, L. A. Leshin, T. L. Jackson, and M. H. Thiemens. 2000. "The nature of the alteration on the CM parent body.": METEORITICAL SOC.

1999

Benedix, G. K., K. Keil, and J. Y. Murakami.. "Classification of ten new Nullarbor Region meteorites." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 34 Inpress.

1998

Benedix, G. K., T. J. McCoy, K. Keil, D. D. Bogard, and D. H. Garrison.. "A petrologic and isotopic study of winonaites: Evidence for early partial melting, brecciation, and metamorphism." Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 62 Inpress.
Pedersen, L., D. Apostolopoulos, W. R. Whittaker, G. Benedix, and T. Roush. 1998. "Sensing and data classification for robotic meteorite search." Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering 3525: 157-167.
Benedix, G. K., and K. Keil. 1998. "Classification of four new Roosevelt County meteorites." In 61st Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical-Society, Jul 27, 1998, TRINITY COLL, DUBLIN, IRELAND: METEORITICAL SOC.
Benedix, G. K., T. L. Roush, T. C. Owen, D. P. Cruikshank, T. R. Geballe, C. M. Dalle Ore, B. N. Khare, and C. de Bergh.. "Surface composition models of the leading surfaces of RHEA and Dione." American Astronomical Society 30 Inpress.
Benedix, G. K., and K. Keil.. "Classification of four new Roosvelt County meteorites." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 33 Inpress.

1997

McCoy, T. J., G. K. Benedix, and K. Keil. 1997. "Silicate-bearing iron and related stony meteorites: Similarities and differences in origin.": METEORITICAL SOC.
Benedix, G. K., T. J. McCoy, and K. Keil. 1997. "A cautionary tale of heterogeneity in IAB iron meteorites.": METEORITICAL SOC.

1996

Mccoy, T. J., A. J. Ehlmann, G. K. Benedix, K. Keil, and J. T. Wasson. 1996. "The Lueders, Texas, IAB iron meteorite with silicate inclusions." Meteoritics and Planetary Science 31 (3): 419-422.

1995

Benedix, G. K., L. K. Kinsey, T. J. McCoy, K. Keil, and R. Weiler.. "The Roosevelt County 079-090 meteorites." Meteoritics 30 Inpress.
BENEDIX, G. K., T. J. MCCOY, and K. KEIL. 1995. "SILICATE INCLUSIONS IN IAB IRONS - CORRELATIONS BETWEEN METAL COMPOSITION AND INCLUSION PROPERTIES, AND INFERENCES FOR THEIR ORIGIN.": METEORITICAL SOC.