Projects

Two main and complementary lines of investigation

Paleoclimate

- I study the geochemistry of paleosols to understand the conditions under which they were formed. Specifically, I make mean annual precipitation and air temperature (MAP & MAAT) reconstructions based on the chemical composition of paleosols

- By means of precise K-Ar and 40Ar/39Ar dating of volcanic units sealing the paleosols I can determine their age and time formation, and that way constrain in time the evolution of MAP and MAAT conditions

- Our precise temporal constraints also allow us to study the weathering and diagenetic processes and rates that formed those paleosols

Paleosol developed in a pyroclastic deposit "bracketed" by lava flows

Example of a paleosol developed in a pyroclastic unit intercalated between lava flows.

Volcanology

- I have studied the volcanic evolution of several eruptive centers in Chile through field and satellite imagery observations, macro and micro petrography, geochronology (Ar/Ar in different phases & U-Pb in Zircons) and geochemistry (e.g., Ojos del Salado Volcano in the image)

- During my Master thesis I also studied major Cenozoic ignimbrites, as the one observed in the right half at the center of the figure

Full list of publications

Journal papers

Published

Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D., Chabaux, F., Marques, F. O., Carlut, J. (2025) Fast CO2 uptake by intense weathering of volcanic islands during interglacial stages. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 401, 62–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2025.05.035

Hevia-Cruz, F., Sheldon, N. D., Hildenbrand, A., Hren, M. T., Marques, F. O., Carlut, J., Chabaux, F. (2024) Regional variations of the Azores High across glacial-interglacial timescales. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, 39 (5), e2023PA004810. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023PA004810

Hildenbrand, A., Marques, F. O., Pereira, A., Nomade, S., Hevia-Cruz, F. (2024) Precise dating of large flank collapses by single-grain 40Ar/39Ar on pyroclastic deposits: example from Flores Island (Azores). Scientific Reports, 14, 11905 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-62583-1

Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D., Hren, M. T., Zanon, V., Marques, F. O., Carlut, J., Chabaux, F., Haurine, F. (2024) Weathering pulses during glacial-interglacial transitions: insights from well-dated paleosols in the Azores volcanic province (Central North Atlantic). Quaternary Sciences Reviews, 324, 108438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2023.108438

Naranjo, J. A., Hevia, F., Polanco, E. (2021) Mondaca volcano lahar of December 3, 1762, Maule Region (35°28’S): one of the largest volcanic disasters in Chilean history. Andean Geology 48 (3). http://dx.doi.org/10.5027/andgeoV48n3-3361

Naranjo, J. A., Hevia, F., Arcos, R., Polanco, E. (2019) Geología de las áreas Nevado Ojos del Salado y Cerro El Fraile, Región de Atacama. Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Carta Geológica de Chile, Serie Geología Básica 204-205: 96 p. 1 mapa escala 1:100.000. Santiago.

Naranjo, J. A., Hevia, F., Villa, V., Ramírez, C. (2019) Miocene to Holocene geological evolution of the Lazufre segment in the Andean volcanic arc. Geosphere, 15 (1), 47-59. https://doi.org/10.1130/GES01352.1

Accepted

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Submitted, under review, in preparation

Hevia-Cruz, F., Naranjo, J. A., Orihashi, Y. Biotite geochemistry fingerprinting for Cenozoic ignimbrites and distal ash-fall correlation, southern Central Andean Volcanic Zone. Volcanica, under review.

Loiodice, L., Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D. Unexpected wet and warm conditions during glacial periods in the Central North Atlantic as recorded by paleosols from Flores Island, Western Azores. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, under review.

Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D. Timing of paleosols formation in volcanic areas: Implications for climatic reconstructions and weathering rates (in preparation).

Conference abstracts

Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N., Chabaux, F., Marques, F. O., Carlut, J. (2025) Intense CO2 consumption by pulsed volcano weathering near interglacial peaks in the Azores Archipelago (North Atlantic Region), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, (EGU25-3297) https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3297

Hildenbrand, A., Hevia-Cruz, F., Loiodice, L., Sheldon, N. (2025) Unexpected intense weathering during glacial periods in the Central North Atlantic as recorded by paleosols from Flores Island (Azores), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, (EGU25-6489) https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6489

Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D., Chabaux, F., Marques, F. O., Carlut, J. (2024) Fast basalt weathering and CO2 uptake close to interglacial peaks: insights from precise dating and geochemistry of paleosols in the Azores Archipelago. VIII colloque Climat et Impacts, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.

Loiodice, L., Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D. (2024) Unexpected wet and warm conditions during glacial periods in the Central North Atlantic as recorded by paleosols from Flores Island (Azores). VIII colloque Climat et Impacts, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.

Chabaux, F., Pelt, E., Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N., di Chiara Roupert, R., Perrone, T., van der Woerd, J. (2024) Present and paleo weathering rates by analysis of 238U-234U-230Th disequilibria in soil and paleosols profiles. Goldschmidt Conference 2024, Chicago, USA.

Hildenbrand, A., Marques, F. O., Pereira, A., Nomade, S., Hevia-Cruz, F. (2023) Precise dating of large flank collapses by single-grain 40Ar/39Ar on pyroclastic deposits: example from Flores Island (Azores). Goldschmidt Conference 2023, Lyon, France.

Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D., Chabaux, F., Marques, F. O., Carlut, J., Zanon, V. (2023) Paleoclimate and weathering on volcanic islands: insights from well-dated paleosols spanning the last Myr in the Central Azores. EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria (EGU23-9064) https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-9064

Hevia-Cruz, F., Hildenbrand, A., Sheldon, N. D. (2022) Enhanced weathering of volcanic islands during glacial-interglacial transitions: insights from well-dated paleosols spanning the last Myr in São Miguel Island, Eastern Azores. VII colloque Climat et Impacts, Orsay, France.

Polanco, E., Arcos, R., Hevia, F. (2022) Volcanismo Mioceno en el Altiplano del norte de Chile, Region de Arica y Parinacota: Nuevos Antecedentes (Miocene volcanism in the Northern Chilean Altiplano, Arica and Parinacota Region: New background). XXI Congreso Geologico Argentino, Puerto Madryn, Argentina.

Polanco, E., Hevia, F., Naranjo, J. A., Arcos, R. (2019) Geochemistry of Nevado Tres Cruces and Nevado Ojos del Salado volcanic complexes, Central Andes, Chile. XXIX Goldschmidt Conference, Barcelona, España.

Naranjo, J. A., Hevia, F., Creixell, C. (2019) Volcano-tectonic paleoenvironmental evolution of the southern Maricunga Belt. Congreso SEG 2019, South American Metallogeny: Sierra to Craton, Santiago, Chile.

Hevia, F., Naranjo, J. A., Orihashi, Y., Hokanishi, N., Yasuda, A. (2018) Estudio de litofacies y geoquímica de biotitas de ignimbritas miocenas de la Zona Volcánica Andina Central sur (Lithofacies and biotite geochemical study of Miocene ignimbrites in the southern Central Andes). XV Congreso Geológico Chileno, Concepción, Chile.

Naranjo, J. A., Hevia, F., Villa, V., Ramírez, C. (2018) Miocene to recent geological evolution of the Lazufre segment in the Andean volcanic arc. XV Congreso Geológico Chileno, Concepción, Chile.

Hevia, F., Naranjo, J. A., Orihashi, Y., Hokanishi, N., Yasuda, A. (2017) Biotite major elements as a tool to fingerprint ignimbrites, southern Central Volcanic Zone. XXVII Goldschmidt Conference, Paris, France.

Hevia, F., Pinto, L., Moraga, A., Martínez, F., Martínez, T. (2017) Class subject “The Social Role of the Geologist”: Impact and reflections. XXVII Goldschmidt Conference, Paris, France.

Ramírez, C., Villa, V., Hevia, F., Naranjo, J. A., Suárez, M. (2015) Tiempo de residencia magmática de circones de dos ignimbritas miocenas, Andes Centrales Sur (Magmatic residence time of Zircons from two Miocene ignimbrites, Southern Central Andes). XIV Congreso Geológico Chileno, La Serena, Chile.

Martínez, T., Valenzuela, D., Hevia, F., Silva, G., Hervé, F. (2015) Estado actual de reconocimiento y distribución geográfica del Patrimonio Geológico Chileno (Current state of recognition and geographical distribution of the Chilean Geological Patrimony). XIV Congreso Geológico Chileno, La Serena, Chile.

PhD Thesis

Hevia Cruz, F. (2023) Climatic and landscape evolution of the Azores over the past million years. PhD Université Paris-Saclay, 302 p. https://theses.fr/2023UPASJ035

Master Thesis

Hevia Cruz, F. (2018) Correlación de litofacies y geoquímica de biotitas de ignimbritas cenozoicas de los Andes Centrales sur (Lithofacies and biotite geochemical correlation of Cenozoic ignimbrites in the southern Central Andes). MSc. Thesis (Unpublished), Universidad de Chile, 244 p. https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/159582

Book chapters

Pinto, L., Moraga, A., Martínez, T., Hevia, F., Martínez, F. (2018) ¿El rol social o rol profesional del geólogo? Reflexiones e impacto de un curso de geología (The social or professional role of the geologist? Reflexions and impact of a geology class), 141-161. In Bustamante, F., Monares, A., Ramírez, P., Rodríguez, C. y Torres, M. (2018). Cuadernos de Beauchef: ciencia, tecnología y cultura. Available in http://libros.uchile.cl/823.