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Earth Science
South Africa
2025

D-Index & Metrics

Earth Science

D-Index
57
Citations
9704
World Ranking
2313
National Ranking
8

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2025 - Research.com Earth Science in South Africa Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Earth Science in South Africa Leader Award

Overview

Lewis D. Ashwal is affiliated with the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa. Their primary field of study is Earth and Planetary Sciences, with particular emphasis on geophysics, artificial intelligence, astronomy and astrophysics, mechanics of materials, and geochemistry and petrology. The research topics covered in their work include geological and geochemical analysis, geochemistry and geologic mapping, earthquake and tectonic studies, planetary science and exploration, hydrocarbon exploration and reservoir analysis, high-pressure geophysics and materials, and geology and paleoclimatology research.

Ashwal's research output includes several recent publications across a range of scientific journals. Notable papers are:

  • "Machine learning-based prediction of trace element concentrations using data from the Karoo large igneous province and its application in prospectivity mapping," 2021, published in Artificial Intelligence in Geosciences
  • "Sub-lithospheric mantle sources for overlapping southern African Large Igneous Provinces," 2021, published in South African Journal of Geology
  • "Sr-Enriched Glassy Picrites From the Karoo Large Igneous Province are Evolved, not Primitive Magmatic Rocks," 2021, published in Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems
  • "Melt infiltration in a crystal mush and pegmatoid formation in the platiniferous Merensky Reef, Bushveld Complex, South Africa," 2024, published in Mineralium Deposita
  • "Subsurface Microbial Colonization at Mineral-Filled Veins in 2-Billion-Year-Old Mafic Rock from the Bushveld Igneous Complex, South Africa," 2024, published in Microbial Ecology

The venues where Ashwal has frequently published include Artificial Intelligence in Geosciences, South African Journal of Geology, Mineralium Deposita, Microbial Ecology, and Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems.

Collaboration is a recurring feature of Ashwal's research. Frequent co-authors include Ben Hayes, S. J. Webb, Yohey Suzuki, Mariko Kouduka, and Hanae Kobayashi, with multiple joint publications. These collaborations span geosciences and related fields, reflecting interdisciplinary research approaches.

Best Publications

  • Diamonds sampled by plumes from the core–mantle boundary

    Trond H. Torsvik;Trond H. Torsvik;Kevin Burke;Kevin Burke;Bernhard Steinberger;Bernhard Steinberger;Susan J. Webb

  • Deep mantle structure as a reference frame for movements in and on the Earth

    Trond H. Torsvik;Rob van der Voo;Pavel V. Doubrovine;Kevin Burke;Kevin Burke

  • Age and tectonic evolution of Neoproterozoic ductile shear zones in southwestern Madagascar, with implications for Gondwana studies

    Maarten J. de Wit;Sam A. Bowring;Lew D. Ashwal;Leon G. Randrianasolo

  • Petrogenesis of Neoproterozoic Granitoids and Related Rocks from the Seychelles: the Case for an Andean-type Arc Origin

    L.D. Ashwal;Daniel Demaiffe;Trond Torsvik

  • U-Pb Geochronology and Isotope Geochemistry of the Archean and Proterozoic Rocks of North-Central Madagascar

    R. D. Tucker;L. D. Ashwal;M. J. Handke;M. A. Hamilton

  • Slow cooling of deep crustal granulites and Pb-loss in zircon

    Lewis D. Ashwal;Robert D. Tucker;Ernst K. Zinner;Ernst K. Zinner

  • Neoproterozoic continental arc magmatism in west-central Madagascar

    Michael J. Handke;Robert D. Tucker;Lewis D. Ashwal

  • A Precambrian microcontinent in the Indian Ocean

    Trond H. Torsvik;Hans Amundsen;Ebbe H. Hartz;Fernando Corfu

  • New way to map old sutures using deformed alkaline rocks and carbonatites

    Kevin Burke;Lewis D. Ashwal;Susan J. Webb

  • SNC meteorites: Igneous rocks from Mars?

    C. A. Wood;L. D. Ashwal

  • Late Cretaceous India–Madagascar fit and timing of break‐up related magmatism

    T.H. Torsvik;R.D. Tucker;L.D. Ashwal;L.M. Carter

  • U–Pb geochronology of Seychelles granitoids: a Neoproterozoic continental arc fragment

    R.D. Tucker;L.D. Ashwal;T.H. Torsvik

  • Late Cretaceous magmatism in Madagascar: palaeomagnetic evidence for a stationary Marion hotspot

    T.H Torsvik;R.D Tucker;L.D Ashwal;E.A Eide

  • Magmatic stratigraphy in the Bushveld Northern Lobe: continuous geophysical and mineralogical data from the 2950 m Bellevue drillcore

    Lewis D. Ashwal;Susan J. Webb;Michael W. Knoper

  • Two-stage models for lunar and terrestrial anorthosites Petrogenesis without a magma ocean

    John Longhi;Lewis D. Ashwal

  • Heat production in an Archean crustal profile and implications for heat flow and mobilization of heat-producing elements

    L.D. Ashwal;P. Morgan;S.A. Kelley;J.A. Percival

  • Proterozoic mountain building in Peninsular India: an analysis based primarily on alkaline rock distribution

    C. Leelanandam;K. Burke;K. Burke;K. Burke;L. D. Ashwal;S. J. Webb

  • THE TEMPORALITY OF ANORTHOSITES

    Lewis D. Ashwal

  • Age, petrogenesis and significance of 1 Ga granitoids and related rocks from the Sendra area, Aravalli Craton, NW India

    M.K. Pandit;L.M. Carter;L.D. Ashwal;R.D. Tucker

  • Continental crust beneath southeast Iceland.

    Trond H. Torsvik;Trond H. Torsvik;Hans E. F. Amundsen;Reidar G. Trønnes;Pavel V. Doubrovine

  • Geology of Rajasthan (Northwest India) Precambrian to Recent. A.B. Roy, S.R. Jakhar (Eds.); Scientific Publishers (India), Jodhpur, 421 pages, Hardbound

    Lewis D Ashwal

Frequent Co-Authors

Trond H. Torsvik
Trond H. Torsvik University of Oslo
Fernando Corfu
Fernando Corfu University of Oslo
Kevin Burke
Kevin Burke University of Houston
Bernhard Steinberger
Bernhard Steinberger Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences
Torgeir B. Andersen
Torgeir B. Andersen University of Oslo
Robert D. Tucker
Robert D. Tucker Washington University in St. Louis
Carmen Gaina
Carmen Gaina University of Oslo
Stephanie C. Werner
Stephanie C. Werner University of Oslo
Bjørn Jamtveit
Bjørn Jamtveit University of Oslo
Manoj K. Pandit
Manoj K. Pandit University of Rajasthan

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