Hattori defined the osmium isotope evolution of Earth's mantle, providing evidence for an accretion of chondritic meteorites after the core-mantle separation.
Prior to Hattori's research, the origin of large nuggets of platinum-group metals in streams was a subject of debate, with some proposing river water formation under a tropical climate and others suggesting mechanical erosion from rocks. However, her research presented evidence supporting their formation in rocks at high temperatures, followed by erosion to streams.
Through Hattori's research, it was also revealed that platinum grains found in streams contain oxygen, which led to initial suggestions of platinum oxide; however, using synchrotron techniques, it was demonstrated that the oxygen is combined with iron, not with platinum.