Triggering of large basaltic fissure eruptions: Lessons from the Eastern Volcanic Zone of Iceland.

Supervisors: John Maclennan, Marie Edmonds, Daniel Morgan (University of Leeds) & Thorvaldur Thordarson (University of Edinburgh)

 

Lakagígar crater row

Volcanism in the Eastern Volcanic Zone (EVZ) of Iceland is dominated large basaltic fissure eruptions such as the Laki Fires eruption of 1783-1785 AD.  Focused at the Lakagígar crater row, the eruption produced ~15 cubic kilometers of basalt, making it the largest historically observed eruption. Through investigating the links between plutonic and volcanic processes a better understandic of the triggering of such eruption may be achieved.  Crystal zoning, crystal size distribution and melt inlcusion studies all provide key insights into the deep evolution and storage of magma.  Melt inclusion studies will enable degassing, crystallisation and melt mixing behaviour to be constrained in order to produce magma evolution models.  Key field localities for include the Laki fissure system as well as various tuff cones and sub-glacial eruptions within the Veiðivötn volcanic system.

Pantelleria Island Volcano

Research has been recently undertaken at the Pantelleria Island volcano, Italy.  A study into mantle melting, magma differentiation and volatile degassing was performed.  Pantelleria is the type locality for pantellerite, a peralklaine, iron-rich, volatile-rich and halogen-rich rhyolite with unusual physical properties.  Work included developing a model of pantellerite petrogenesis, as well an evaluation of likely volatile budgets from plinian eruptions, such as the Green Tuff eruption of ~45ka.


Publications: 2006-Present

Last updated on 21-Jul-11 14:11