Under the Volcano: Geological Fieldwork in East Greenland

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Prof. Marian Holness
• Tuesday 03 March 2015, 18:15-19:15
• Winstanley Lecture Theatre.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact George Fortune.

If we want to understand how volcanoes behave we need to know what happens in the magma chambers that feed the eruptions. We can’t directly access the magma stored under active volcanoes but we can take a look at the deeply-eroded roots of ancient volcanoes. The east coast of Greenland is scattered with the remains of a vast outpouring of magma associated with the opening of the North Atlantic some 60 million years ago. The excellent exposure of the Skaergaard intrusion reveals a complex story of basalt magma trapped underground, with progressive solidification on the walls, roof and floor forming crystal mushy layers and a gradual change in the composition of the remaining magma. Detailed examination, both in the field and back in the lab, show how the process of fractionation actually works.

This talk is part of the Trinity College Science Society (TCSS) series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• Chris Davis' list
• Guy Emerson's list
• Trinity College Science Society (TCSS)
• Winstanley Lecture Theatre
• custom

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.