The study found that Methana volcano's magma chambers held steady amounts of magma for over 100,000 years, with intense activity peaking during zircon growth. This challenges the assumption that a prolonged period of volcanic silence means a volcano is extinct.
Experimental tests demonstrate that interactions between magma oceans and primitive atmospheres during early years can produce significant amounts of water. This process has major implications for the physical and chemical properties of planets' interiors, with potential effects on core development and atmospheric composition.
Madison Myers, an associate professor at Montana State University, has been recognized by the Geological Society of America for her contributions to volcanic field-based work. Her research focuses on monitoring Yellowstone's volcano, with a particular emphasis on effective communication of science to the public.
A new study from York University combines fluid mechanics and chemistry to understand the Earth's early evolution. Researchers found that the lower mantle's structure was established four billion years ago, with most crystals forming at low pressure, leading to a different chemical signature than previously thought.
Researchers have discovered that Kīlauea and Maunaloa, Hawai‘i's two most active volcanoes, share a common source of magma within the Hawaiian plume. This magmatic connection results in broad correlations between changes in their lava chemistry.
Researchers at Heidelberg University found that millimeter-sized sapphire grains formed in association with volcanism in the Eifel region. The crystals inherited isotopic signatures from mantle melts and were deposited in rivers through weathering, supporting a new theory on their formation.
A recent study published in Terra Nova suggests that Iceland's Reykanes Peninsula will experience recurring, moderately sized volcanic eruptions due to interconnected magma plumbing system. The eruptions pose significant risks to local populations and critical infrastructure.
Researchers have developed a computer model that sheds light on extracting renewable energy from superhot, super deep rock. The model shows the formation of microscopic cracks creating a dense 'cloud of permeability' throughout the affected rock, which can lead to higher power delivery and efficiency.
For the first time, researchers reveal that gold nanoparticles can melt and produce gold nanomelts at temperatures lower than macroscopic gold. This discovery opens a new debate on traditional models for gold transport in nature.
A new study by University of Helsinki researchers finds that magma floods can form in thick tectonic plates, contradicting the long-held assumption. The research uses geochemical modelling to demonstrate that high-temperature mantle sources can produce magmas with similar trace element compositions as low-pressure conditions.
Researchers recreated primordial seawater containing phosphate in the lab, suggesting that seawater could be a major source of this essential element. This finding has implications for understanding the origins of life on Earth and potentially even beyond our planet.
The Perseverance rover has revealed a crater floor composed of igneous rocks altered by water, with core samples stored for potential return to Earth. The rover's radar scans also suggest a layered structure beneath the surface, indicating history of igneous activity and repeated exposure to liquid water.
Researchers at the University of Leicester have partnered with BHP to identify new areas for nickel and copper deposits critical to the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. The project aims to challenge current understanding of the nickel mineral system, potentially opening up new exploration search space globally.
Researchers found that high water content in magma can reduce the risk of an explosive eruption. The study suggests combining different metrics to predict gas bubbles and crystallization, potentially leading to better forecasts for dangerous explosions.
Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis have discovered that Kamchatka's Shiveluch volcano contains around 10%-14% water by weight, a significantly higher amount than most volcanoes. This finding is significant as it could provide insights into the global water cycle and the plumbing systems of other volcanoes.
Researchers analyzed cores from the Basque Mud Patch to determine sedimentation rates and detect environmental contamination. The study found that metals and contaminants accumulate at an approximate rate of one millimeter per year, highlighting human activity's impact on the coastal area.
A study by the University of the Basque Country reveals 12 former coastlines under the sea off the Basque coast, formed due to major climate changes and fluctuations in sea levels. The researchers used advanced technology to create 3D maps of the seabed, showing irregularly distributed rocky platforms that had not been predefined.
Researchers found that organic substances produced by decomposed vegetation cover on top of caves create the red coloration, which is linked to climate conditions. The study used various analysis techniques to identify these compounds and established a link between the red color and mid-Holocene climate changes.
Researchers from Uppsala University discovered that hot magma from inside the Earth is forcing its way into a giant reservoir, keeping the Andean supervolcano alive. The study provides new insights into how large volcanoes work and could help increase chances of survival in case of a future eruption.
A new study suggests that heavier iron isotopes migrate towards lower temperatures and into the mantle, while lighter isotopes remain in the core. This phenomenon could be causing core material to infiltrate the lowermost mantle, enriching it in heavy iron isotopes.
Researchers found evidence of internal melting and differentiation in a carbonaceous meteorite, suggesting that primitive bodies started forming core, mantle, and crust structures. The study connects this process to highly differentiated iron meteorites through isotopic signatures.
Researchers have discovered a new model explaining why our planet has a higher concentration of stardust from red giant stars compared to other bodies in the solar system. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that the Earth's unique mix of elements was formed during its formation around the Sun.
A multidisciplinary study reveals that most ornithopod dinosaurs were young individuals with similar internal structures to unfossilized bones, while ankylosaurs showed various traces associated with specific groups. The research also found evidence of rapid burial, microbial activity, and a wetland ecosystem supporting a diverse fauna.
Daniela Rubatto's research provides a new way to connect minerals' ages to their formation conditions, reconstructing the speed and duration of rock travel within the Earth's crust. Her innovative method uses an ion microprobe to extract valuable information from minerals, contributing to better understanding geological processes.
A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters proposes that plate tectonics could have started as early as the planet's formation. Researchers analyzed noble gas isotopes Helium-3 and Neon-22 to establish a timeline of Earth's tectonic plate cycling, providing insight into the planet's earliest conditions.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that the British mainland was formed from the collision of three ancient continental land masses: Avalonia, Laurentia, and Armorica. This finding explains the abundance of tin and tungsten in South West England, which is also found in Brittany and other areas of mainland Europe.
Researchers from MSU found evidence of CO<sub>2</sub>-rich fluids in graphite samples and fluid inclusions in quartz, suggesting the rocks formed through interaction with the Kaapvaal Craton. This discovery provides insights into the geological history of the Limpopo Complex and its potential for ore prospecting.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have found that cold, iron-rich seawater from the North American continental slope is captured by meanders of the Gulf Stream and carried out to the North Atlantic Gyre, enriching it with iron. The study suggests that this source may deliver up to 15% of the iron delivered by Saharan dust.
Researchers find evidence of gold particles in Antarctic xenoliths, tracing them to the deep mantle. The study suggests that the mantle's history and tectonic movements led to gold deposit formation.
Researchers found that PACs mainly derive from biosynthetic compounds of high plants and microbial/fungal precursors. The occurrence of PACs is affected by coal rank, origins, depositional environment, formation history, and geological ages.
A network of microscopic crystals in magma can act like guard rails to channel gas out, lessening internal pressure and reducing explosiveness. The discovery challenges the prevailing assumption that silica content is the major driver of gas escape.
Researchers refuted the theory that asteroids hit Earth every 26 million years, as previously suggested by US researchers. Instead, they found that impact craters formed over a wide range of ages and were not clustered in time.
Researchers found that diatoms' rapid growth creates algal blooms that deplete nutrients in the upper water layer, which then affect global ocean currents. Diatoms absorb zinc and silicon to form shells and transport these trace elements through deep ocean currents.
A HKU undergraduate student applied THMOCALC phase-equilibrium modeling technique to determine pressure-temperature conditions of Eastern Hebei mafic granulites. Her research yielded accurate results, reflecting an origin related to underplating of mantle-derived magmas.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience proposes that the rise of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere was linked to the formation of continents and life. The researchers suggest that a reduction in the efficiency of the oxygen sink, coupled with an increase in volcanic activity and carbon inputs into the atmosphere, led to two rises in atm...
Researchers used computer models and laboratory experiments to study bubble behavior in magma reservoirs. They found that bubbles accumulate faster in crystal-rich zones, leading to overpressurization and potential sulfur emissions. This discovery sheds light on the underlying mechanisms of super-volcanic eruptions.
Geologists now track tectonic plate motion to understand ocean and mountain range formation, as well as animal species distribution. The technology reveals new geological relationships in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, with implications for predicting earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Scientists from the University of Exeter will lead a four-year €5.4 million project to discover essential raw materials and minerals in Europe. The team aims to use advanced techniques to expose previously unknown underground resources for high-tech products.
A new model of Earth's core formation suggests the magma ocean started out oxidized and became reduced over time through oxygen incorporation into the core. Higher oxygen concentrations were found in the core, contradicting previous estimates.
Scientists have analyzed seabed sediments to reconstruct past climates in the Mediterranean basin over 20,000 years. The study found reliable markers for wind patterns, fluvial cycles, and oxygenation conditions, shedding light on climate change.
A Washington State University undergraduate has developed a new method for detecting water on Mars using an index called groundmass crystallinity. This method could potentially be useful for not only studying rocks on Earth but also on other planets.
Researchers analyzed the Chile earthquake of February 2010, finding that fluid pressure in rocks affects earthquake rupture processes. The study revealed that mechanical coupling between plates controls stress build-up and seismic energy release, with fluid pressure variations linked to subduction zone dynamics.
Researchers in China, Egypt, Israel, Argentina, Mexico and California published new findings on sedimentology, petrology and paleotopography. The studies reveal insights into the geological processes that shape these regions, including eolian sand fractionation, magmatic activity, and exhumation of the Andes.
A team of geoscientists is building a whole-Earth model to understand long-term climate change on Earth. They will examine how carbon moves between the planet's external and internal systems, including the oceans, atmosphere, and deep Earth.
Researchers analyzed newly discovered ice-age deposits from Garwood Valley to understand the rise and collapse of Antarctic ice sheets. They also studied the geological history of granite emplacement and glacial evolution in Death Valley, California.
Harry W. Green II, a distinguished professor at UC Riverside, has been awarded the 2012 Roebling Medal by the Mineralogical Society of America. He is recognized for his novel approach to geophysics using transmission electron microscopy, which has borne significant fruit in understanding natural deformations and mineral reactions.
Scientists analyzed magma chamber crystals and correlated them with seismic signals from Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption, revealing a clear connection between crystal growth and volcanic activity. This study could improve eruption forecasting by providing insights into the timing of magma input and pulses of seismicity.
Researchers studied geological formations across the globe, including the Coast Range basalt province and the Faroe Islands. They discovered evidence of plume-influenced magmatism and fault rock types that can help model fluid migration and distribution. Additionally, a study on the Wairarapa fault in New Zealand investigated the geome...
This new research presents a well-documented ancient sedimentary record of subduction initiation in California, shedding light on the beginning of this process. The study also provides insights into the Karakoram Fault Zone in Tibet and updates the understanding of the Walker Lane belt in Nevada.
Eric J. Essene, George E. Gehrels, and Dana L. Royer received the Penrose, Day, and Donath Medals for their groundbreaking research in metamorphic petrology, U-Th-Pb geochronology, and paleoclimatology.
Carnegie scientists Kenneth Caldeira, Yingwei Fei and Steven Shirey have been elected AGU Fellows for their exceptional contributions to climate science, geological research and Earth sciences. Their work has significantly advanced scientific understanding of the internal structure of Earth and other planets.
The free NSF-funded e-booklet provides a concise primer on the essential information everyone should know about the Earth sciences. The Earth Science Literacy Initiative's framework document establishes nine 'Big Ideas' and supporting concepts, covering key areas like geology, climate science, and oceanography.
A new methodology developed by Pedro Álvarez Lloret found that exposure to organochlorate pollutants and lead causes bone weakening and fracture in wild birds. The study also reveals that polychloro-biphenyl (PCB) increases bone maturity, making them more fragile.
Researchers have developed new methods to block salt crystallization, a major cause of damage to historic buildings. These techniques have been tested on sodium nitrate and have shown effectiveness in reducing damage to ornamental porous materials.
A University of Granada research group found that climate change, not modern humans, contributed to the Neanderthal extinction in the Iberian Peninsula. Climate reconstructions revealed fluctuations related to climate changes before Homo Sapiens arrived, making cold and arid conditions the least favorable for Neanderthals.
A new study provides a detailed picture of magma and gas movement leading up to the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption, showing that magma stalled at a depth of three to four kilometers beneath the surface. The research sheds light on volcano behavior and offers fresh insights into the cataclysmic event.
Scientists discover Lost City, the tallest hydrothermal vent system ever seen, which can persist for hundreds of thousands to millions of years. This discovery increases the chances of finding early life on the seafloor, with potential implications for life beyond Earth.