Articles tagged with Magma
Researchers analyzed pre-eruption seismic activity before the 2009 Redoubt volcano eruption, which deviated from common patterns. Advanced analysis revealed a protracted period of slow magma ascent followed by rapidly increasing pressure, enabling improved forecasting techniques.
Researchers discovered that iron carbonyl is the main form of carbon trapped in magmas on Mars, releasing carbon monoxide and methane gases. This finding suggests that early Mars' volcanism could have released enough greenhouse gases to warm the planet significantly.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have captured a unique image of a site deep in the earth where magma is generated. The cross-section area of the melting region rivals the size of San Diego County, providing insights into the fundamental processes of plate tectonics.
Researchers have discovered a hidden layer of liquified molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which may be responsible for the sliding motions of massive tectonic plates. The finding has significant implications for understanding geologic functions and processes related to volcanism and earthquakes.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography have discovered a 25-kilometer-thick layer of partially melted rock below the edge of the Cocos plate, which may be facilitating the sliding motions of tectonic plates. This finding has significant implications for understanding earthquakes and volcanism.
A new analysis by planetary scientists from Brown University shows that lunar impact events produced massive seas of melted rock, up to 220 miles across and six miles deep. These melt seas differentiated similarly to the lunar magma ocean, producing rocks with complex mineral compositions.
Researchers detected water in lunar anorthosites, contradicting the popular moon-formation model that suggests the moon was formed from debris generated by a giant impact. The discovery indicates that the early moon was wet and that water may have played a key role in its development.
Researchers have discovered significant amounts of water in Apollo samples, indicating the early Moon was wet and the water wasn't substantially lost during formation. The detection of hydroxyl groups suggests a prolonged solidification of the lunar magma ocean.
A team of scientists has discovered that magma can form at depths of up to 250 kilometers in the Earth's mantle, a finding that challenges existing theories and sheds new light on the planet's inner workings. This discovery has significant implications for our understanding of the Earth's geophysical and geochemical properties.
Researchers at Rice University have found that magma forms as deep as 250 kilometers in the Earth's mantle, a discovery that challenges previous theories on melting depth. This finding also sheds light on the planet's interior and surface connection, revealing new insights into geological processes.
Researchers have discovered that magma in oceanic crust is cycled through the Earth's surface before eruption, altering previous theories on the formation of oceanic crust. This breakthrough could help scientists better understand the conditions of mantle melting and production of the Earth's most-common rock.
Researchers found that initial bubble growth determines eruption size, with rapid changes in gas flux and composition crucial for prediction. The study provides a key to understanding volcanic eruptions and could lead to better predictions of their scale.
Researchers found that pre-eruptive mixing within magma chambers, triggered by older cooler magma mixing with younger hotter magma, is the common event before catastrophic eruptions. This discovery could prove invaluable in future hazard and risk assessment on islands prone to volcanic activity.
Scientists have used satellite data to reveal a geological oddity in the Altiplano-Puna plateau, where magma is forming a large blob that pushes up the earth's surface across an area 100km wide. This 'sombrero uplift' could provide insights into massive magmatic events leading to super volcano formation.
Recent GSA Bulletin articles discuss tectonics, mineral formation, the Moho, age dating using zircon crystals, atmospheric CO2, and early animal evolution. Slow faults in Spain produce large earthquakes with thousand-year recurrence periods.
Scientists recreated extreme conditions at Earth's core-mantle boundary using X-rays, showing that partially molten rock is buoyant and should segregate towards the surface. This evidence supports the theory that volcanic hotspots like the Hawaiian Islands originate from mantle plumes generated at the Earth's core-mantle boundary.
Researchers study tectonic tilting in the Bahamas and its implications for hydrocarbon reservoirs. A new study demonstrates interhemispheric climate asynchrony during the Holocene era.
Researchers discovered fluids flow through solid rock at a much faster rate than previously thought, with pulses occurring in a relatively short time along defined paths. This challenges current understanding of the formation of volcanic arcs and their connection to earthquake events.
A new study suggests that giant magma bodies forming the basis of super-eruptions exist for a few thousand years before erupting, rather than hundreds of thousands. This discovery has implications for predicting and mitigating the effects of these massive eruptions.
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 at the University of Bristol used forensic-style chemical analysis to directly link seismic observations to crystal growth in a magma chamber. The study found correlations between peak crystal growth and increased seismicity prior to the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption.
Researchers at the University of Southampton have discovered a unique volcanic process called fluidised spray granulation, which creates well-rounded particles containing diamond fragments. This process has significant implications for understanding eruption dynamics and constraints on vent conditions, particularly gas velocity.
The article discusses new research on dynamic earth processes, including the link between wildfires and sediment transport in coastal watersheds, as well as high-pressure metamorphism in northwest China. Additionally, studies on the Gold Hill shear zone and magma-filled fractures in the Appalachian mountain belt are also presented.
Researchers discovered chemical footprints of mycorrhizal fungi in a 503-million-year-old soil, suggesting early land plants formed partnerships with fungus to extract nutrients. The study also found evidence of submarine canyons and the growth of sub-tropical forests in Europe, crucial for ape evolution.
Scientists investigate constant lower crustal temperatures and variable water contents in mafic melts from the SW Japan arc, linking magmatic water to differentiation of arc magmas. High-resolution carbon-14 dating reveals lamination rates influenced by climate and lake geochemistry in ancient stromatolites. Methane seeps are found as ...
New research in Geosphere reveals ancient marine terraces using airborne LiDAR, assesses impact of program selection on 3D geologic models, and creates emergent models for Tonga Trench and Samoa Archipelago. These studies showcase the latest advancements in geoscience modeling, education, and research.
Two new NASA LRO videos reveal the moon's evolutionary history, exploring how it came to appear today. The 'Evolution of the Moon' video explains the moon's formation from a giant ball of magma and its subsequent impact that formed the South Pole-Aitken Basin.
Scientists have recorded unprecedented deformation within Santorini's caldera, with movement of up to nine centimeters between GPS stations. The volcano's magma chamber has expanded by 14 million cubic meters since January, raising concerns about a potential eruption.
Researchers propose that oceanic crust 'oozed' continents at depths of 30-40 kilometers instead of 100 km, supported by analysis of oldest rocks. This new theory challenges the conventional understanding of continental crust formation.
Studies investigate magma fingers, knickzones, and debris flows in the Sierra Nevada and Pacific Northwest. Magma fingers form through focused porous flow and channeling, while knickzones indicate base-level fall along rivers.
Researchers discovered that heavier isotopes separate from lighter isotopes as magma cools down due to their greater mass and momentum. This separation, called fractionation, can provide insights into the formation of igneous rocks.
Scientists used X-rays to measure the density of lunar magma at extreme pressures and temperatures. The results show that most magmas are less dense than their surroundings, but a specific type of titanium-rich magma is denser and won't rise to the surface.
Acidification provides the thrust for kimberlites to ascend through the Earth's crust, with assimilated xenoliths playing a crucial role in facilitating the process. This discovery enhances understanding of kimberlite genesis and will aid in searching for new diamond-bearing ores.
Geologists have determined that Death Valley's Ubehebe Crater was created just 800 years ago and still has enough groundwater and magma to potentially produce another eruption. The crater, which formed from a phreatomagmatic explosion, may be due for another blast in the near future.
Two studies investigate geological history of Grenville Province and thermal properties of Antarctica's Victoria Land Basin. A new educational program also enhances science education among educators participating in the ANDRILL research initiative.
Despite fears, there's no evidence a supereruption is imminent; supervolcanoes are exceedingly rare and occur in clusters. Scientists closely monitor volcanically active areas, and there's no sign of a looming eruption.
Researchers at Oregon State University propose a new model that suggests a combination of temperature influence and magma chamber geometry as a potential cause for super-eruptions. The study reveals that cracks in the roof above the magma chamber can trigger collapse and eruption, dwarfing recent volcanic eruptions.
Researchers have uncovered a compound monogenetic volcano at Ilchulbong, Jeju Island, revealing multiple magma pulses and vent shifts. Additionally, petrographic analysis of Enkingen impact breccias indicates significantly more than previously estimated impact melt volume.
A new study using lead and neodymium isotopes in lunar rocks indicates the moon is approximately 4.36 billion years old, challenging the long-held estimate of 4.5 billion years old. This finding also has implications for the age of Earth, suggesting it may be younger than previously believed.
A team of scientists, including Carnegie's Richard Carlson, has estimated the age of a lunar rock sample at 4.36 billion years, significantly younger than earlier estimates of 4.568 billion years. This finding supports the idea that the oldest crusts on both Earth and Moon formed around the same time after a giant impact.
This article covers various geological topics from August 2011, including microbial activity in banded-iron formations, the San Andreas fault system's deformation patterns, and earthquake hazards. Researchers also investigated porosity redistribution in crystal-rich magmas and boundaries conditions on laboratory models of simple shear.
The new study creates a detailed image of the Yellowstone plume's electrical conductivity, showing it dips more gently and extends farther east-west. The geoelectric image suggests the plume may be enveloped by a broader sheath of partly molten rock and liquids.
Researchers at Yale University and the University of British Columbia describe a model explaining volcanic warning tremors that may help forecast deadly eruptions. The 'magma wagging' theory suggests similar frequencies in tremors across different volcanoes due to shared interaction factors.
A team of scientists drilling near an Icelandic volcano hit magma in 2009, resulting in a potentially game-changing discovery for geothermal energy. The team estimated that the steam generated from the magma could power up to 25,000 homes.
Researchers have discovered that sulphur plays a crucial role in forming gold deposits by enhancing gold solubility. The study's findings could lead to more successful gold exploration and mining practices.
Recent studies shed light on ancient C4 plants, submarine channels with helical flow reversal, and the genesis of granite. Researchers have also discovered mysterious rock layers containing petrified remains, cohabiting bacteria in ancient environments, and deep-cave stromatolites.
Months of volcanic restlessness preceded the 2010 eruptions of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, suggesting magma movement may have triggered its reawakening. By monitoring volcanoes, scientists can understand processes that drive them to erupt.
Researchers observe sills forming at shallow depths in sediment layers, releasing nutrient-rich fluids and significant amounts of CO2 and methane. This novel mechanism may influence ocean cycles and climate.
The December 2010 Lithosphere issue presents various studies on tectonic histories, fault activity, and mantle deformation. Researchers analyze the Llano Uplift in Texas, the Kern Canyon fault in California, and the Twin Sisters ultramafic body in Washington State, among other locations.
Researchers uncover new absolute timeline for first appearances of skeletal animals during the earliest Cambrian period, revealing diverse evolution. The study also explores sediment delivery dynamics at mountain stream confluences, finding debris flows significantly affect sediment storage in adjacent mainstem valleys.
Scientists have developed a new method to predict where volcanic eruptions will strike, using data from a rare sequence of 13 magmatic events in the Afar desert. By analyzing changes in the earth's crust tension, researchers can identify areas at risk and estimate likelihood of future eruptions.
Researchers examine how silicic magma contributes to continental crust growth, the dynamics of the Tibetan Plateau's formation, and the nature of earthquakes in the Eastern Carpathians. New data suggest that continental delamination may be responsible for seismic activity in this region.
Scientists at the University of Trieste discovered a massive 280-million-year-old fossil supervolcano in northern Italy's Sesia Valley, exposing magmatic plumbing system to unprecedented depth. The discovery provides a model for understanding active calderas and may help predict future eruptions.
A new study by Oregon State University and the University of California at Davis has found that a mixing of two types of magma is crucial to Mount Hood's eruptions, occurring weeks or months before the eruption. This behavior is distinct from other Cascade Range volcanoes, including Mount St. Helens.
Scientists have found a much higher water content in the Moon's interior, with concentrations ranging from 64 parts per billion to 5 parts per million. The research suggests that water was preserved from the hot magma present when the Moon formed 4.5 billion years ago.
Researchers examined erosion rates along a Scandinavian Ice Sheet margin over the past 2.7 million years, finding higher delivery rates for the most recent 600,000 years. In another study, ancient river sediments preserved records of California's topography and climate during intense global warming 50 million years ago.
The December 2009 Geosphere issue examines the Stateline fault along the California-Nevada border, revealing right-lateral deformation and extension. The study also investigates crystal-rich magmas of the Tuolumne batholith in the Sierra Nevada range, exploring magma chamber formation and physical processes.
Oceanic core complexes are large elevated massifs formed along slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges. Research by Dr. Bram Murton and colleagues found that these complexes form during periods of reduced magma supply from volcanism, leading to suppressed or absent volcanism.
Scientists confirm volcanic processes in Ethiopian rift are similar to those at world's oceans, suggesting a new sea is forming. The rift tore open along its entire 35-mile length in just days, with magma pushing up through the middle and beginning to 'unzip' it.
This November 2009 GSA Today article features research on microbial mats as evidence for early life, sag pond deposits that reveal seismic activity, and the formation of ooids in ancient sediments. Hillslope weathering patterns are also explored in relation to climate change.