Description:
Magmatic processes include the generation of magmas by partial melting in the Earth mantle or crust, the evolution of magmas during ascent, storage and crystallization, and eruption of magmas at volcanoes on the Earth's surface. Those processes are intimately linked with the plate tectonic cycle and therefore the study of magmatic rocks can give key information about past plate settings and tectonic processes in Earth history. Additionally, magmatic intrusions in the upper crust are commonly centres of hydrothermal activity. The hot intrusions drive convection of hydrothermal fluids in the surrounding crust, and the intrusions themselves release magmatic fluids upon crystallization. Heat and mass transport in these systems can form major ore deposits as well as high-enthalpy and supercritical geothermal resources. We investigate magmatic-hydrothermal systems by combing field observations, geochemical analyses and numerical modelling.
Applications: Using geochemical and isotopic tracers to constrain magma sources and track magma evolution in different settings (rifts, volcanic arcs, collisional orogens); applying mineral-melt equilibria to estimate temperatures and depths of magma storage; analysing minerals and fluid inclusions in magmatic-hydrothermal ores, veins and host rocks to constrain ore-forming conditions, determine fluid sources and reconstruct fluid evolution; quantifying the heat and mass transport of hydrothermal systems by numerical simulations of saline multi-phase hydrothermal flow with dynamic permeability changes.
Associated projects:
