The DFG-funded Research Group 2881 (together with the Ruhr-Universität-Bochum (RUB), in charge) on the topic of diffusion chronometry of magmatic systems has been approved for a further three years.
In addition to the project partners from the Institute of Geology, Mineralogy and Geophysics at RUB led by Prof. Dr. Sumit Chakraborty, three partners from the Leibniz Research Centre GEO (FZ:GEO) are involved in the research group at LUH: two working groups from the Institute of Earth System Sciences (Geochemistry working group, Prof. Dr. Stefan Weyer; Petrology working group, Prof. Dr. François Holtz) and the Institute of Cartography and Geoinformatics (Prof. Dr.-Ing. Monika Sester).
The team of research group 2881 is developing methods for analysing processes in magmatic systems on short time scales. As part of the project, the properties of crystals, which often have chemical diffusion profiles, are used to determine the time scales of geological processes. For example, it is possible to analyse how long the magmas remain in the reservoirs at depth before eruption or how quickly they rise during eruption.
One focus of the research group is to use targeted experiments to better determine the diffusion rate of various elements in the most common magmatic minerals, olivine, pyroxene and plagioclase, as well as their dependence on various factors, such as temperature, and thus to better calibrate the "clock" of the crystals. Together, deep learning approaches are being developed to enable automated analysis of diffusion profiles; this has the great potential to greatly simplify and accelerate the application of diffusion chronometry. This will enable near real-time investigation of the rocks produced by active volcanoes and a corresponding rapid response by the relevant authorities.
