Magmatism forms part of our research from its origins in the lower or upper mantle to how its water content affects its eventual eruption's dynamics and explosivity. Our group uses an interdisciplinary approach with a wide range of techniques, from microanalytical techniques to high pressure/temperature experiments to geodynamic modelling, to develop an integrated view of magma behaviour and its connection with mantle dynamics. Current projects Plume behaviour in the upper mantle Understanding the interactions between upwelling plumes and slabs, phase transitions, and topography on the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary using a combination of petrology, geochemistry, geophysics, and geodynamic modelling . Key staff: Professor Godfrey Fitton, Dr Lara Kalnins Long-lived intraplate volcanism without a plume Developing new models for the formation of long-lived intraplate (hotspot) magmatism where a plume is unlikely to be involved, such as the Cameroon line in West Africa. The role of mantle plumes in intraplate (hotspot) magmatism. We seek to understand the full range of hotspot mechanisms through a combination of petrology, geochemistry, geophysics and geodynamic modelling. Key staff: Professor Godfrey Fitton, Dr Alan Hastie, Dr Lara Kalnins, Professor Linda Kirstein Lithospheric strength and volcanism Understanding how the strength and rheology of the lithosphere evolve and interact with both surface and mantle processes, particularly volcanism. We study these processes both through global studies and regional studies targeting interactions between key lithospheric structures, such as extinct spreading ridges, and volcanism. Key staff: Dr Lara Kalnins Volatiles in the deep mantle Formation of ocean island basalts and recycling of volatiles into the deep mantle. Through a combination of in situ isotope measurements (boron, carbon, water) and trace element concentrations of glasses and melt inclusions from a global array of ocean island basalts, we aim to track the evolution of mantle heterogeneity through time. Key staff: Dr Cees-Jan De Hoog The role of volatiles in eruption dynamics Investigation of the impact halogens and volatile phases have on the rheology and explosive behaviour of magmas using a combination of techniques to understand features such as volcanic spherules and preserved textures, providing insights into relationships between degassing, supercritical fluids and volcanic plumes. Key staff: Professor Linda Kirstein Mantle plumes and insights into the deep Earth Petrological data is used to determine the composition of the Earth’s mantle plumes and the lowermost mantle so that we can better understand how the Earth’s primitive mantle reservoirs initially formed and how they have evolved over the last 4.6 billion years. Key staff: Dr Alan Hastie Evolution of the Caribbean Oceanic Plateau Investigation of the magmatic processes that formed the Caribbean oceanic plateau and understanding how it ultimately evolved into the Caribbean tectonic plate between North and South America. Key staff: Dr Alan Hastie Techniques and facilities Our group uses a wide range of techniques and facilities to support our multidisciplinary approach. In-house facilities include: X-ray fluorescence spectrometry Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry Electron microprobe analyses NERC Ion Micro-probe Facility (IMF) NERC recognised Experimental Geoscience Facility (XG) Explore our NERC Ion Micro-probe Facility Explore our NERC Recognised Experimental Geoscience Facility University facilities include: Eddie - Eddie Mark 3 is the third iteration of the University's compute cluster. We use this facility to incorporate geodynamic and geophysical modelling of bathymetry/topography, gravity, magnetic, and seismic data . Learn more about Eddie; our state-of-the-art research compute cluster Publications * Affiliated members are highlighted in bold (2020) Contemporaneous intraplate magmatism on conjugate South Atlantic margins: A hotspot conundrum. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 536, 116147. *Authors: Guimarães, A.R., Fitton, J.G., Kirstein, L.A., Barfod, D.N. View publication (2021) Boron isotopic signatures of melt inclusions from North Iceland reveal recycled material in the Icelandic mantle source. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, Volume 294. *Authors: Hartley M., De Hoog J.C.M., Shorttle, O. View publication (2020) Volcanic spherules condensed from supercritical fluids in the Payenia volcanic province, Argentina. Journal of the Geological Society. *Authors: Kirstein, L.A., Kanev, S., Fitton, J.G., Turner, S., EIMF. View publication (2021) Northeast- or southwest-dipping subduction in the Cretaceous Caribbean gateway? Lithos, Volumes 386–387. *Authors: Hastie, A.R., Cox, S., Kerr, A.C. View publication (2019) Investigating ocean island mantle source heterogeneity with boron isotopes in melt inclusions. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 508, 15 February 2019, Pages 97-108. *Authors: Walowski , K.J., Kirstein, L.A., De Hoog, J.C.M., Elliot, T., Savov, I.P., Jones R.E., EIMF. View publication (2018) The Morphology of the Tasmantid Seamounts: Interactions Between Tectonic Inheritance and Magmatic Evolution. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. *Authors: Richards, F.D., Kalnins, L.M., Watts, A.B., Cohen, B.E., Beaman, R.J. View publication (2016) The composition of mantle plumes and the deep Earth. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 444, Pages 13-25. *Authors: Hastie, A.R., Fitton, J.G., Kerr, A.C., McDonald, I., Schwindrofska, A., Hoernle, K. View publication This article was published on 2024-07-01