Elena Melekhova
I am interested in magmatic processes at work at convergent margins. My aim is to advance both our understanding and modelling of these processes. My work combines experimental petrology with field and geophysical observations, and numerical approaches. I enjoy working on the many exciting applications of experimental petrology in the fields of igneous petrology, volcanology, planetary evolution and ore-forming processes.
I am field-going experimental petrologist. My research interests are in the broad field of igneous petrology and volcanology with a particular emphasis on magmatic processes in subduction zone environments. My early research involved the development of equations of state of minerals and experiments on dense hydrous magnesium silicates and their role in hydration processes in deep subduction. Subsequently, I mainly focused on understanding the evolution and formation of new continental crust at volcanic arcs where I combine petrological investigations of volcanic and plutonic rocks with experimental constraints and geophysical observations.
More recently my research has shifted towards understanding processes leading to formation of ore deposits and mineralisation in layered intrusions.
Although my role is not primarily focussed on undergraduate teaching, I do contribute to teaching in the department by covering colleagues on sabbatical.
DPhil student positions are advertised on the departmental webpage https://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/graduate/projects and applications are invited through the Oxford Training Programme, https://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/graduate/admissions, with application deadline in January.
La Soufrière volcano, St Vincent, Lesser Antilles Fieldwork 2024
In April 2024 we undertook fieldwork on La Soufrière volcano on the Caribbean Island of St Vincent. The fieldwork was in collaboration with Dr George Cooper (University of Caediff) and Prof Richard Robertson (University of West Indies). It was our second field work since the 2020-2021 eruption of La Soufrière during which crater wall lavas became exposed and new crustal xenoliths were brought to the surface. The fieldwork was part of the PhD projects of Beitris Morrison Evans (Oxford) and Tyrone Stafford (Cardiff) and the Masters project of Megan Taylor (Oxford). We will combine field observations with petrology and geochemistry of lavas and xenoliths with petrological experiments to constrain the origin and evolution of basaltic andesite melts, and the sulphur budget of the deep crust.
Ascent to the volcano
The dream team in the La Soufrière crater, island of St Vincent
