I am fascinated by magmatic systems and my research uses experimental petrology to identify the conditions in the subsurface where magma is initially ‘launched’ from.
My research focuses on crystal-rich magma mushes beneath island arcs, where small degrees of partial melt exist along crystal boundaries. Ascending melts react with nearby crystals in a process known as percolative reactive flow and as the melt accumulates it becomes saturated with multiple mineral phases. Our aim is to identify the pressure, temperature, oxidation state and water content (P-T-fO2-H2O) of multiply saturated magmas, as this is where the magma last equilibrated with its surroundings before erupting. Determining the conditions of magma extraction will provide insight into the thermal and chemical structure beneath volcanoes.
I am currently working with basaltic andesite lava compositions from La Soufrière volcano on St Vincent, Lesser Antilles. I will use the piston cylinder to recreate the high pressure and temperature conditions under which these magmas initially multiply saturate, possibly using forced saturation techniques. I will then analyse these samples on the microprobe to determine if true multiple saturation has been achieved. I hope to extend this work to another volcanic island arc chain, such as Japan.
My DPhil is under the supervision of Professor Jon Blundy and Dr Elena Melekhova, and is funded by the Royal Society.
I graduated from the University of Bristol in 2020 with an MSc in Geology (First Class). I spent one year at the University of British Columbia and worked for two months at the Research Institute for Volcanology and Risk Assessment (IVAR) at the University of the Azores during my degree.
If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch!