Why should you care about hydrothermal alteration in volcanic systems? When people think of volcanoes, they imagine large, devastating eruptions and lava streams gushing from the summit of an edifice. However, even when volcanoes are not visibly ‘active’, there can be more lurking below the surface. Hydrothermal alteration is one of the important and often less-talked-about culprits t ...[Read More]
Iceland is pure geology. When I travelled there in 2015, it felt like stepping into another world: surreal, raw, and unforgettable. Geology wasn’t just something to observe or study: in Iceland, it’s something you inhabit. The landscape doesn’t just sit there, it feels alive. It hums, it shifts, it speaks. And whether you’re a geologist or not, you can’t help but listen. To make the experience eve ...[Read More]
The first edition of the Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology and Volcanology Campfires of the 2025/2026 season is right at the door and will take place on Thursday September 25th at 4 pm CEST on Zoom. Our speakers for this edition are: Laura Lünenschloss – 2024 Outstanding Student and PhD candidate Presentation (OSPP) Award, Master student @ University of Tübingen, Germany on: “H2O-v ...[Read More]
We’re excited to invite you to the fifth edition of the Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology and Volcanology Campfires of the 2024/2025 season! Join us on Thursday, June 26th at 4 pm CEST on Zoom for a Scientific Campfire, during which three Early Career Scientists will present their research to the community. Our speakers for this edition are: Karoline Bruckel, PostDoc @ Laboratoire ...[Read More]
The fourth edition of the Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology and Volcanology Campfires of the 2024/2025 season will take place on Thursday March 27th at 10am CET on Zoom. This edition will be a Scientific Campfire, during which three Early Career Scientists will present their work to the community. Our speakers for this edition are: Javiera Ruz Ginouves, PhD student @ the Geology Departmen ...[Read More]
What can corals tell us about volcanic eruptions? Is it possible corals, in the span of their lives, have recorded valuable data on volcanic eruptions they have witnessed? Today we find it out together with Prof. Tom Sheldrake, who takes us on a journey through coral reefs and volcanic eruptions, giving voice to what corals want to tell us about volcanic activity! Introducing Professor Tom Sheldra ...[Read More]
When reading fantasy novels, we are usually brought to worlds of elves, dragons, and epic battles, all surrounded by breathtaking magical forests, or castles above impervious cliffs. However, even fantasy stories take inspiration from the real world and its geology. Who does not remember the ascent of Mount Doom of Frodo and Sam, or the importance of Dragon Glass (Obsidian) in Game of Thrones? So, ...[Read More]
Thermobarometry: a bit of background Being able to understand the eruptive style of a volcano, how the eruptive behavior can evolve over time and managing to better interpret the signals that a volcanic system gives us before an eruption are of fundamental importance for mitigating the risk associated with eruptive activities. In this context, it is extremely important to understand trans-crustal ...[Read More]
Many people are drawn to danger and behaviors that can harm their health or finances. Dangerous activities include the attraction that humans have always had towards natural events, such as volcanic eruptions, or towards gambling, adventure, challenging travels or physical activities without the ability or the necessary preparation. In today’s life many people face risks, however these risks ...[Read More]
Since 15 January 2022, the islands of the Tonga archipelago and surrounding territories have been suffering the effects of what has turned out to be one of the biggest eruptions of this century. The eruption occurred on Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai, an island created by the emergence of a large submarine volcano. HTHH is located among the ~170 islands of the Kingdom of Tonga and about 65 km nor ...[Read More]