What does the recent volcanic activity at La Palma, Canary Islands tell us about the composition of the mantle source of lavas?

Supervisor: Dr Jason Harvey

Department: School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds

Description:

Droplets of magma trapped inside crystals found in basaltic lavas can preserve unique information about the composition of the deep mantle that melted to form the basalt. Protected from interaction with other melts or the overlying lithosphere, these melt inclusions are unique repositories of the geochemistry of the deep Earth. The recent volcanic eruption on La Palma, Canary Islands, brought abundant examples of these crystal-hosted inclusions to the surface. This study will involve preparing some of these melt inclusions and their host crystals for geochemical analysis with the objective of determining the composition of the mantle deep beneath the Canary Islands.