Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

06 Aug, 07 AM - 13 Aug, 03 AM

Although glass rhyolite lava (obsidian) is one of the best known igneous rocks, its eruption is poorly known because almost none have been witnessed scientifically. To understand their eruption, we must rely on models models built on surface morphologies and micro-textural observations of older flows, but those require extensive datasets that include as many relevant observations as possible, made across and withinwithin lava flows to understand the temporal evolution of their eruption and internal processes, as well as between lavas of different volume to establish how eruptive dynamics vary. To date, such extensive datasets of micro-textural data have not been collected, but recent numerical and analogue experimental models now provide a framework in which to interpret such data in regards to lava spreading behavior; the role of fragmentation, degassing, and viscous deformation in ascent and eruption of rhyolite lava; and the rates of cooling and solidification of rhyolite lavas. Here, we propose to broaden our understanding of the dynamics of rhyolite lava eruption and emplacement by integrating detailed micro-textural measurements from multiple flows, to be sampled over 3 field seasons, with targeted high-temperature decompression experiments. We will focus on 7 lava flows, chosen to provide 1) multiple rhyolite lavas of similar volume, and 2) rhyolite lavas that span a large range in volume.

Visit #24920 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 23612 | Research

Formation of obsidian flows

faculty - University of California, Berkeley

Reservation Members(s)

Group of 2 Graduate Student Aug 6 - 13, 2011 (8 days)
Group of 2 Faculty Aug 6 - 13, 2011 (8 days)
Michael Manga Aug 6 - 13, 2011 (8 days)

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