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Studying the physical and transport properties of Earth’s crust determine its response to tectonic forces and the transfer of matter and energy from and to other elements of the Earth system.
Research highlights include:
- Development of in-situ U-Th-He geochronology by UV laser ablation, resulting in a two orders of magnitude of sample throughput compared to conventional U-Th-He geochronology. (Vermeesch)
- Unique experiments to fracture magmas at high temperatures and pressures equivalent to 5km depth (Sammonds, Kilburn);
- A study of the dynamics of lava flows and the dynamics of giant, catastrophic landslides from both volcanoes and mountains (Kilburn);
- Unique experiments that reproduce both the high-frequency seismicity and low-frequency harmonic tremor that accompanies fracture and flow of magma during volcanic eruptions (Meredith);
- The first integrated use of neutron diffraction and microseismicity measurements during deformation to study the microscopic origin of thermal cracking in rocks (Meredith and Wood);
- The first experimental measurements of the spatial and temporal nucleation and propagation of a shear fault in 3D without the need for artificially slowing the failure process (Meredith);
- Modelling showing the effects of decompression melting beneath large impact craters, now established as a key planetary process capable of triggering volcanism and producing ~million km3 magma (A. Jones);