CatastRophical dUctile to brittle Shifts in crystal-ricH magmas (CRUSH) 2026-2029

CatastRophical dUctile to brittle Shifts in crystal-ricH magmas (CRUSH) 2026-2029 

The goal of this project is understanding of the rheological behavior of magmas characterized by high crystal content and densely packed, anisometric (typically lath-shaped) crystals. Despite this process is well-documented in metallurgy and studies of lower crustal rocks (Závada et al., 2007; Fusseis et al., 2009), they remain much less understood in association with magmatic and volcanic systems. We will employ a multi-pronged approach, combining physical deformation experiments on natural lava samples at the state-of-the-art laboratory of Matěj Peč at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, with experimental deformation of paraffin analogues. Additionally, we will conduct analogue experiments on lava domes using liquid plaster at the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences. This experimental work will be complemented by field research and detailed analysis of selected volcanic bodies in the České středohoří Mountains. These geological formations offer a diverse array of solidified volcanic edifices that are comparable to the shallow subsurface and surface characteristics of active lava domes. We will develop a novel conceptual model that elucidates the influence of rheology on the stability of these lava bodies, the physical mechanisms governing their flow and deformation, and the complex feedback loops among physical processes such as crystallization, melting, seismicity, porosity formation, degassing, and fragmentation. Our findings will contribute to the development of more reliable simulations of the extrusion and instability development of these bodies, which are precursory to catastrophic volcanic eruptions.