Crystallisation in basaltic magmas revealed via in situ 4D synchrotron X-ray microtomography.

ABSTRACT: Magma crystallisation is a fundamental process driving eruptions and controlling the style of volcanic activity. Crystal nucleation delay, heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation and crystal growth are all time-dependent processes, however, there is a paucity of real-time experimental data on crystal nucleation and growth kinetics, particularly at the beginning of crystallisation when conditions are far from equilibrium. Here, we reveal the first in situ 3D time-dependent observations of crystal nucleation and growth kinetics in a natural magma, reproducing the crystallisation occurring in real-time during a lava flow, by combining a bespoke high-temperature environmental cell with fast synchrotron X-ray microtomography. We find that both crystal nucleation and growth occur in pulses, wit

SUBMITTER: Polacci M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5976632 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature