Volcanic crystals act as black boxes for tracking magma movement
Scientists studying clinopyroxene crystals from La Palma explain how these minerals record the history of magma before an eruption.
Magma composition resembles granita
Deep within volcanoes, molten rock mixes with solid mineral crystals to form a thick substance. Researchers describe this mixture as a slushy blend similar to semi-frozen granita. The solid crystals suspended in the liquid syrup allow scientists to track volcanic preparation.
Clinopyroxene records volcanic history
Among minerals found in lava, clinopyroxene serves as a particularly good recorder of past events. These minerals grow slowly as magma cools deep inside the Earth while adding layers over time. Scientists can read these layers much like tree rings reveal past climate conditions.
Study focuses on La Palma
The recent investigation published in Nature Communications examines crystals from the island of La Palma. This location saw the 2021 Tajogaite eruption which marked fifty years of volcanic silence. The event lasted nearly three months and forced thousands of residents to leave their homes.
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