Ancient Carlingford volcano offers new clues to how active volcanoes develop
Scientists studying the fossilized remains of the Carlingford Mountain volcano have discovered that magma systems are more complex than the traditional 'liquid vat' model. By analyzing rock textures, researchers found that magma shifts between liquid and crystal-rich states over time.
Why it matters
This research challenges long-standing geological models, providing a more accurate understanding of how active volcanoes evolve and potentially erupt.
Image: Jack Beckwith, Trinity College Dublin (researchers at work)
Research on Carlingford Mountain has found that volcanoes are not always fed by large liquid magma chambers, challenging the traditional picture of what lies beneath the surface.
An international team of scientists studied the fossilised magma system beneath the extinct Louth volcano and found that it shifted over time between liquid and crystal-rich states, offering new insight into how active volcanoes may evolve and erupt today.
In school, we are taught that volcanoes are fed by ‘magma chambers’ – liquid vats of molten rock which exist within Earth’s crust and are connected to the surface by pipe-like conduits. And although emerging evidence has led volcanologists to view this model as overly simplistic, our inability to directly observe rocks deep within the planet’s interior has hindered development of a better hypothesis.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in