Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MeltTransport (Melt Transportation in the Earth's Crust: An Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Natural Materials)
Reporting period: 2021-09-01 to 2023-08-31
A number of target minerals that need development into geological tools were identified thanks to their interconnection with partial melting processes, diagnostic zoning and correlation with trace elements that are presently poorly understood in terms of their behaviour in partial melts. Additionally, one of these phases can also provide constraints to deformational processes whilst apparently not losing their primary information which is not a common feature. High resolution analysis to understand the reason behind this feature has been undertaken by the Fellow. The results from this subproject are planned to be disseminated within approximately three high quality research papers.
Multidisciplinary work including X-ray Computer Tomography on partially melted rocks with high concentrations of magnetite and apatite showed that they formed through an interplay of partial melt fluxing and deformation. This work has implications for the formation of magnetite-apatite deposits which are of economic interest and whom formative mechanisms are highly debated. This research will be disseminated within a research publication currently in preparation.
New regional constraints from the study and age dating of samples within this project will be valuable to future studies in these regions on a global, regional and local scale particularly as data from North Scotland and South Harris are limited.
Sections of these results have been presented at international conferences (e.g. EGU 2023, GSA 2022, MSG 2023, TSG 2023) and have all been well received with positive response and feedback. The results from this project will be used as a foundation for future research proposals and activities by the Fellow who plans to proceed with their further development.