Melt Transportation in the Earth's Crust: An Experimental and Numerical Evaluation of Natural Materials

Project Information

MeltTransport

Grant agreement ID: 101018037

DOI

10.3030/101018037

Project closed

EC signature date 11 March 2021

Start date 1 September 2021

End date 31 August 2023

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 212 933,76

EU contribution

€ 212 933,76

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS
United Kingdom

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

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Rocks that have once been melted are subject to changes both chemically and physically and as these changes occur in an open system it is not possible to properly assess what their original nature use to be, particularly through geological time. The process of partial melting, a long-standing geological problem, is deeply rooted in the evolution of our planet, plate tectonics, how rocks deform at high temperatures, the formation or localisation of mineral resources as well as in natural hazards such as earthquakes. The MeltTransport project investigated melt bearing rocks from Norway, Scotland and South Harris in the Outer Hebrides using detailed multidisciplinary analysis to identify structures, chemical features and processes that can be developed into future geological tools to assess the volume of melt and evolution of rocks that have been or have once contained molten rock. Through the formation of such tools we will be able to better interpret the geological record, as well as better predict and locate melt-related processes. We will also get closer to being able to quantify the amount of melt those rocks once contained as opposed to an estimate allowing more accurate constraints on geological history and related processes.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The fellow collected, prepared thin sections of and interpreted geological samples from Norway, Scotland and South Harris through a combination of optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (in particular cathodoluminescence imaging). The Fellow also undertook extensive training in microstructural analysis and Electron Backscattered Detection, a skill now invaluable to the Fellow and they plan to further utilise this technique in ongoing research. The combination of all these techniques, in addition to electron microprobe analysis, in a detailed multidisciplinary approach was critical to uncovering a number of important results.
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.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

The Fellow has identified previously unexplored mineral targets through the state-of-the-art and detailed multidisciplinary analysis, including new techniques learned through this MSCA. These minerals have been shown to record information relating to different stages of partial melting, take up trace elements dynamically and retain information even when significantly deformed. These minerals are in the perfect position for future development into a number of geological tools due to presently available state-of-the-art technology. Additionally the Fellow has learned of the largely unstudied process of melt-present deformation that warrants further study and can create recognisable features even when partial melt has been largely removed. Publications produced out of this project will be foundational for all future studies and highly valuable towards getting further funding and opportunities which the Fellow intends to pursue. A large portion of the research conducted within the project will also be utilisable by future studies involving the geology of Rogaland, N Scotland and South Harris on a local, regional and global scale. The work on magnetite-apatite rocks will be of interest to both research and industry communities and shout lead to improved understanding, identification and exploitation of this economically viable resource. The publications and experience from this MSCA puts the Fellow in a highly improved position in terms of their independent research capabilities, job opportunities and future grant application successes.

One of the amazing outcrops in Scotland

First experimental assembly put together

Out in the field in Scotland

On of the experiments post deformation

Presenting research at MSG 2023 in Oxford

Checking out the rigs in the Rock and Mineral Physics Lab, University of Minnesota

Presenting research at TSG 2023 in Leeds