Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English English
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Magma-Assisted Tectonics: two-phase dynamics of oceanic and continental rifts

Objective

There is widespread recognition of the central role of magma at divergent plate boundaries. However in almost all models, magmatism is treated as a by-product and is excluded from the dynamics. A thorough understanding of continental rifts and mid-ocean ridges, which are fundamental to plate tectonics, requires consistent models of magma intrusion into the lithosphere and crust. This is a proposal to develop models in which magmatism is an integral thermal, chemical, and mechanical component, and hence to better understand the basic functioning of plate tectonics.

Diverse insight and constraints on divergent boundaries come from decades of careful observation. But lacking adequate models of magmatism, old and new issues remain unresolved. For continents, a comparison of available tectonic force to inherent lithospheric strength indicates that magmatic intrusion is required to weaken plates sufficiently for rifting. For mid-ocean ridges, bathymetric analysis suggests that modest variation in the magma supply may be recorded by crustal emplacement and faulting. These phenomena cannot be understood and modelled in the context of single-phase flow. The proposed work breaks new ground in applying a theory that is innately two-phase; one where interpenetrating liquid and solid continua are governed by conservation of mass, momentum, and energy.

This theory will incorporate a viscoelastic-plastic/frictional rheology, modelling rock failure under tensile effective stress. Hence it will allow for dikes that interact consistently with faults. The open-source code will be validated by comparison with measurements of surface deformation/relief, products of seismic tomography, and geochemistry of lavas. In collaboration with distinguished project partners, models will be tailored to investigate the East African Rift System and Juan de Fuca ridge. Outreach will support mathematics in Africa. The proposed research will transform our understanding of magma-assisted tectonics.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

You need to log in or register to use this function

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) ERC-2017-COG

See all projects funded under this call

Host institution

THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 2 000 000,00
Address
WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES
OX1 2JD Oxford
United Kingdom

See on map

Region
South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 000 000,00

Beneficiaries (1)

My booklet 0 0