This course provides practical knowledge in magmatic microscopy. It includes the identification of common igneous minerals in thin section and in crystal separates, but also aims at providing a deeper understanding of mineral equilibrium assemblages and disequilibrium textures. These are useful skills in studying magmatic processes and reconstructing igneous conditions.

Heat and mass transfers from the mantle to the crust control many aspects of the differentiation of our planet, including (1) primitive melt chemistry, (2) layering of the crust, (3) type of volcanic eruption, (4) formation of mineral deposits. This year, we will focus on processes in crystal mushes (formation, crystallization, remobilization, degassing).

This course discusses processes occurring from magma generation to eruption, covering topics like magma transport and storage, magma reservoir evolution and architecture, eruption triggering and ascent in conduit, connection between magma reservoir properties and eruption behavior, eruption dynamics, and more. The course also discusses deposits, and prepares you for the volcanology field course.