This National Science Foundation (NSF) Geosciences Program (CFDA 47.050) Project Grant award provides $144,199 to the University of Colorado to develop a new solution model for igneous biotite that can improve understanding of the pre-eruptive storage conditions of large-volume magmas. Key products and services include:
Conducting high-temperature, high-pressure experiments to generate and analyze biotite crystals, fluids, and melts to calibrate the new biotite solution model
Implementing the new biotite solution model in the MELTS open-source thermodynamic software to enable broad use by the geoscience community
Training a Ph.D. student, postdoctoral fellow, and 3-6 undergraduates in chemical analysis techniques and high-temperature experiments
Partnering with the Mentoring and Teaching Creates Hope (MATCH) literacy program to develop science-focused readings and experiments for third grade students
The award period runs from December 15, 2024 to November 30, 2027 and is focused on unlocking the records of temperature, oxygen fugacity, and water content stored in common biotite-bearing igneous rock assemblages. This research aims to enhance the understanding of where large magma volumes reside in the Earth's crust prior to volcanic eruptions, which is critical for assessing hazards at many volcanoes.