Description:
Magmatic intrusions in the upper crust are commonly centres of hydrothermal activity. The hot intrusions drive convection of hydrothermal fluids in the surrounding crust, and the intrusions themselves release magmatic fluids upon crystallization. Heat and mass transport in these systems can form major ore deposits as well as high-enthalpy and supercritical geothermal resources. We investigate magmatic-hydrothermal systems by combing field observations, geochemical analyses and numerical modelling.
Magmatic processes include the generation of magmas by partial melting in the Earth mantle or crust, the evolution of magmas during ascent, storage and crystallization, and eruption of magmas at volcanoes on the Earth's surface. Hydrothermal processes include the release of magmatic fluids to the adjacent host rock as well as transport of fluids from other sources, such as groundwater, seawater and metamorphic fluids, through porous and fractured rocks. These magmatic and hydrothermal processes are intimately linked with the plate tectonic cycle and therefore the study of rocks and fluids in hydrothermal systems can give key information about past plate settings and tectonic processes in Earth history.
Applications: Quantifying the heat and mass transport of hydrothermal systems by numerical simulations of saline multi-phase hydrothermal flow with dynamic permeability changes; using geochemical and isotopic tracers to constrain magmatic and hydrothermal processes; applying mineral-melt equilibria to estimate temperatures and depths of magma storage; analysing minerals and fluid inclusions in magmatic-hydrothermal ores, veins and host rocks to constrain ore-forming conditions, determine fluid sources and reconstruct fluid evolution.
Associated projects:
- DOME projects:
- Melts-Fluids-Models: keys to understanding ore-forming processes at the world-class Neves Corvo massive sulphide deposit, Iberian Pyrite Belt
- Crossing the magmatic-hydrothermal interface within ore-forming systems with numerical models (CROWN)
- Reactive Transport Modelling of Ore Formation in Sedimentary Basins
