CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Experimental examination of melts and melting at magmatic temperatures Quantitative understanding of transport and crystallization behavior in magmatic systems depends on models that use exact experimental data. These data, in turn, are governed by the structure of melts, minerals and fluids. To the extent possible, generalized models that can be used to calculate realistic values for physicochemical properties of magmatic liquids are under development. Transport properties (e.g., viscosity and diffusion) are quantified via the relationships between structural configurations and thermochemically and rheologically obtained configurational properties. Activity-composition relations among structural units are determined by combining liquidus phase relations and high-temperature structural studies. Melt-mineral trace element partitioning may also be addressed.

Raman spectroscopy laboratory used for in-situ, high temperature and high pressure structural examination. Insert shows hi-T furnace on microscope (left), the furnace itself (middle) and view through the microscope (right). [click on figure to expand]

Compositional and temperature control on distribution of tetrahedrally- coordinated Al3+ among structural units in silicate melts Aluminum is a principal building block in the tetrahedral structure of natural silicate melts (magma). The purpose is to examine the effect of temperature, degree of polymerization, and electronic properties of charge-balancing cations on the distribution of aluminum between the structural units. The structural data are used to examine structural relationships to liquidus phase equilibria and configurational properties of the melts at high temperature.

Comparison of melt viscosity determined by measurement and calculated from high-T structural data [click on figure to expand]

Structural behavior of titanium in alkali and alkaline earth silicate melts at high temperature Solution of Ti4+ in silicate melts affect compressibility, entropy, and viscosity of the melts depend on silicate composition, titanium content, and temperature in unexpectedly variable ways. Possible underlying structural causes are evaluated with the same variables aiming principally on composition- and temperature-dependent interaction of Ti4+ with the silicate melt.

SCOPE OF RESEARCH INTERESTS	RESEARCH INTERESTS	CURRENT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 1  2  3  4  5
ABSTRACTS (LIST)	SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

Email: mysen@gl.ciw.edu