Baylor Volcanology | United States | Baylor Volcano Science

WELCOME TO BAYLOR'S

Volcanoes + Gems + Petrology

ACTIVE RESEARCH

Our group is fascinated by the conditions of magmas that trigger eruptions, as well as the volcanic processes of eruptive ascent and emplacement. We also study crystals — igneous, metamorphic, and gemstones. We use information preserved within crystals to understand petrologic and tectonic processes.

Magmatic ascent rates

We are using high temperature experiments to determine how faithfully pockets of glass in quartz, features called melt embayments, record the decompression histories of rhyolitic melt ascending volcanic conduits.

Diamonds

PhD student Roy Bassoo is leading a project to characterize the origin and provenance of diamonds from the Guiana Shield using compositional analyses, crystal morphology, and Raman thermobarometry.

See a video of Roy's work.

Stress in crystals

We are using synchrotron X-ray microdiffraction (μXRD) to analyze crystal lattice deformation in crystals ejected in volcanic eruptions. We want to learn what geologic processes strain crystals.

See a Baylor promo video.

OUR LAB

Our lab contains a high temperature experimental petrology system. The lab is also home to FTIR and Raman spectrometers, petrographic tools, and high powered computing.

PUBLICATIONS

Screen Shot 2021-02-19 at 1.45.48 PM.png

2021 Guyana's enigmatic diamonds

PhD candidate Roy Bassoo publishes the first assessment of Guyana's alluvial diamonds. We document the diamonds' surface textures, internal structures, compositions, and inclusion character. We suggest Guyana's diamonds are sourced from the Paleoproterozoic.

2020 Drone imagery of rhyolite lavas

MS student Tyler Leggett publishes on the sizes and distributions of blocks and ridges on the surfaces of South Coulee and Obsidian Dome from the Mono-Inyo Craters, CA. This data was used to better understand emplacement mechanisms of rhyolite lava flows.

2020 DH in Bishop Tuff melt inclusions

The hydrogen isotope composition of rhyolite melt inclusions from the Bishop Tuff range from -40 to -60 per mil. This composition is most similar to values preserved in mafic arc magmas.