Montana State University
United States
Project Description
Montana State University is part of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory and currently is the closest institution to this iconic volcano. We would like to host a student who is broadly interested in caldera systems, large-volume rhyolitic volcanism, ignimbrite emplacement mechanisms, and intracaldera resurgence/ lava flows. We currently are reassessing the eruptive history for the youngest supereruption, providing both field and lab opportunities for an international student. Our lab is well established for melt inclusion analysis (volatile reconstruction) a technique that requires a lot of skill and instrumentation, but could be applied to samples from Chile to understand magma storage and ascent dynamics.
Proposed Hosting Period
Our summer is May 15-August 25th, with field work in Yellowstone being better in early June, so the preferred start would be mid-June.
Facilities/Resources
We have summer housing through the campus with reasonable meal plans, along with an engaging lab group of ~4 graduate students and ~4 undergraduates. Our lab is equipped with all rock processing and mineral polishing tools, which can then be analyzed using the SEM (with CL detector), LA-ICP-MS and FTIR. The only instrument we lack is a EPMA which we remotely use through Oregon State.
Host Contact
Madison Myers