Generation, extent, and longevity of magma mush columns
We need to determine what is the structure of magmatic systems that underlay volcanoes in order to understand how volcanic eruptions are fed from depth and how mineral resources associated to igneous rocks are generated. The current paradigm is that transient pockets of crystal-poor magma form in extended columns of crystal-rich magma mush. However, computation of heat transfer does not result in large quantities of magma mush, especially in the relatively cold upper crust, and we lack a description of the presence, extent, dynamics, and longevity of ancient and present transcrustal magma mush. We propose to determine the conditions of generation of extended columns of magmatic mush, the frequency of their occurrence, and their longevity by using a transdisciplinary approach that includes new numerical modeling that consider the role of water in melting, detailed field observations and rock analysis, and the use of a novel approach of seismic imaging to detect melt in volcanic plumbing systems.