Volcanology

Volcanology at New Mexico Tech

New Mexico Tech has has broad interdisciplinary research and teaching interests in volcanology and magmatic systems, both in the Earth and Environmental Science Department and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. Many research projects are ongoing within the state of New Mexico as well as around the world (including a historically strong and continuing program in Antarctica). We host a range of analytical facilities (listed below) that are particularly well-suited to geochemical analysis of volcanic products and dating of volcanic eruptions. Opportunities for research projects in volcanology are available at levels ranging from undergraduate through Ph.D.

A large number of volcanic features are readily accessible from the Socorro area. The town sits on the margin of a caldera that produced a large, Oligocene ignimbrite; part of the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field and seismological investigations indicate that a substantial magma body resides in the mid-crust today. The young, basaltic, and extremely well-preserved Carrizozo lava flow is nearby, as is the Valles Caldera, Mount Taylor stratovolcano, the Grants Malpais Volcanic Field, and many other small basaltic and rhyolitic volcanic centers.

Research Interests

Rick Aster, Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Environmental Science.
Co-Principal Investigator, Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory, volcano seismology, the Socorro magma body, and Italian volcanic fields. Current field programs in Antarctica.

Richard Chamberlin, Senior Field Geologist, N.M. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.
Mapping of volcanic rocks, particularly in caldera-related areas and areas of active tectonism.

Chuck Chapin, Emeritus Director and State Geologist, N.M. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.
K-metasomatism; volcanology and evolution of the Rio Grande Rift; volcanic geology of the 49-mile volcanic field, Colorado.

Nelia Dunbar, Geochemist, N.M. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.
Manager, electron microprobe laboratory, tephrochronology of blue ice areas Antarctica; in-situ vitrification analogs of lava lakes; pre-eruptive volatile contents as determined by ion-microprobe; K-metasomatism; volatile zonation in ignimbritic eruptions.

Jeffrey Johnson, Assistant Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Environmental Science.
Eruptive proccesses, integrated geophysical/vocanological modeling, current field programs in Central America.

Matthew Heizler, Geochronologist, N.M. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources.
Co-director, New Mexico Geochronology Research Laboratory, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar thermochronology.

Philip R. Kyle, Professor of Geochemistry, Department of Earth and Environmental Science.
Principal Investigator, Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory, Antarctica, volcanic gas emission rates, volcano surveillance by COSPEC, tephra studies; geochemistry of volcanic rocks. Current field programs in Antarctica.

Bill McIntosh, Volcanologist, , N.M. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, Associate Professor of Geochemistry, Department of Earth and Environmental Science
Co-director, New Mexico Geochronology Research Laboratory, ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology and paleomagnetism of volcanic rocks in New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, Colorado and Ross Sea area/Marie Byrd Land, Antarctica; geological evolution of large ignimbrite volcanic fields, origin of hydrovolcanic rocks especially subglacial eruptions.

Mark Murray, Associate Research Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Environmental Science.
Crustal deformation and rheology, geodetic measurements, earthquake and volcano hazards.

Allan Sanford, Emeritus Professor of Geophysics, Department of Earth and Environmental Science.
Seismotectonics of the Rio Grande Rift and Socorro Magma Body.

Numerous Ph.D. and M.S. graduate students!