曼彻斯特大学领导的国际研究团队通过分析2021年西班牙拉帕尔玛岛Tajogaite火山喷发的岩浆样本，发现超热岩浆能够溶解微小晶体种子，从而显著延缓结晶过程。[1]研究表明，超热岩浆的结晶延迟时间超过8小时，而普通岩浆在约20分钟后就会开始形成晶体。[1]
该研究采用同步辐射X射线显微断层扫描技术，在实验室条件下实时观察了晶体在岩浆内的形成过程。[1]论文主要作者Barbara Bonechi指出："晶体和气泡生长的历史可以极大地控制岩浆如何喷发。"[1]晶体形成速度对岩浆上升速度和火山喷发方式具有重要影响。[1]研究在曼彻斯特大学、钻石光源和布拉格等地进行了相关实验室研究，相关成果已发表在《自然通讯》。[1]
An international research team led by the University of Manchester has discovered that superheated magma can dissolve tiny crystal seeds, significantly delaying the crystallization process and influencing how magma rises and erupts from volcanoes.[1] The findings, based on analysis of magma from the 2021 Tajogaite volcanic eruption on Spain's La Palma island, were published in Nature Communications.[1]
The research revealed a stark contrast in crystallization timelines: superheated magma delayed crystal formation for more than eight hours, whereas non-superheated magma began forming crystals within approximately twenty minutes.[1] Using synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomography, researchers directly observed crystal formation processes within magma under laboratory conditions recreating volcanic settings at the University of Manchester, Diamond Light Source, and Prague.[1] According to lead author Barbara Bonechi, "The history of crystal and bubble growth can greatly control how magma erupts."[1] These findings are expected to improve forecasting of volcanic eruption behavior.[1]