Using the energies of magmas to power human societies seems like a very attractive idea to me.
Doing the research, in collaboration with colleagues, and feeling that we are making new observations, and discovering new processes.
Bachmann, O., and Huber, C., 2019, The Inner Workings of Crustal Distillation Columns; the Physical Mechanisms and Rates Controlling Phase Separation in Silicic Magma Reservoirs: Journal of Petrology, v. 60, p. 3-18. https://academic.oup.com/petrology/article/60/1/3/5184274
A review of ideas on what happens physically in the plumbing systems of large silicic magmatic provinces such as Taupo Volcanic Zone. It provides a summary of many years of work with my friend and colleague Christian Huber.
Magmatic plumbing systems (“magma reservoirs”) control in a large part what comes out at the surface (volcanic processes) and how we can recover the heat and rare elements near the surface (geothermal energy and rare element mining). Understanding which physical processes dominate within them is therefore fundamental.
In Australia, in a forest near Mt Eccles.
Exploring volcanoes with my youngest son.
Find out more about Olivier's experience here.