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Secrets Revealed Behind Supervolcano Eruption
Red Orbit ^ | March 5, 2007 | Unsigned

Posted on 03/10/2007 8:19:17 AM PST by aculeus

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have discovered what likely triggered the eruption of a "supervolcano" that coated much of the western half of the United States with ash fallout 760,000 years ago.

Using a new technique developed at Rensselaer, the team determined that there was a massive injection of hot magma underneath the surface of what is now the Long Valley Caldera in California some time within 100 years of the gigantic volcano’s eruption. The findings suggest that this introduction of hot melt led to the immense eruption that formed one of the world’s largest volcanic craters or calderas.

The research, which is featured in the March 2007 edition of the journal Geology, sheds light on what causes these large-scale, explosive eruptions, and it could help geologists develop methods to predict such eruptions in the future, according to David Wark, research professor of earth and environmental sciences at Rensselaer and lead author of the paper.

The 20-mile-long Long Valley Caldera was created when the supervolcano erupted. The geologists focused their efforts on Bishop Tuff, an expanse of rock that was built up as the hot ash cooled following the eruption. The researchers studied the distribution of titanium in quartz crystals in samples taken from Bishop Tuff.

A team from Rensselaer previously discovered that trace levels of titanium can be analyzed to determine the temperature at which the quartz crystallized. By monitoring titanium, Wark and his colleagues confirmed that the outer rims of the quartz had formed at a much hotter temperature than the crystal interiors. The researchers concluded that after the interiors of the quartz crystals had grown, the magma system was "recharged" with an injection of fresh, hot melt. This caused the quartz to partly dissolve, before starting to crystallize again at a much higher temperature.

(Excerpt) Read more at redorbit.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; US: California
KEYWORDS: california; catastrophism; davidwark; godsgravesglyphs; longvalleycaldera; toba
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1 posted on 03/10/2007 8:19:18 AM PST by aculeus
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To: aculeus

mark


2 posted on 03/10/2007 8:20:59 AM PST by Bigg Red (You are either with us or with the terrorists.)
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To: aculeus; SunkenCiv

catastrophism (spelling?) ping.


3 posted on 03/10/2007 8:22:09 AM PST by Jedi Master Pikachu ( What is your take on Acts 15:20 (abstaining from blood) about eating meat? Could you freepmail?)
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To: aculeus

I'm selling Supervolcano Eruption credits. They are currently going for $10.00 a credit. Who wants to buy some?


4 posted on 03/10/2007 8:52:20 AM PST by vpintheak (Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked)
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To: aculeus

YEC INTREP


5 posted on 03/10/2007 9:01:02 AM PST by LiteKeeper (Beware the secularization of America; the Islamization of Eurabia)
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To: vpintheak; LucyT
"I'm selling Supervolcano Eruption credits."

I'm trying to capture the market on 'super volcano insurance.' If one erupts, I'll be right there, trust me.

6 posted on 03/10/2007 9:33:08 AM PST by blam
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To: vpintheak

Sell 'em to yourself, a la Algore.


7 posted on 03/10/2007 10:10:22 AM PST by Elsiejay
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To: blam
I'm trying to capture the market on 'super volcano insurance.' If one erupts, I'll be right there, trust me.

Ok, when the Yellowstone caldera erupts, I'll give you a call.

8 posted on 03/10/2007 10:23:20 AM PST by LucyT
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To: aculeus

So, what they are saying is that a build up of MAGMA causes a volcano to erupt. NOW WHO WOULD HAVE EVER SUSPECTED THAT!!!!


9 posted on 03/10/2007 10:26:19 AM PST by commish (Freedom tastes sweetest to those who have fought to protect it.)
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To: vpintheak
I'm selling Supervolcano Eruption credits. They are currently going for $10.00 a credit. Who wants to buy some?

This is a conservative website where we extol the virtues of a market economy. My Supervolcano Eruption credits are available for purchase at $9.75 a credit, and I'll give a 10% discount for every 100 credits purchased.

All I have to do is get my website up, and I'm ready for bidness.

10 posted on 03/10/2007 10:28:04 AM PST by Night Hides Not (Chuck Hagel makes Joe Biden look like a statesman!)
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To: commish

This sort of eruption is now forbidden by EPA regulations, thank goodness.


11 posted on 03/10/2007 11:18:08 AM PST by Kenny Bunk
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To: Night Hides Not

Come on FRiend. Let's set up a Corporation.


12 posted on 03/10/2007 4:49:01 PM PST by vpintheak (Like a muddied spring or a polluted well is a righteous man who gives way to the wicked)
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To: aculeus

This sucker goes off again it will make one huge carbon footprint, NO? LOL!


13 posted on 03/10/2007 4:51:31 PM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: vpintheak
Come on FRiend. Let's set up a Corporation.

LOL!!! Sounds good to me. Texas has a 4.5% corporate income (franchise) tax. What's the cost of doing business in Alaska?

14 posted on 03/10/2007 5:19:34 PM PST by Night Hides Not (Chuck Hagel makes Joe Biden look like a statesman!)
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To: commish

"So, what they are saying is that a build up of MAGMA causes a volcano to erupt. NOW WHO WOULD HAVE EVER SUSPECTED THAT!!!!"

Yeah, everybody knows that Republican greed causes volcanoes to erupt.


15 posted on 03/10/2007 5:21:28 PM PST by dsc (There is no safety for honest men except by believing all possible evil of evil men. Edmund Burke)
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To: commish
"So, what they are saying is that a build up of MAGMA causes a volcano to erupt. NOW WHO WOULD HAVE EVER SUSPECTED THAT!!!!"

That's what I was thinking. Looks like another case for CAPTAIN OBVIOUS!!

16 posted on 03/10/2007 5:26:59 PM PST by joebuck
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To: vpintheak

ROTGLMAO!!!


17 posted on 03/10/2007 5:28:05 PM PST by diamond6 (Everyone who is for abortion has been born. Ronald Reagan)
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To: Night Hides Not
Ha! Walmart has them at two for $5.00 today. Too bad liberals hate Walmart so much, they won't be able to take advantage of this fine offer.
18 posted on 03/10/2007 5:33:04 PM PST by pepperdog
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To: Kenny Bunk
This sort of eruption is now forbidden by EPA regulations, thank goodness.

Thanks for that bit of info, I will sleep much better tonight : )

19 posted on 03/10/2007 5:43:15 PM PST by Popman ("What I was doing wasn't living, it was dying. I really think God had better plans for me.")
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To: Jedi Master Pikachu; 75thOVI; Alice in Wonderland; AndrewC; Avoiding_Sulla; BenLurkin; Berosus; ...
Thanks Jedi Master Pikachu!
Catastrophism
 
Catastrophism ping list
· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic ·

20 posted on 03/10/2007 10:03:44 PM PST by SunkenCiv (I last updated my profile on Thursday, February 19, 2007. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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