Tuffisite veins are particle-filled hydraulic fractures formed around and within volcanic\u00a0conduits, which are opened by and provide transient pathways for flow of pressurised\u00a0magmatic fluids. Tuffisites become sealed by welding of pyroclasts, and their evolving\u00a0permeability is thought to influence shallow conduit pressurisation and the behaviour of\u00a0silicic eruptions. Poor constraints on the longevity of fluid flow within veins and the\u00a0associated fluid pressures currently hampers modelling of eruption dynamics, and the\u00a0influence of heterogeneous country rock on vein opening is unknown. Indeed, in general,\u00a0hydraulic fracture in volcanic systems remains little understood. However, hydraulic\u00a0fracturing is far better studied in other geological environments. Clastic dykes formed by\u00a0injection of pressurised meltwater into subglacial sediments display remarkably similar\u00a0sedimentary structures to tuffisites, and detailed study of microstructures reveals complex\u00a0histories of pulsatory fluid flow. Meanwhile, experimental approaches are revealing how\u00a0different lithologies influence hydraulic fracture propagation in hydrocarbon reservoirs. In\u00a0this PhD you will work alongside experts in volcanology, glacial geology and experimental\u00a0fracture mechanics at Lancaster University and BGS to reappraise hydraulic fracture in\u00a0volcanic systems. You will apply a novel combination of the latest techniques from three\u00a0different research fields to provide new constraints on hydraulic fracture propagation and\u00a0evolution. The research will be underpinned by a substantial field component, with\u00a0characterisation of fossil hydraulic fracture systems in Iceland and the UK, complimented\u00a0by microstructural analysis and measurement of dissolved magmatic volatile\u00a0concentrations. You will also complete an internship at the BGS Fracture Physics Lab,\u00a0using natural and analogue samples to investigate the opening and sealing of hydraulic\u00a0fracture networks. There is strong potential for wider collaboration with other European\u00a0research groups. Full training in all techniques will be provided; there are additional\u00a0excellent training and networking opportunities through Lancaster\u2019s new Graduate School\u00a0for the Environment.<\/p>\n
Applicants should hold a minimum of a UK Honours Degree at 2:1 level or equivalent in a\u00a0relevant subject such as Geology, Geophysics, Physical Geography or Environmental\u00a0Science, and have preferably either started or completed a relevant Masters-level degree.\u00a0Experience in detailed geological fieldwork, textural analysis or experimentation is highly\u00a0desirable but not essential. We are looking for highly-motivated, numerate individuals with\u00a0a proven track record of independent research, but who have also been enriched by their\u00a0interests outside of academic life.<\/p>\n
For further details please contact Emrys Phillips (erp@bgs.ac.uk<\/a>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Tuffisite veins are particle-filled hydraulic fractures formed around and within volcanic\u00a0conduits, which are opened by and provide transient pathways for flow of pressurised\u00a0magmatic fluids. Tuffisites become sealed by welding of pyroclasts, and their evolving\u00a0permeability is thought to influence shallow conduit pressurisation and the behaviour of\u00a0silicic eruptions. Poor constraints on the longevity of fluid flow within… Read More »Fracking magma: field and experimental investigation of hydrofracture in volcanic systems<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":363,"featured_media":5886,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[51],"tags":[12],"class_list":["post-5885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-51","tag-lancaster"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/files\/2017\/10\/Hugh-Tuffen-Image-400x400px.jpg?fit=400%2C400","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8kFzn-1wV","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/363"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5885"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6494,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5885\/revisions\/6494"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/wp.lancs.ac.uk\/envision\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}