PRE- AND POST-MEETING WORKSHOPS

Pre-Meeting Workshops: August 12 and 13

3. Modeling Volcanic Processes Using MELTS

Registration Cost/participant: $210

Workshop conveners/affiliations/emails:
Guilherme Gualda, Vanderbilt University; g.gualda@vanderbilt.edu
Mark Ghiorso, OFM Research; ghiorso@ofm-research.org

Description of workshop:
In this workshop, we will introduce participants to applications of MELTS – a family of computation thermodynamics tools that can be used for phase equilibria calculations relevant for magmatic systems. We will provide a short introduction to the principles underlying the MELTS models; we will help users troubleshoot installation of the MELTS graphic user interface on Mac and MELTS Excel on Windows machines and virtual boxes on Mac; we will discuss the various versions of MELTS currently available; and we will discuss a number of applications to volcanic systems and processes. Some of the applications we will discuss include: (a) crystallization of magmas under constant pressure; (b) crystallization under various fO2 constraints; (c) decompression-driven crystallization; (d) calculation of crystallization pressures for rhyolites with quartz and two feldspars; (e) calculation of titania and silica activities for crystallizing magmas; (f) crystallization and melting following assimilation; (g) calculations using mixed H2O-CO2 fluids. We will allow time to address questions from participants regarding possible applications of MELTS in their research and teaching.

Requirements of participants:
Participants are expected to have access to a laptop in which they can install MELTS. We will request that they install MELTS before the start of the workshop. For use of MELTS_Excel, Microsoft Excel versions 2010 and higher will be needed. Mac users are encouraged to install Windows and Microsoft Excel on their machines either through a virtual box or as a dual-boot installation. For use of the GUI (graphical user interface) version of MELTS, Mac users will need to have El Capitan (OS X 10.11) installed.

Participant application process:
Graduate students and early-career scientists are encouraged to participate. Preference will be given to graduate students and early-career scientists if the workshop reaches capacity.