Magma mush

Why volcanic crystals are black boxes for tracking magma’s journey to the Earth’s surface

<p>When we think of a volcanic eruption, rivers of glowing lava or giant columns of ash come to mind. However, beneath the Earth’s surface, a much more complex and fascinating story is unfolding. The magma that is found in the depths of volcanoes is more than just boiling liquid. It is a thick mixture of melted rock and solid mineral crystals known as <a href="https://vipscommission.org/crystal-mush-paradigm/">“magma mush”</a>. To picture this magma mush, imagine a semi-frozen granita: it is a slushy blend where solid ice crystals are suspended in a sweet liquid syrup.</p> <p>In our recent study, published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-77213-9.">Nature Communications</a>, we investigate crystals from the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands. We find that the solid crystals inside the “granita” mush act as true black boxes for eruptions. Thanks to the crystals, we can track how a volcano prepares before it erupts and better understand the risks of <a href="