Programme

Magma properties and conduit dynamics
Composition, temperature, crystals and volatiles; density, viscosity and rheological behaviour. Ascent, decompression, volatile exsolution, degassing and fragmentation. Relationships between magma conditions, conduit flow and eruptive style.

Effusive activity
Lava emplacement, lava flow morphologies and structures, pahoehoe and aa lavas, block lavas and lava domes. Cooling and non-explosive fragmentation; characteristics of subaerial and subaqueous effusive products.

Explosive activity and pyroclastic deposits
Eruptive mechanisms and eruption columns; fallout products and pyroclastic density currents. Transport and deposition; grain-size characteristics, components, textures, structures and deposit geometries. Identification criteria and limitations of interpretations based on individual lines of evidence.

Magma–water interaction
Phreatomagmatism and associated products; the role of external water and the subaqueous environment.

Volcanic structures
Monogenetic and polygenetic volcanic edifices and calderas: construction and collapse processes, relationships with eruptive activity, and geological evidence. Interpretation of these phenomena within volcanic systems.

Stratigraphy and facies analysis
Geological surveying of volcanic products, description of facies and facies associations, mapping and correlation. Reconstruction of successions and distinction between primary processes and reworking. Recognition of eruptive cycles and discontinuity surfaces, discussing the limitations of reconstructing periods of quiescence.

Field course
Observation and description of deposits, geological surveying, facies analysis, construction of stratigraphic logs, mapping and correlation of units. Integration of data to reconstruct processes and the sequence of events; comparison and discussion of interpretations.

Prerequisiti

Basic knowledge of geology, structural geology and geophysics is recommended. A grounding in sedimentology, petrography and geochemistry is necessary to address the course content. In particular, it is useful to be able to read geological maps and cross-sections, describe the main rock types, and interpret textures, sedimentary structures and stratigraphic relationships.

Core Documentation

Cas, R. A. F., Giordano, G., & Wright, J. V. (2024). Volcanology: processes, deposits, geology and resources. Springer Nature
Giacomelli, L., & Scandone, R. (2004). Vulcanologia: principi fisici e metodi d’indagine [Volcanology: Physical Principles and Investigation Methods]. Liguori Editore.
Giacomelli, L., & Scandone, R. (2007). Vulcani d’Italia [Volcanoes of Italy]. Liguori Editore Srl.
McNutt, S. R., Houghton, B., Stix, J., Rymer, H., & Sigurdsson, H. (2015). The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes. Elsevier.
Parfitt, E. A. and Wilson, L. (2008), Fundamentals of Physical Volcanology, Blackwell Publishing. Sections to be selected by the lecturer according to the actual syllabus. Publisher reference: https://www.wiley.com/en-cn/Fundamentals+of+Physical+Volcanology-p-9781444307566
Proposed supplementary materials: lecture presentations, images and videos with commentary, deposit description sheets, base maps, guides to the field areas and selected articles. The lecturer will specify the required chapters, references for guides and articles, and how to access the materials.

Type of delivery of the course

56 hr class; 48 hr field work

Attendance

in presence Lecture attendance and participation in the field course are governed by the Degree Programme’s Teaching Regulations, which should be consulted for any attendance obligations, minimum attendance percentages and specific provisions for particular categories of students.

Type of evaluation

The examination covers the topics taught in class, activities undertaken during the field course, and the analysis of volcanic materials, including rock samples, photographs and videos, to assess students’ knowledge and analytical ability. Assessment structure 1. Oral examination on theory, approximately 15 minutes: questions on volcanic processes, magma properties, and relationships between eruptive dynamics and products. Proposed weighting: 40%. 2. Task-based analysis of one or more samples, photographs or short videos, approximately 10–15 minutes: description, classification and a reasoned interpretation, distinguishing what can be observed from what requires further data. Materials not previously examined during lectures may be used. Proposed weighting: 30%. 3. Individual discussion of field activities, approximately 10–15 minutes: reading and interpreting observations, stratigraphic logs, maps or correlation diagrams produced during the field course; reconstruction of processes and the sequence of events, and discussion of uncertainties. Proposed weighting: 30%. Fieldwork products support the discussion and do not receive an additional separate grade. For materials produced in groups, each student explains their own contribution and demonstrates their skills individually. Assessment criteria and final grade Assessment considers: accuracy and completeness of knowledge; accuracy in describing and classifying materials; use of stratigraphic relationships and facies evidence; coherence of interpretations; ability to discuss alternative hypotheses and data limitations; clarity and appropriate use of scientific terminology. It is proposed that each component be graded out of 30, with a minimum of 18/30 required in each. The final grade is calculated as 0.40 × theory examination grade + 0.30 × materials analysis grade + 0.30 × fieldwork discussion grade, rounded to the nearest whole number, with half points rounded up. A pass requires correct essential knowledge and the ability to describe and interpret a simple case, even with limited independence. Intermediate grades reflect progressively more comprehensive knowledge and applications; the highest grades require critical integration of evidence and independent interpretation. Where the final grade is 30/30, honours may be proposed for particularly outstanding overall performance, in accordance with the applicable rules. Alignment with the learning outcomes The theoretical oral examination assesses knowledge and understanding. Materials analysis and the fieldwork discussion assess the application of knowledge and independent judgement. Presentation and the use of maps and logs assess communication skills. Application of analytical criteria to materials not previously examined assesses learning skills. The three components provide an integrated assessment of the stated skills.

Programme

INTRODUCTION (SHORT HISTORY OF THE STUDIES IN VOLCANOLOGY; TERMINOLOGY OF THE VOLCANIC PRODUCTS; FACIES ANALYSES OF VOLCANIC DEPOSITS; PYROCLASTIC AND VOLCANOCLASTIC ROCKS AS KEY- ELEMENTS TO INTERPRET THE EXPLOSIVE AND POST ERUPTIVE PROCESSES IN THE RELATED ENVIRONMENTS).

CLASSIFICATION OF THE EFFUSIVE AND EXPLOSIVE DEPOSITS. COMPONENTS, TEXTURES AND STRUCTURES OF VOLCANIC AND VOLCANICLASTIC DEPOSITS. CLASSIFICATION OF PYROCLASTIC AND VOLCANOCLASTIC DEPOSITS. DEPOSITIONAL AND EROSIVE PROCESSES IN VOLCANIC AREAS.

MORPHOLOGY OF VOLCANOES: MONOGENETIC AND POLYGENETIC VOLCANOES.

THE PROCESS OF MAGMA RISING: THE EFFUSIVE PROCESS (LAVA FLOWS IN SUBAERIAL AND SUBAQUEOUS ENVIRONMENTS). MAGMA EXSOLUTION AND FRAGMENTATION (THE EXPLOSIVE ERUPTIONS, STYLES OF MAGMA FRAGMENTATION, RELATED MICRO-TEXTURE).
TRANSPORT AND EMPLACEMENT MECHANISM OF THE EFFUSIVE AND EXPLOSIVE PRODUCTS AND RELATED DEPOSITS IN SUBAERIAL AND SUBAQUEOUS ENVIRONMENTS. BALLISTIC PATHWAYS OF LARGE CLASTS.

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ERUPTIONS AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE ERUPTIVE STYLES.

MAIN CONCEPTS OF VOLCANIC HAZARD AND RISK.

Prerequisiti

To participate in the fiel-trip, it is necessary to have attended the theoretical part of the Volcanology course.

Core Documentation

FROM MAGMA TO TEPHRA: MODELING PHYSICAL PROCESSES OF EXPLOSIVE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS. EDITED BY ARMIN FREUNDT AND MAURO ROSI, 2000. ELSEVIER.
VOLCANIC SUCCESSIONS. CAS R.A.F. & WRIGHT J.V., 1987. ALLEN & UNWIN
PYROCLASTIC ROCKS R.V. FISHER AND H.-U. SCHMINCKE, 1984. SPRINGER.
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VOLCANOES. EDITED BY HARALDUR SIGURDSSON, BRUCE HOUGHTON, HAZEL RYMER, JOHN STIX, STEVE MCNUTT, 2000. ACADEMIC PRESS.
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL VOLCANOLOGY. E.A. PARFITT, L. WILSON 2008. BLACKWELL, OXFORD, PAPERBACK, 256 PAGES, ISBN: 978-0-632-05443-5

Reference Bibliography

FROM MAGMA TO TEPHRA: MODELING PHYSICAL PROCESSES OF EXPLOSIVE VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS. EDITED BY ARMIN FREUNDT AND MAURO ROSI, 2000. ELSEVIER. VOLCANIC SUCCESSIONS. CAS R.A.F. & WRIGHT J.V., 1987. ALLEN & UNWIN PYROCLASTIC ROCKS R.V. FISHER AND H.-U. SCHMINCKE, 1984. SPRINGER. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF VOLCANOES. EDITED BY HARALDUR SIGURDSSON, BRUCE HOUGHTON, HAZEL RYMER, JOHN STIX, STEVE MCNUTT, 2000. ACADEMIC PRESS. FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL VOLCANOLOGY. E.A. PARFITT, L. WILSON 2008. BLACKWELL, OXFORD, PAPERBACK, 256 PAGES, ISBN: 978-0-632-05443-5

Type of delivery of the course

Field trip

Attendance

Participation in the Volcanology Field Camp is mandatory to take the exam.

Type of evaluation

Students will be assessed on: disciplinary skills (knowledge acquired during the course); ability to correlate multidisciplinary information acquired in previous years (basic geological knowledge) to solve complex problems applied to volcanology; clarity of exposition