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Linking crystal shape and dynamic undercooling: a new framework for inferring magmatic crystallization histories
Amanda Lindoo1,2, Madeleine C S Humphreys1, Charlotte Gordon1,3
1Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE UK.
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology. Beitrage Zur Mineralogie Und Petrologie
|December 4, 2025
Summary
New research links crystal shape in magmas to average instantaneous undercooling, offering insights into magma storage and eruption dynamics. This helps reconstruct magma crystallization histories more accurately.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Crystallization Dynamics
- Magma Petrology
Background:
- Crystal shape in magmas is influenced by undercooling, the driving force for crystallization.
- Previous studies on crystal morphology at low undercoolings are limited, hindering understanding of magma evolution.
- Existing methods often overlook the dynamic nature of undercooling during crystallization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between crystal aspect ratio and undercooling in magmatic systems.
- To introduce and validate a new metric, average instantaneous undercooling, for quantifying crystallization history.
- To enhance interpretations of magma storage and eruption dynamics through improved crystallization history reconstruction.
Main Methods:
- Controlled cooling experiments simulating magmatic processes.
- Numerical modeling to analyze crystal growth under varying undercooling conditions.
- Quantitative analysis of plagioclase crystal aspect ratios.
Main Results:
- Higher average instantaneous undercooling histories yield tabular, high aspect ratio plagioclase crystals.
- Lower average instantaneous undercooling histories result in prismatic, lower aspect ratio crystals.
- Crystal shape variations are attributed to undercooling-driven shifts in growth mechanisms on crystal faces.
Conclusions:
- Average instantaneous undercooling is a critical factor controlling polyhedral crystal morphology.
- This new metric provides a more accurate method for reconstructing magma crystallization histories.
- The findings offer improved insights into magma storage, timescales, and eruption dynamics.
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