“With this VICI project, I continue my broad passion to better understand the large-scale geological processes deep beneath our feet- processes that have shaped our planet over billions of years. I study how changes in plate tectonics have influenced deep geochemical cycles and the composition of the Earth’s mantle. My work on volcanic rocks has important implications for the composition of the Earth’s crust, the oceans, and the atmosphere, and therefore for our climate,” Koornneef said about the award.
Mantle plumes
The Earth’s mantle - the rocky layer beneath the crust- moves slowly and gradually cools. Columns of hot rock, known as mantle plumes, rise from near the Earth’s core toward the surface, where they appear as volcanic hotspots. When these plumes reach the surface, they can trigger massive volcanic eruptions, releasing large amounts of CO₂, breaking apart continents, and potentially causing mass extinctions. However, little is known about the composition and dynamic behaviour of these plumes because they cannot be studied directly. Magma originating from plumes contains information about their chemical and physical properties, but much of this information is lost as magma travels through the crust and interacts with surrounding rocks.
The MAGMAS Project
In the MAGMAS project, Koornneef will study tiny droplets of magma trapped inside olivine crystals. These so-called melt inclusions act as natural time capsules: they are protected from interaction with crustal rocks. By analysing these droplets, researchers can better reconstruct the original composition of magma deep within the mantle.
The project focuses on three main questions:
- Improving analytical techniques to measure the chemical composition of melt inclusions more accurately, including volatiles such as CO₂.
- Understanding how the composition of mantle plumes changes over time.
- Investigating how this composition influences mantle dynamics and the exchange of elements between Earth’s interior and its surface.
Chemical structure of the Earth
The research team will study melt inclusions from lava derived from mantle plumes at various locations and time periods around the Atlantic Ocean, including Iceland, the Azores, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha–Gough. Chemical information from these samples will then be incorporated into advanced geodynamic 3D computer models. Using these models, the MAGMAS team will examine how mantle composition relates to movements within the planet’s interior.
This research will help scientists better understand how the Earth has evolved over time and how its chemical development is connected to volcanism, climate change, and ultimately the habitability of our planet.
New analytical techniques
Through the development and application of new analytical methods, the project is expected to have significant scientific impact within the geosciences, including geochemistry, geophysics, planetary science, and climate research. These innovations are also broadly applicable in related disciplines such as archaeology, environmental science, forensic science, and heritage research. In addition, the project will generate societal impact through collaboration with industry focused on product development, the provision of analytical services to various stakeholders, and knowledge dissemination through education, training, and public outreach.
About Janne Koornneef
Janne Koornneef is an associate professor in the Department of Earth Sciences: Geology and Geochemistry. In addition to the Vici project, she leads several ongoing research projects and is the head of NIGEL—the Netherlands Isotope Geochemical Laboratory, a national research facility funded through the NWO Large-Infrastructure program.