THE molten rock that feeds volcanoes can be stored in the Earth’s crust for as long as a thousand years, a result which may help with better forecasting of when eruptions might occur. Researchers from the University of Cambridge used volcanic minerals known as ‘crystal clocks’ to calculate how long magma can be stored in the deepest parts of volcanic systems. This is the first estimate of magma storage times near the boundary of the Earth’s crust and the mantle called the Moho. The results are reported in the journal Science.
