The strong heterogeneity of geological materials (rocks, minerals, fluids, cracks, pores) at various scales, especially with complex microstructures or anisotropy, makes macroscopic to microscopic characterisation and visualisation highly challenging. Technological advances facilitate ever-more detailed descriptions of the fundamental physical properties which help dictate geological processes across a range of time- and length-scales, and yet critical challenges remain, including: Understanding the evolution (e.g., creation or destruction) of structures; the extent of processes as a function of time/ strain/ stress; and the influence of realistic geological conditions (including temperature, large and/ or fluctuating pressure gradients, destructive pore fluids etc.).

This session focuses upon the multi-scale analysis, characterisation and visualisation, of material properties, which may be of use in such broad contexts as: Creation and destruction of fluid pathways during volcanic activity (e.g., magma transport, eruption), controlling the means and efficiency of outgassing; the deposition of mineral precipitates; the compaction and lithification of granular materials; the productivity and exploitation of georesources; and fluid flow in the lithosphere, controlling crustal pore pressures and seismicity along shallow or deep lithospheric structures.

Here, we hope to foster strong interactions between research groups by soliciting contributions from diverse subdisciplines including (but not limited to) volcanology, rock and magma mechanics and physics, petrology, structural geology, and geophysics. We welcome field-, experimental-, technical-, theoretical- and model-based studies, and applications of visualisation techniques including, but not limited to, Scanning/Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM/TEM), X-ray Radiography, X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT), 3D Electron Microscopy (3D-EM), confocal optical and Raman microscopy and X-ray and neutron scattering. We also particularly encourage research that applies techniques that help resolve temporal evolution, including 4D experimentation.