Plumbing system evolution beneath the Mount Melbourne Volcanic Field (northern Victoria Land, Antarctica): insights from the crystal cargo

Understanding the architecture and temporal evolution of magmatic plumbing systems remains a central challenge in volcanology, particularly for remote and limited-access volcanic systems such as those found in Antarctica. Due to their remoteness and limited monitoring, the eruptive behaviour and hazard potential of Antarctic volcanoes remain poorly constrained. This underscores the urgent need to better characterise the magmatic systems of Antarctic volcanoes and assess their potential for hazardous, large-scale explosive eruptions.

In this contribution, we present an integrated framework combining major and trace element geochemistry, crystal-scale chemical mapping, thermobarometry, and machine-learning tools to investigate the structure and evolution of magmatic plumbing systems beneath the Mount Melbourne Volcanic Field (northern Victoria Land, Antarctica). In particular, we focus on using the crystal cargo (clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and olivine) to reconstruct crystallisation conditions and reservoir dynamics through time, providing new constraints on magma storage depths and plumbing system evolution, and improving our understanding of subglacial volcanic hazards in glacial environments. Results indicate a complex magmatic history, as recorded by distinct mineral populations and chemical zoning patterns, reflecting evolving magma storage conditions and dynamic processes of magma recharge and differentiation. More broadly, this work demonstrates the potential of integrating advanced petrological observations with machine-learning approaches to decipher deep-to-surface magmatic processes in remote volcanic systems.