Detailed information about the course

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Title

Field course: Eifel Volcanic Field and Rhine graben

Dates

July 14-19th 2017

Responsable de l'activité

Luca Caricchi

Organizer(s)

Eva Hartung, doctorante, Université de Genève Gregor Weber, doctorant, Université de Genève

Speakers

Gerhard Wörner, professeur, Georg August University of Göttingen

Luca Caricchi, professeur, Université de Genève

Tom Sheldrake, post-doctorant, Université de Genève

Description

The field course focuses on the volcanism of the Eifel region located in west central Germany. The Eifel region is an active volcanic field dominated by cinder cones and maars, which are the result of alternating magmatic and phreatomagmatic eruptions. In addition, the Eifel is well known due to large caldera-forming eruptions (i.e. Laacher See, 12.9 ka). The excursion will introduce the different eruption styles and deposits resulting from the Eifel volcanoes. Furthermore, magmatic processes and timescales that lead to large silicic eruptions will be discussed. Program: DAY 1 - Drive to East Eifel (approximately 8 hour drive) with 2 buses from Université de Genève. Stop and pick up of students at UNIL. Stop and pick of students at UNIBE or UNIFR. Stop at Kaiserstuhl, Germany (carbonatitic volcano); introduction to Rhine graben geology and associated volcanism (2-3 hours). Accommodation at Laacher See Haus, Mendig. DAY 2 - East Eifel: caldera-forming eruptions and deposits. Outcrops around Laacher See (e.g. Wingertsbergwand) show Plinian fall-out deposits, base-surge and ash flow deposits and chemical stratification; Brohltal-ignimbrite. Accommodation at Laacher See Haus, Mendig. DAY 3 - East Eifel: dike intrusions, cinder cones, lava flows and phreatomagmatic phases at Eppelsberg and Wannenköpfe volcanic complexes; fossil deposition in ash-beds. Accommodation at Laacher See Haus, Mendig. DAY 4 - Drive to West Eifel. Overview point between Weinfelder Maar and Schalkenmehrener Maar, general explanation of West Eifel monogenetic volcanism and magmatism. Meerfelder Maar deposits and xenoliths. Accommodation at Laacher See Haus, Mendig. DAY 5 - West Eifel: Sprinker Maar/Wartgesberg complex, large scoria cone deposit overlain by phreatomagmatic phases. Ulmener Maar, youngest deposits of complete Eifel region (ca. 11ka). General discussion and conclusions. Accommodation at Laacher See Haus, Mendig. DAY 6 - Return to Switzerland (approximately 8 hours drive): Stop in Staufen, local uplift caused by geothermal drilling. Drop off at UNIBE and UNIL.

Location

Eifel, Allemagne

Information
Places

16

Deadline for registration 14.06.2017
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