A team of international collaborators have trialled a new application to analyse volcanic lava and better understand volcanic eruptions. The new technique relies on an approach known as laser ablation inductively coupled plasma quadruple mass spectrometry.

“It’s a mouthful, but this high-resolution technique offers clearer data on what’s chemically occurring within a volcano’s magma, which is fundamental to forecasting eruption patterns and changes,” said Dr Teresa Ubide from the University of Queensland’s School of the Environment.

Ubide described magma as the "computer code" of volcanoes, providing information on the eruption style and lava flow. 

“The chemical changes that occur within the liquid portion of the magma during a volcanic eruption are quite incredible,” Ubide said. “The magma is made up of liquid melt, gas and crystals that combine inside the volcano."

The high quantity of crystals in volcanic magma often makes the material...