Major mountain systems are in part the result of large infusions of magma bought on by the interaction of plates at subduction zones. A classic problem in geology has been the "room problem", namely how are large volumes (thousands of cubic miles) of magma physically accommodated in the earth's crust, i.e., how is the requisit space created. The investigators have recently proposed a mechanical model that explains how space for magmas can be created via P- fractures. This project will test this hypothesis by gathering field data and by conducting computer experiments. This project also has the potential of providing insights into the structural controls on ore deposits that may lead ultimately to improved strategies for exploration.
