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Analyzing volcanic crystals with a high-tech microscope

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Pascal Kiss
June 5, 2026

Research teams have developed a powerful new microscope to study tiny crystals in cooled volcanic magma. These reveal how molten rock rises and could one day help predict eruptions.

How can tiny crystals reveal the inner workings of volcanoes? Researchers in Germany are analyzing microscopic mineral patterns formed in rising magma to better understand volcanic eruptions. These crystal "rings,” similar to tree rings, record pressure changes and magma movement deep underground. By examining their chemical composition with an advanced microscope, scientists can reconstruct eruption timelines and improve prediction models.

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