*************************************************************** From: Andy Saunders <ads@xxxxxxxx *************************************************************** Dear Colleagues, We would like to draw your attention to the following two sessions: 'Frontiers in Large Igneous Provinces Research' and 'Large Igneous Provinces and Mass Extinctions' that will be convened at the 2008 IAVCEI General Assembly in Reykjavik, Iceland, 18-22 August, 2008. The abstract submission deadline is 1 April 2008. Further information can be found at http://www.iavcei2008.hi.is/page/I08-intro Presentations that cover these areas are welcome. Session 1-e Frontiers in Large Igneous Provinces Research Conveners: Ian Campbell, Research School of Earth Sciences, Canberra, Ian.Campbell@xxxxxxxxxx Richard Ernst, Ernst Geosciences and Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Richard.Ernst@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Over the last fifteen years it has become widely accepted that Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) are produced by melting mantle plumes. However the link between LIPs and mantle plumes has recently been challenged. How confident are we that LIPs are produced by mantle plumes? Are there any aspects of LIPs that cannot be explained by the plume theory? Are there viable alternative hypotheses? Are there some LIPs that are better explained by alternative models? This session will focus on: - Implications of thermocompositional convection for LIPs. - Seismic imaging of plumes - Geochronology and eruption rates for LIPs - Correlation of Proterozoic LIPs (especially their dyke swarms) to test hypotheses of continental reconstruction. - Can hotspots move? - Advances in the geochemistry of LIPs - LIPs as the "pulse of the Earth" (www.NUNA2007.ca) Session 4-b Large Igneous Provinces and mass extinctions Conveners: Andy Saunders, University of Leicester, ads@xxxxxxxx Thor Thordarson, University of Edinburgh, thor.thordarson@xxxxxxxx Paul Wignall, University of Leeds, p.wignall@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Stephen Self, Open University, Stephen.Self@xxxxxxxxxx Andrew Harris, University of Hawaii, harris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mass extinctions are global phenomena that represent some of the most dramatic events in the geological history and arguably no events have had more influence on evolution of life on Earth. They are generally thought to have lasted for <1 Myrs and the fact that they define all of our key geological boundaries is the best testimony of their significance. Despite ample research cause of mass extinctions is still one of the great outstanding questions in Geosciences. The synchronicity of mass extinctions and LIP volcanism in the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic has led many to postulate a causal link between the two events. However, the mechanism by which LIP volcanism may have induced mass extinctions is still unclear and strongly debated. In this session we like to focus on the questions: Did LIP emplacement lead to dramatic environmental change? Can LIP volcanism trigger mass extinctions and, if so, how? The aim is to bring together research that sheds light on the potential climatic and environmental impacts of flood basalt volcanism and their link to mass extinctions via studies of LIP-related stratigraphy as well as shallow subsurface and surface processes involved in construction of LIPs. The session will focus on: - Upper crustal plumbing systems of LIPs - Geochronology and stratigraphy of LIPs - Eruption styles, mechanisms and lava emplacement modes at LIPs - Gas fluxes from LIPs and injection into the atmosphere - Potential climatic and environmental impacts of flood lava eruptions. - Chronological and causal relationships between LIPs and mass extinctions. Commission: LIPs ============================================================== To unsubscribe from the volcano list, send the message: signoff volcano to: listserv@xxxxxxx, or write to: volcano-request@xxxxxxxx To contribute to the volcano list, send your message to: volcano@xxxxxxxx Please do not send attachments. ==============================================================
