The Magmas and Volcanoes Laboratory (LMV) is a joint research unit of the University of Clermont-Auvergne (UCA), associated with the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS, UMR 6524), the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD, UMR 163). It is one of the two laboratories of the Observatoire de Physique du Globe de Clermont-Ferrand (OPGC). The LMV is also the Department of Earth Science Education of the UCA.

The LMV is spread over several sites including the UCA (main site) and several secondary sites outside metropolitan France (Ecuador, Peru and Indonesia). It has developed around three missions:

  • Fundamental research: Understanding the whole range of magmatic and volcanic processes, from deep processes within the Earth’s mantle to surface eruption ;
  • Perennial observation: To monitor natural phenomena related to volcanic activity on our planet, in order to understand the processes and prevent associated risks;
  • Partnership with Southern countries: Conducting research for development for the benefit of our partners (Latin America, Asia) through cooperation programs.

The primary vocation of the LMV is to develop concepts and tools in the disciplinary fields of volcanology, petrology and geochemistry, which allow to answer fundamental questions with strong volcanological and magmatological impacts. These answers always revolve around state-of-the-art technology and/or experimental or analytical developments. LMV’s research uses the most efficient methods and tools from several disciplines of Earth Sciences (experimental magmatology, mineralogy, petrology, geophysics, isotopic and elemental geochemistry, materials physics, physical and analogical volcanology, …) and relies on a large number of experimental equipment and chemical and physical characterizations of rocks and minerals.

In partnership with teams from 5 other laboratories of the UCA, a team from BRGM and OPGC, the LMV coordinates since 2011 the Labex ClerVolc (Centre clermontois de recherche sur le volcanisme), one of the winners of the 1st wave of the call for projects of the « Investissements d’Avenir » program. ClerVolc, which aims to provide a global and multidisciplinary response to the modern challenges of volcanism research, benefits from an annual allocation managed by the ANR, FEDER co-financing and specific funding from the Auvergne Region.

 

Contact : Audrey Chazal 

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