The « Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans (LMV) » is a joint research unit of the Blaise Pascal University, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and Institute of Research and Development (IRD). It is also one of the laboratories of the Observatoire de Physique du Globe at Clermont-Ferrand (OPGC) and one of the Auvergne Regional Centres of Excellence. Its mission is to achieve research and provide education in the fields of Geology but the laboratory is also in charge of monitoring natural phenomena related to the physical activity of the Earth, with the objective of understanding the processes and anticipating risks.

The LMV comprises more than one hundred people distributed between several sites, including the Université Clermont-Auvergne (main site), the National Polytechnic School at Quito in Ecuador and the Department of Geology at Nouméa in New Caledonia.

The main scientific theme of the LMV is the study of all magmatic and volcanic processes, from melting in the earth’s mantle to the eruption of magma at the surface. The laboratory conducts thus research in the fields of studies of the Petrology, Geochemistry and Volcanology, by combining state-of-the art methods and techniques. To achieve this goal, it has developed a large range of analytical and experimental equipments, and methods for observation and modelling.

The LMV is divided into four research teams and an applied research group:

• Dynamics and deformation of volcanic structures
• Experimental petrology: magmatism and geodynamics
• Geochemistry : formation, evolution and chronology of magmas
• Lithospheric transfer