Research

My work spans a broad range of subjects, including volatile evolution of the Martian atmosphere, subduction zone geochemistry and petrology, and ore mineralization. I couple field-based, experimental, analytical, and modelling techniques to achieve both a broad and in-depth investigation of the volatile and trace element evolution in these systems.

Projects

Hydrogen loss of the early Martian atmosphere and chondritic research

My extra-terrestrial work aims to understand the correlation between repeated impact events and the progressive volatile loss of a planet’s atmosphere using high pressure impact experiments. I also specialise in early solar system evolution by studying chondrites and the chondrules contained within, which are small, spherical grains that are believed to be the building blocks of our universe.

Sub-volcanic and hydrothermal systems

My work on sub-volcanic magmatic systems spans deep, mafic magma bodies to the shallow level hydrothermal systems that form above magma reservoirs. I use clues locked in crystals to infer the magmatic and crystallization conditions during storage and ascent to better understand the pre-eruptive conditions of a volcano. I couple these findings with measurements of volcanic gases emitted at fumaroles and vents to understand the shallow conditions that affect a magma's composition and potentially its' eruptive behaviour. I also reconstruct any evidence of past magmatic and volcanic activity by exploring the epithermal and geothermal resources surrounding a volcanic edifice.

I am currently working on understanding the factors that drive basaltic, or mafic, magma to erupt explosively by studying past eruptions so that we may better forecast such events in the future. Could it be the volatiles that provide this upwards driving force, or is it sourced from deeper?

Teaching

Junior Sophister:

GSU33005 Volcanism and Magmatism

GLU33008 Metamorphic Rocks and Processes

Supervision

I supervise 4th year students in their capstone projects in the fields of petrology, geochemistry, volcanology, and planetary sciences. 

Selected Publications

Venugopal, S., Schiavi, F., Moune, S., Bolfan-Casanova, N., Druitt, T., and Williams-Jones, G. (2020b). Melt inclusion vapour bubbles: the hidden reservoir for major and volatile elements. Nature Scientific Reports 10, 9034.

Venugopal, S., Moune, S., Williams-Jones, G., Druitt, T., Vigouroux, N., Wilson, A., and Russell, J. K. (2020a). Two distinct mantle sources beneath the Garibaldi Volcanic Belt: Insight from olivine-hosted melt inclusions. Chemical Geology, 532.

DeVitre, C. L., Gazel, E., Ramalho, R.S., Venugopal, S., Steele-MacInnes, M., Hua, J., Allison, C.M., Moore, Lowell R., Carracedo, J.C and Monteleone, B. (2023). Oceanic intraplate explosive eruptions fed directly from the mantle. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 120, 33.