Researchers led by Trinity College Dublin have made an important discovery about how volcanoes develop beneath the Earth's surface. Studying the ancient volcanic rocks of Carlingford Mountain in Co. Louth, the international team found that volcanoes are not always fed by large liquid magma chambers, as traditionally believed. Instead, the underground magma system can alternate between liquid-rich and crystal-rich states over time.
The findings provide valuable new insights into how active volcanoes, such as those in Iceland, evolve and eventually erupt. The research also highlights the importance of Ireland's geological landscape, with Carlingford Mountain offering a rare glimpse into the internal workings of an ancient volcano.