A UK-based internally heated pressure vessel (IHPV) system for studying geological and environmental processes at crustal pressures

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Earth's chemical evolution is mediated by exchanges of mass and heat between its hot interior and cool exterior. Many of these exchanges occur under high pressure and temperature conditions in the crust where magmas degas volatiles, feed volcanic eruptions, form ore deposits, and hydrothermally dissipate heat. New experiments at crustal pressures are thus urgently needed to develop and calibrate key thermodynamic and kinetic models required to create quantitative analytical and computational models of element transport, exchange and cycling. Few global laboratories have the capability to investigate these exchanges experimentally. There are currently no assets in the UK that can simultaneously access the pressure and temperature conditions relevant to many vital crustal processes.The proposed IHPV system from Wille Geotechnik will bridge the existing considerable gap in national capability by supporting high-temperature (up to 1250 degC) experiments on geological materials under controlled redox conditions at crustal pressures (100-600 MPa). It will enable a step change in research on magmatic, volcanic, ore-forming, and hydrothermal processes that address key and immediate science challenges that include natural and cascading hazards, particularly in volcanic environments; critical metals required for the energy transition; sustainable energy; planetary habitability; and environmental change. Investment in a UK IHPV asset will provide much-needed capacity for NERC-funded researchers to drive technological innovation that depends on secure, long-term access to high-pressure, high-temperature experimental capability.Examples of key science questions to be addressed through IHPV experiments include:1. How are volatiles degassed during magma ascent and cycled at depth?2. Where and how long are magmas stored before volcanic eruptions?3. How do changes in pressure, temperature and redox control the formation of critical metal ores (e.g. Li, Cu, REE) required for the energy transition?4. What occurs at the interfaces between magmatic and hydrothermal systems?UoM hosts considerable experimental infrastructure including furnaces and solid media presses that will complement and add value to the proposed IHPV system. The proposed IHPV system will provide complementary rather than equivalent capability to assets currently installed in Bristol, Durham Edinburgh and Oxford, enhancing the UK's environment for research. An IHPV system will support UoM's excellent microanalytical facilities (EPMA, LA-ICP-MS, NanoSIMS) by delivering new capability to synthesise geochemical standards, from which national facilities including NERC's Ion Microprobe Facility will also benefit.Approximately 12 weeks of IHPV experiments are carried out for UK-based researchers at overseas facilities each year, including for NERC- and STFC-funded researchers at UoM. The new asset will fully meet existing baseline national demand, and will provide capacity to open wholly new avenues of research. We anticipate 50% usage by UoM postgraduate research students and postdocs; 25% of usage by external NERC-funded users, and 25% usage by UoM and external users across the wider UKRI remit, including those funded by STFC, EPSRC and industry partners (e.g. Rolls-Royce). Ongoing running, technical and maintenance costs will be recovered from access charges. Technical support will be provided through pooled access to a UoM-underwritten Senior Experimental Officer.Installing an IHPV system in the UK will reduce carbon emissions by alleviating the need to travel overseas for IHPV experiments, helping both UoM and NERC realise their goals of achieving net zero by 2038 and 2040, respectively. UoM has already invested £170K to fully refurbish a laboratory that will house the proposed IHPV system alongside other high-pressure, high-temperature assets. UoM will invest a further ca. £200K to cover procurement costs above the £750K requested from NERC.