EPLUK laboratory

Experimental petrology laboratory

We are the first experimental petrology laboratory at a university in the Czech Republic. Our goal is the experimental study of phenomena associated with volcanic processes, focusing on pre- and syn-eruptive conditions.

The aim of EPLUK is to investigate all phenomena related to volcanism, with a particular emphasis for the pre- and syn-eruptive conditions, by using an experimental approach. The lab is equipped with a suite of high-temperature/high-pressure facilities including 1-atm furnace, cold seal pressure vessels, non end-loaded piston-cylinder, permitting to reproduce and simulate temperature up to 1650 C and pressure from 1 atm to 0.5 GPa. The equipment of the lab is completed with a series of 'special tools' allowing the pre- and post-run preparation of the experimental samples.

These vessels (cold seal), water pressurized, allow to reach temperatures up to 900 °C and pressures of 200 MPa. Their intrinsic redox conditions are close to the Ni-NiO buffer, whereas the use of carbon rods as filler rods allow to reach more reducing conditions (QFM - 1). The large hot spot plateau (4 cm) and inner diameter (6 mm) of the vessels allow to run simultaneously several capsules.

The high-temperature box furnace can reach temperature up to 1650 °C

The Quick-Press is an non-endloaded piston cylinder to perform experiments up to 1450 °C and 500 MPa.

Contact

Laboratory address:

Institute of Petrology and Structural Geology
basement, door number S24
Faculty of Science, Charles University
Albertov 6
128 43 Praha 2

Contact person:

Dr. Václav Špillar
email: vaclav.spillar@natur.cuni.cz
tel. +420 22195 1532