DoctorSarah Smithies

My research focuses on the magma plumbing systems beneath volcanoes. I am interested in how magmas are generated, where magma resides before eruption, and the conditions that lead to eruption. I use igneous petrology and volcanology to reconstruct past eruptions and unravel magmatic conditions. I apply modelling techniques to the composition of glass, minerals, and pumice to determine the pressure, temperature, and chemistry of magma storage. This information helps us understand modern volcanic unrest and builds towards better understanding of our geothermal and critical mineral resources.

In 2025, I was awarded the New Zealand Geochemistry Prize for my work on magma systems of the Taupō Volcanic Zone. Using rhyolite-MELTS geobarometry, I showed that some large caldera eruptions tap magma from multiple magma chambers spread through the crust.

Another aspect of my work focuses on using the composition of sedimentary rocks to understand the source of sediments both in modern environments, such as Whakaraupō | Lyttelton Harbour, and in ancient sedimentary systems, such as the Taranaki Basin. 

I welcome enquiries from prospective collaborators, particularly in igneous petrology of caldera magma systems, the Taupō Volcanic Zone, and applying geobarometry to magma systems worldwide.