Master of Science Cornelia Mentzoni Binde will Thursday May 21th, 2026, at 11:30 hold her Thesis Defense for the PhD degree in Science. The title of the thesis is:
« Geometry and evolution of the Infinity Sill and associated hydrothermal vent complexes on the Mid-Norwegian continental margin »
Igneous sill intrusions are tabular sheets of igneous rock, found in large igneous provinces worldwide. Previous work has shown that such intrusions are important components of shallow crustal magmatic systems, facilitating magma transport over significant distances in the Earth’s crust and influencing petroleum systems in sedimentary basins. Moreover, sill intrusions are linked to environmental perturbations through their association with hydrothermal vent complexes, which are pipe-like fluid conduits that release fluids such as methane and carbon dioxide from contact metamorphic aureoles around intrusions. The release of such fluids to the hydrosphere and atmosphere has been proposed as a potential driver for global warming events such as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, but the mechanics and fluid dynamics of sill emplacement and hydrothermal venting remain subjects of ongoing debate.
This thesis aims to advance our understanding of the geometry and evolution of igneous sill intrusions and hydrothermal vent complexes. This study is based on seismic characterization and analysis of a single sill, named the Infinity Sill, and its associated hydrothermal system, utilizing an extensive 3D seismic dataset from the Møre and Vøring volcanic margins, offshore Norway. The findings of this study are presented in three interconnected papers, each focusing on specific parts and processes associated with the sill-HTVC system. Paper I examines the characteristics, morphology and lateral evolution of the Infinity Sill, while Papers II and III investigate the distribution, characteristics and evolution of the sill’s associated hydrothermal vent complexes. This study enhances our understanding of magmatic emplacement in both space and time, as well as the processes, materials and timing associated with hydrothermal venting from sills. Understanding these processes may ultimately provide insights into the climatic impacts of major magmatic events, including the connection between the emplacement of the North Atlantic Igneous Province and the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.
Supervisory Committee:
1st Opponent: Professor Cristian Haug Eide, University in Bergen, Norway
2nd Opponent: Professor Mads Huuse, University of Manchester, England, United Kingdom
Internal member and leader of the committee: Associate professor Tom Arne Rydningen, Department of Geology, UiT