Sonification of Kimberlite Volcanic Eruptions

A sonification of kimberlite eruptions over time. Kimberlites are deep volcanic pipes that can contain diamonds. They appear to have erupted following breakup phases of supercontinent cycles – the recurring pattern of landmass formation and fragmentation through geologic time. In this sonification, each kimberlite eruption is represented by a note, with the pitch of the note corresponding to the reconstructed latitude (that is, paleolatitude) of the eruption. Higher latitudes are associated with higher pitches. The longitude is reflected in the stereo position of the sound. The fragmentation rate of the tectonic plates is represented by sustained minor and major sounds, with darker minor sounds indicating plate merging and brighter major sounds indicating plate breakup. Additionally, the volume of crumbling rock sounds varies with the fragmentation rate, intensifying when the rate is high.  Created by SYSTEM Sounds (Matt Russo and Andrew Santaguida) Science input from Tom Gernon, Andrew Merdith and Thea Hincks Data: Gernon et al. (2023).  Rift-induced disruption of cratonic keels drives kimberlite volcanism.  Nature, Kimberlite age data from Tappe et al., EPSL 484, 1-14 (2018)  Reconstructions: