In memory of Richard and Morris Viljoen we will discuss the importance of their work on komatiites.
Note — the memorial symposium on February 6, 2026, was recorded; you may view it below as an MP4 file.
On the Symposium Programme
3:00-3:10 pm, Jaganmoy Jodder, Centre for Planetary Habitability
Introduction to the memorial lecture
3:10-3:20 pm, Grant Bybee, School of Geosciences, University of the Witwatersrand
Viljoens, Wits, and komatiites
3:20-3:30 pm Nicholas Arndt, University of Grenoble, France
How can we estimate the compositions of komatiite melts and what does this tell us about how komatiites formed?
3:40-4:00 pm, Alexander Sobolev, University of Grenoble Alpes-CNRs
Compositional heterogeneities of komatiite mantle plumes and what they tell us about geodynamics
4:10-4:30 pm Reidar Trønnes, Centre for Planetary Habitability
The complement of Archean komatiites: Cratonic lithosphere generated by deep upper mantle melting
4:40-5:00 pm Jörg Hermann, University of Bern
Hydrated komatiites and habitability of early Earth
5:10 pm Concluding remarks
Recorded Memorial Symposium
You might find all the talks from the memorial symposium “Komatiites: In Memory of Richard and Morris Viljoen” in this Zoom recording (MP4).