Dr. James Webster (1955-2019) investigated how the volatiles water, fluorine, chlorine, sulfur, and carbon dioxide influence the formation of metallic ore deposits, and how these volatiles lead to volcanic eruptions. He was interested in determining how ore deposits form via late-stage magmatic and mineralizing processes in ore metal-rich magmas. Other research, with Museum colleagues, on sulfur, chlorine, and water provided information on the nature of gases released during explosive volcanism at Augustine volcano, Alaska, and Mt. Mazama, Oregon. With scientists from the University of Naples, he examined volcanic rocks from Mt. Vesuvius, Italy, to better understand the behavior of volatiles in magmas that have erupted there during the past 25,000 years. Dr. Webster's research lab continues to produce experimental results to further this understanding.