Fracturing and healing of basaltic magmas during explosive volcanic eruptions


Por: Taddeucci, J., Cimarelli, C., Alatorre-Ibarguengoitia, M. A., Delgado-Granados, H., Andronico, D., Del Bello, E., Scarlato, P., Di Stefano, F.

Publicada: 1 abr 2021 Ahead of Print: 1 mar 2021
Categoría: Earth and planetary sciences (miscellaneous)

Resumen:
The eruption of basaltic magmas dominates explosive volcanism on Earth and other planets within the Solar System. The mechanism through which continuous magma fragments into volcanic particles is central in governing eruption dynamics and the ensuing hazards. However, the mechanism of fragmentation of basaltic magmas is still disputed, with both viscous and brittle mechanisms having been proposed. Here we carry out textural analysis of the products of ten eruptions from seven volcanoes by scanning electron microscopy. We find broken crystals surrounded by intact glass that testify to the brittle fragmentation of basaltic magmas during explosive activity worldwide. We then replicated the natural textures of broken crystals in laboratory experiments where variably crystallized basaltic melt was fragmented by rapid deformation. The experiments reveal that crystals are broken by the propagation of a network of fractures through magma, and that afterwards the fractures heal by viscous flow of the melt. Fracturing and healing affect gas mobility, stress distribution, and bubble and crystal size distributions in magma. Our results challenge the idea that the grain size distribution of basaltic eruption products reflects the density of fractures that initially fragmented the magma and ultimately indicate that brittle fracturing and viscous healing of magma may underlie basaltic explosive eruptions globally.

Filiaciones:
Taddeucci, J.:
 (Corresponding Author), Ist Nazl Geofis & Vulcanol, Sez Roma1, Rome, Italy

 Ist Nazl Geofis & Vulcanol, Sez Roma1, Rome, Italy

Cimarelli, C.:
 Ludwig Maximilians Univ Munchen, Dept Earth & Environm Sci, Munich, Germany

Alatorre-Ibarguengoitia, M. A.:
 Univ Ciencias & Artes Chiapas, Inst Invest Gest Riesgo & Cambio Climat, Tuxtla, Mexico

Delgado-Granados, H.:
 Univ Nacl Autonoma Mexico Circuito Exterior, Inst Geofis, Dept Vulcanol, Mexico City, DF, Mexico

Andronico, D.:
 Ist Nazl Geofis & Vulcanol, Osservatorio Etneo Sez Catania, Catania, Italy

Del Bello, E.:
 Ist Nazl Geofis & Vulcanol, Sez Roma1, Rome, Italy

Scarlato, P.:
 Ist Nazl Geofis & Vulcanol, Sez Roma1, Rome, Italy

Di Stefano, F.:
 Ist Nazl Geofis & Vulcanol, Sez Roma1, Rome, Italy
ISSN: 17520894





NATURE GEOSCIENCE
Editorial
Nature Publishing Group, 75 VARICK ST, 9TH FLR, NEW YORK, NY 10013-1917 USA, Estados Unidos America
Tipo de documento: Article
Volumen: 14 Número: 4
Páginas: 248-248
WOS Id: 000634737700004

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