Search results for "Volcanic"

Constrains on mantle, slab and crustal contributions to major volatiles and noble gases along the Andean Volcanic Belt

2020

Implications for paleomobility studies of the effects of quaternary volcanism on bioavailable strontium: a test case in North Patagonia (Argentina)

2020

Strontium isotopes (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) are used as geochemical tracers for paleomobility studies because they display predictable and stable patterns in ecosystems primarily controlled by the underlying geological regimes. While bedrock geology is stable over thousands of years, geomorphological processes can influence the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in ecosystems over archeologically relevant timescales. Among these geomorphological processes, the deposition and reworking of volcanic sediments over Quaternary timescales are little studied but could be an important control of ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr variations in many archeological regions. North Patagonia is a key archeological region to address animal and human movements, and a…

Degassing and Cycling of Mercury at Nisyros Volcano (Greece)

2019

Nisyros Island (Greece) is an active volcano hosting a high-enthalpy geothermal system. During June 2013, an extensive survey on Hg concentrations in different matrices (fumarolic fluids, atmosphere, soils, and plants) was carried out at the Lakki Plain, an intracaldera area affected by widespread soil and fumarolic degassing. Concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), together with H2S and CO2, were simultaneously measured in both the fumarolic emissions and the atmosphere around them. At the same time, 130 samples of top soils and 31 samples of plants (Cistus creticus and salvifolius and Erica arborea and manipuliflora) were collected for Hg analysis. Mercury concentrations in fum…

Preliminary investigation into temporal variation of volcanic ash adherent water-soluble components at Stromboli volcano during 2004-2009 eruptive ac…

2009

A change in the chemical compositions of volcanic gases is one of the noticeable phenomena that frequently occurs prior to an eruption. Tephra in plumes can absorb and thereby rapidly deposit volatiles including sulphur, halogen and metal species. These may then be leached (e.g. by rainfall), potentially releasing heavy loads into soils and water bodies. Their analysis is a suitable supplement for remote monitoring of volcanic gases from inaccessible volcanoes. Freshly fallen ashes of the eruptive activity from 2004 to 2009 at Stromboli volcano were sampled, leached and analysed for major and trace elements. This study is aimed at determining the causes of the compositional variations of th…

Intense magmatic degassing through the lake of Copahue volcano, 2013–2014

2015

Here we report on the first assessment of volatile fluxes from the hyperacid crater lake hosted within the summit crater of Copahue, a very active volcano on the Argentina-Chile border. Our observations were performed using a variety of in situ and remote sensing techniques during field campaigns in March 2013, when the crater hosted an active fumarole field, and in March 2014, when an acidic volcanic lake covered the fumarole field. In the latter campaign, we found that 566 to 1373 t d -1 of SO 2 were being emitted from the lake in a plume that appeared largely invisible. This, combined with our derived bulk plume composition, was converted into flux of other volcanic species (H 2 O ~ 1098…

Aerosol layers from the 2008 eruptions of Mount Okmok and Mount Kasatochi: In situ upper troposphere and lower stratosphere measurements of sulfate a…

2010

In 2008 Mount Okmok and Mount Kasatochi started erupting on 12 July and 7 August, respectively, in the Aleutians, depositing emissions of trace gases and aerosols as high as 15.2 km into the atmosphere. During an aircraft campaign, conducted over Europe in between 27 October and 2 November 2008, the volcanic aerosol was measured by an Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer, capable of particle chemical composition measurements covering a size diameter range between 40 nm and 1 mm. In the volcanic aerosol layer enhanced submicron particulate sulfate concentrations of up to 2.0 mg m−3 standard temperature and pressure (STP) were observed between 8 and 12 km altitude, while background values …

Leachate analyses of volcanic ashes from Stromboli volcano: A proxy for the volcanic gas plume composition?

2011

[1] Many volcanoes show a change in chemical composition of the gas phase prior to periods of eruptive activity. Fine-grained tephra erupted from active vents and transported through volcanic plumes can adsorb, and therefore rapidly scavenge, volatile elements such as sulfur, halogens, and metal species in the form of soluble salts adhering to ash surfaces. Analysis of such water-soluble surface materials is a suitable supplement for remote monitoring of volcanic gases at inaccessible volcanoes. In this work, ash samples of the 2004 to 2009 eruptive activity of Stromboli volcano were sampled, leached, and analyzed for major and trace elements. Data analysis and interpretation was focused on…

Geochemical and mineralogical indicators for aqueous processes in the Columbia Hills of Gusev crater, Mars

2006

[1] Water played a major role in the formation and alteration of rocks and soils in the Columbia Hills. The extent of alteration ranges from moderate to extensive. Five distinct rock compositional classes were identified; the order for degree of alteration is Watchtower ≅ Clovis > Wishstone ≅ Peace > Backstay. The rover's wheels uncovered one unusual soil (Paso Robles) that is the most S-rich material encountered. Clovis class rocks have compositions similar to Gusev plains soil but with higher Mg, Cl, and Br and lower Ca and Zn; Watchtower and Wishstone classes have high Al, Ti, and P and low Cr and Ni; Peace has high Mg and S and low Al, Na, and K; Backstay basalts have high Na and K comp…

In situ and experimental evidence for acidic weathering of rocks and soils on Mars

2006

Experimental data for alteration of synthetic Martian basalts at pH=0-1 indicate that chemical fractionations at low pH are vastly different from those observed during terrestrial weathering. Rock analyses from Gusev crater are well described by the relationships apparent from low pH experimental alteration data. A model for rock surface alteration is developed which indicates that a leached alteration zone is present on rock surfaces at Gusev. This zone is not chemically fractionated to a large degree from the underlying rock interior, indicating that the rock surface alteration process has occurred at low fluid-to-rock ratio. The geochemistry of natural rock surfaces analyzed by APXS is c…

Characterization and petrologic interpretation of olivine-rich basalts at Gusev Crater, Mars

2006

Rocks on the floor of Gusev crater are basalts of uniform composition and mineralogy. Olivine, the only mineral to have been identified or inferred from data by all instruments on the Spirit rover, is especially abundant in these rocks. These picritic basalts are similar in many respects to certain Martian meteorites (olivine-phyric shergottites). The olivine megacrysts in both have intermediate compositions, with modal abundances ranging up to 20-30%. Associated minerals in both include low-calcium and high-calcium pyroxenes, plagioclase of intermediate composition, iron-titanium-chromium oxides, and phosphate. These rocks also share minor element trends, reflected in their nickel-magnesiu…