Search results for "impact crater"
showing 10 items of 134 documents
The Spirit Rover's Athena science investigation at Gusev Crater, Mars.
2004
The Mars Exploration Rover Spirit and its Athena science payload have been used to investigate a landing site in Gusev crater. Gusev is hypothesized to be the site of a former lake, but no clear evidence for lacustrine sedimentation has been found to date. Instead, the dominant lithology is basalt, and the dominant geologic processes are impact events and eolian transport. Many rocks exhibit coatings and other characteristics that may be evidence for minor aqueous alteration. Any lacustrine sediments that may exist at this location within Gusev apparently have been buried by lavas that have undergone subsequent impact disruption.
Pyroclastic Activity at Home Plate in Gusev Crater, Mars
2007
Home Plate is a layered plateau in Gusev crater on Mars. It is composed of clastic rocks of moderately altered alkali basalt composition, enriched in some highly volatile elements. A coarsegrained lower unit lies under a finer-grained upper unit. Textural observations indicate that the lower strata were emplaced in an explosive event, and geochemical considerations favor an explosive volcanic origin over an impact origin. The lower unit likely represents accumulation of pyroclastic materials, whereas the upper unit may represent eolian reworking of the same pyroclastic materials.
First gas and thermal measurements at the frequently erupting Gamalama volcano (Indonesia) reveal a hydrothermally dominated magmatic system
2020
Abstract The first gas and thermal measurements at the summit of the Gamalama volcano indicate that the system is dominated by hydrothermal processes. This is highlighted by the prevalence of H2S over SO2 (H2S/SO2 = 2–8), a high CO2/SO2 ratio (76–201), and a low heat transfer (3.0 MW) to the surface. A relative variation in gas composition is observed along the degassing fracture zone, possibly due to partial S scrubbing. Despite this surface hydrothermal signature, the system exhibits high gas equilibrium temperatures (425–480 °C), indicating that fluids are not exclusively derived from a boiling hydrothermal aquifer, but also sourced by cooling and crystallizing basaltic magma at deep tha…
First observational evidence for the CO<sub>2</sub>-driven origin of Stromboli's major explosions
2011
Abstract. We report on the first detection of CO2 flux precursors of the till now unforecastable "major" explosions that intermittently occur at Stromboli volcano (Italy). An automated survey of the crater plume emissions in the period 2006–2010, during which 12 such explosions happened, demonstrated that these events are systematically preceded by a brief phase of increasing CO2/SO2 weight ratio (up to >40) and CO2 flux (>1300 t d−1) with respect to the time-averaged values of 3.7 and ~500 t d−1 typical for standard Stromboli's activity. These signals are best explained by the accumulation of CO2-rich gas at a discontinuity of the plumbing system (decreasing CO2 emission at the surfa…
Atmospheric sources and sinks of volcanogenic elements in a basaltic volcano (Etna, Italy)
2011
Abstract This study reports on the first quantitative assessment of the geochemical cycling of volcanogenic elements, from their atmospheric release to their deposition back to the ground. Etna’s emissions and atmospheric depositions were characterised for more than 2 years, providing data on major and trace element abundance in both volcanic aerosols and bulk depositions. Volcanic aerosols were collected from 2004 to 2007, at the summit vents by conventional filtration techniques. Precipitation was collected, from 2006 to 2007, in five rain gauges, at various altitudes around the summit craters. Analytical results for volcanic aerosols showed that the dominant anions were S, Cl, and F, and…
Crater Gas Emissions and the Magma Feeding System of Stromboli Volcano
2013
Quiescent and explosive magma degassing at Stromboli volcano sustains high-temperature crater gas venting and a permanent volcanic plume which constitute key sources of information on the magma supply and dynamics, the physical processes controlling the explosive activity and, more broadly, the volcano feeding system. The chemical composition and the mass output of these crater emissions (gases, trace metals, radioactive isotopes) were measured using different methodologies: within-plume airborne measurements, ground-based plume filtering, and/or in situ analysis, remote UV and open-path Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy. The results obtained, summarized in this paper, demo…
Mercury content and speciation in the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex: evidence from hydrothermal system and fumaroles
2009
Abstract Mercury is outstanding among the global environmental pollutants of continuing concern. Although degassing of active volcanic areas represents an important natural source of mercury into the atmosphere, still little is known about the amount and behaviour of Hg in volcanic aquifers, especially regarding its chemical speciation. In order to assess the importance of mercury emissions from active volcanoes, thermal waters were sampled in the area surrounding La Solfatara, Pozzuoli bay. This is the most active zone of the Phlegrean Fields complex (coastal area north–west of Naples), with intense hydrothermal activity at present day. Studied groundwaters show total Hg (THg) concentratio…
Dynamics of mild strombolian activity on Mt. Etna
2015
Abstract Here we report the first measurements of gas masses released during a rare period of strombolian activity at the Bocca Nuova crater, Mt. Etna, Sicily. UV camera data acquired for 195 events over an ≈ 27 minute period (27th July 2012) indicate erupted SO2 masses ranging from ≈ 0.1 to ≈ 14 kg per event, with corresponding total gas masses of ≈ 0.1 to 74 kg. Thus, the activity was characterised by more frequent and smaller events than typically associated with strombolian activity on volcanoes such as Stromboli. Events releasing larger measured gas masses were followed by relatively long repose periods before the following burst, a feature not previously reported on from gas measureme…
The 15 March 2007 explosive crisis at Stromboli Volcano, Italy: assessing physical parameters through a multidisciplinary approach
2011
Basaltic volcanoes are dominated by lava emission and mild explosive activity. Nevertheless, many basaltic systems exhibit, from time to time, poorly documented and little-understood violent explosions. A short-lived, multiblast explosive crisis (paroxysmal explosion) occurred on 15 March 2007 during an effusive eruptive crisis at Stromboli (Italy). The explosive crisis, which started at 20:38:14 UT, had a total duration of ∼5 min. The combined use of multiparametric data collected by the permanent instrumental networks (seismic, acoustic, and thermal records) and a field survey carried out immediately after the event enabled us to constrain the eruptive dynamics and quantify physical param…
Tertiary maars of the Hocheifel Volcanic Field, Germany
2008
In the Hocheifel only three maars are known. The Eckfeld Maar, filled with Eocene lacustrine sediments, is located at the southern boundary of the volcanic field, where the Tertiary peneplain has been eroded only slightly. The ages of the Jungferweiher Maar in the southeast and the Dottingen Maar in the northeast of the Tertiary Hocheifel Volcanic Field (THVF) are unknown and their timing within the THVF is uncertain. In contrast to the surrounding area, the central part of the THVF is deeply eroded. Here, six large diatremes (>600 m) were identified in the area of Kelberg with one exception. So far, no relics of crater sediments have been found within the large diatremes. They probably rep…