Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems
Magmatic density and viscosity exert fundamental controls on the eruptibility of magmas. In this study, we investigate the extent to which magmatic physical properties control the eruptibility of magmas from Iceland's Northern Volcanic Zone (NVZ). By studying subaerial flows of known age and vo...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:131d8ec289864fa9ae2be18cc947f079 2023-05-15T16:48:01+02:00 Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems Margaret Hartley John Maclennan 2018-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00029 https://doaj.org/article/131d8ec289864fa9ae2be18cc947f079 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/feart.2018.00029/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2018.00029 https://doaj.org/article/131d8ec289864fa9ae2be18cc947f079 Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 6 (2018) magma basalt Iceland density viscosity volcanism Science Q article 2018 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00029 2022-12-31T05:22:15Z Magmatic density and viscosity exert fundamental controls on the eruptibility of magmas. In this study, we investigate the extent to which magmatic physical properties control the eruptibility of magmas from Iceland's Northern Volcanic Zone (NVZ). By studying subaerial flows of known age and volume, we are able to directly relate erupted volumes to magmatic physical properties, a task that has been near-impossible when dealing with submarine samples dredged from mid-ocean ridges. We find a strong correlation between magmatic density and observed erupted volumes on the NVZ. Over 85% of the total volume of erupted material lies close to a density and viscosity minimum that corresponds to the composition of basalts at the arrival of plagioclase on the liquidus. These magmas are buoyant with respect to the Icelandic upper crust. However, a number of small-volume eruptions with densities greater than typical Icelandic upper crust are also found in Iceland's neovolcanic zones. We use a simple numerical model to demonstrate that the eruption of magmas with higher densities and viscosities is facilitated by the generation of overpressure in magma chambers in the lower crust and uppermost mantle. This conclusion is in agreement with petrological constraints on the depths of crystallization under Iceland. Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Frontiers in Earth Science 6 |
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Open Polar |
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Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
magma basalt Iceland density viscosity volcanism Science Q |
spellingShingle |
magma basalt Iceland density viscosity volcanism Science Q Margaret Hartley John Maclennan Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems |
topic_facet |
magma basalt Iceland density viscosity volcanism Science Q |
description |
Magmatic density and viscosity exert fundamental controls on the eruptibility of magmas. In this study, we investigate the extent to which magmatic physical properties control the eruptibility of magmas from Iceland's Northern Volcanic Zone (NVZ). By studying subaerial flows of known age and volume, we are able to directly relate erupted volumes to magmatic physical properties, a task that has been near-impossible when dealing with submarine samples dredged from mid-ocean ridges. We find a strong correlation between magmatic density and observed erupted volumes on the NVZ. Over 85% of the total volume of erupted material lies close to a density and viscosity minimum that corresponds to the composition of basalts at the arrival of plagioclase on the liquidus. These magmas are buoyant with respect to the Icelandic upper crust. However, a number of small-volume eruptions with densities greater than typical Icelandic upper crust are also found in Iceland's neovolcanic zones. We use a simple numerical model to demonstrate that the eruption of magmas with higher densities and viscosities is facilitated by the generation of overpressure in magma chambers in the lower crust and uppermost mantle. This conclusion is in agreement with petrological constraints on the depths of crystallization under Iceland. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Margaret Hartley John Maclennan |
author_facet |
Margaret Hartley John Maclennan |
author_sort |
Margaret Hartley |
title |
Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems |
title_short |
Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems |
title_full |
Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems |
title_fullStr |
Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems |
title_full_unstemmed |
Magmatic Densities Control Erupted Volumes in Icelandic Volcanic Systems |
title_sort |
magmatic densities control erupted volumes in icelandic volcanic systems |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00029 https://doaj.org/article/131d8ec289864fa9ae2be18cc947f079 |
genre |
Iceland |
genre_facet |
Iceland |
op_source |
Frontiers in Earth Science, Vol 6 (2018) |
op_relation |
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/feart.2018.00029/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-6463 2296-6463 doi:10.3389/feart.2018.00029 https://doaj.org/article/131d8ec289864fa9ae2be18cc947f079 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2018.00029 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Earth Science |
container_volume |
6 |
_version_ |
1766038106748747776 |