Experimental Constraints on the Rheology of Lavas From 2021 Cumbre Vieja Eruption (La Palma, Spain)

Abstract

The 2021 Tajogaite eruption of Cumbre Vieja (La Palma, Spain) was typified by the emission of low viscosity lavas that flowed at high velocities and inundated a large area. We experimentally investigated the rheological evolution of melt feeding the eruption through concentric cylinder viscometry to understand the exceptional flowing ability of these lavas and constrain its emplacement dynamics. We conducted a set of cooling deformation experiments at different cooling rates (from 0.1 to 10 °C/min), and isothermal deformation experiments at subliquidus dwell temperatures between 1225 and 1175°C. All experiments were conducted at a shear rate of 10 s−1. Results show that disequilibrium crystallization and its timescale fundamentally control the rheological evolution of the melt, resulting in different rheological response to deformation of the crystal‐bearing magmatic suspension. Integrating rheological data with field observations allows us to shed light on the mechanisms that govern the high flowability of these lavas.

The Explosive Activity of the 2021 Tajogaite Eruption (La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain)

“…These authors also found a positive correlation between pulse interval and magma viscosity. Magma viscosity estimates for the Tajogaite eruption during our field campaigns range 10 2.5 –10 4 Pas (Di Fiore et al., 2023; Romero et al., 2022), in the middle to high range of viscosity for the corresponding pulse interval in Figure 2 of Dominguez et al. (2016), suggesting that the variability in pulse interval that we observe may be linked to changes in magma viscosity.…”

“…These authors also found a positive correlation between pulse interval and magma viscosity. Magma viscosity estimates for the Tajogaite eruption during our field campaigns range 10 2.5 -10 4 Pas (Di Fiore et al, 2023;Romero et al, 2022), in the middle to high range of viscosity for the corresponding pulse interval in Figure 2 of Dominguez et al (2016), suggesting that the variability in pulse interval that we observe may be linked to changes in magma viscosity. A relationship between ejection velocity and pulse interval has been reported for Strombolian activity, with ash-rich explosions having the lowest velocity and pulse frequency (Gaudin et al, 2017), similar to our study (Figure 9).…”

Timescale of Emplacement and Rheomorphism of the Green Tuff Ignimbrite (Pantelleria, Italy)

“…The heat capacity ( c P ; J/(g °C)) of each sample was measured at the Experimental Volcanology and Petrology Laboratory of the Science Department of Roma Tre University (EVPLab). We followed the procedure of baseline, standard sapphire (21.21 mg; Archer, 1993), and sample measurements via DSC (e.g., Di Fiore et al., 2023; Hui et al., 2018; Nichols et al., 2009; Potuzak et al., 2008; Scarani, Vona, et al., 2022, Scarani, Zandonà, et al., 2022). The instrument (Netzsch DSC 404 C Pegasus) was calibrated using melting temperature and enthalpy of fusion (up to 1064°C) of reference materials (pure metals of In, Sn, Bi, Zn, Al, Ag, and Au), and measurements were performed under a constant N 2 flux (5.0 atm at flow rate 30 ml/min).…”

“…The heat capacity (c P ; J/(g °C)) of each sample was measured at the Experimental Volcanology and Petrology Laboratory of the Science Department of Roma Tre University (EVPLab). We followed the procedure of baseline, standard sapphire (21.21 mg; Archer, 1993), and sample measurements via DSC (e.g., Di Fiore et al, 2023;Hui et al, 2018;Nichols et al, 2009;Potuzak et al, 2008;Scarani, Vona, et al, 2022, Scarani, Zandonà, et al, 2022.…”

Magma Differentiation in Dynamic Mush Domains From the Perspective of Multivariate Statistics: Open‐ Versus Closed‐System Evolution

“…This volcanic regime characterizes several of the most hazardous volcanic areas worldwide, such as Fuego, Guatemala (Liu et al., 2020), Batu Tara, Indonesia (Spina et al., 2021), Mt. Etna, Italy (Di Renzo et al., 2019; Mollo et al., 2022), Cumbre Vieja, Spain (Di Fiore, Vona, Mollo, et al., 2023; Di Fiore, Vona, Scarani, et al., 2023; Taddeucci et al., 2023; Ubide et al., 2023). Quantitative modeling of magma differentiation in open‐systems highlights that the liquid lines of descent substantially depart from standard fractional crystallization scenarios (Albarede, 1985; Lee et al., 2014; O’Hara, 1977; O’Hara & Mathews, 1981; O’Hara & Herzberg, 2002; O’Neill & Jenner, 2012).…”