Search

We report helium isotope data for 0.03-1 Ma olivine-bearing basaltic hawaiites from three volcanoes of the southern Italy magmatic province (Ustica, Pantelleria, and Linosa Islands). Homogenous 3He/4He ratios (range: 7.3-7.6 Ra) for the three islands, and their similarity with the ratio of modern volcanic gases on Pantelleria, indicate a common magmatic end-member. In particular, Ustica (7.6 ± 0.2Ra) clearly differs from the nearby Aeolian Islands Arc volcanism, despite its location on the Tyrrhenian side of the plate boundary. Although limited in size, our data set complements the large existing database for helium isotope in southern Italy and adds further constraints upon the spatial extent of intraplate alkaline volcanism in southern Mediterranea. As already discussed by others, the He-Pb isotopic signature of this magmatic province indicates a derivation from a mantle diapir of a OIB-type that is partially diluted by the depleted upper mantle (MORB mantle) at its periphery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe analytical details and uncertainty evaluation of a simple technique for the measurement of the carbon isotopic composition of CO in volcanic plumes. Data collected at Solfatara and Vulcano, where plumes are fed by fumaroles which are accessible for direct sampling, were first used to validate the technique. For both volcanoes, the plume-derived carbon isotopic compositions are in good agreement with the fumarolic compositions, thus providing confidence on the method, and allowing its application at volcanoes where the volcanic component is inaccessible to direct sampling. As a notable example, we applied the same method to Mount Etna where we derived a δC of volcanic CO between −0.9 ± 0.27‰ and −1.41 ± 0.27‰ (Bocca Nuova and Voragine craters). The comparison of our measurements to data reported in previous work highlights a temporal trend of systematic increase of δC values of Etna CO from ~ −4‰, in the 1970's and the 1980's, to ~ −1‰ at the present time (2009). This shift toward more positive δC values matches a concurrent change in magma composition and an increase in the eruption frequency and energy. We discuss such variations in terms of two possible processes: magma carbonate assimilation and carbon isotopic fractionation due to magma degassing along the Etna plumbing system. Finally, our results highlight potential of systematic measurements of the carbon isotopic composition of the CO emitted by volcanic plumes for a better understanding of volcanic processes and for improved surveillance of volcanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since its last magmatic eruption in 1530 AD, La Soufrière andesitic volcano in Guadeloupe has displayed intense hydrothermal activity and six phreatic eruptive crises. Here we report on the first direct quantification of gas plume emissions from its summit vents, which gradually intensified during the past 20 years. Gas fluxes were determined in March 2006 and March 2012 by measuring the horizontal and vertical distributions of volcanic gas concentrations in the air-diluted plume and scaling to the speed of plume transport. Fluxes in 2006 combine real-time measurements of volcanic H 2 S concentrations and plume parameters with the composition of the hot (108.5 °C) fumarolic fluid at exit. Fluxes in 2012 result from MultiGAS analysis of H 2 S, H 2 O, CO 2 , SO 2 and H 2 concentrations, combined with thermal imaging of the plume geometry and dynamics. Measurements were not only focused on the most active South crater (SC) vent, but also targeted Tarissan crater and other reactivating vents. We first demonstrate that all vents are fed by a common H 2 O-rich (97–98 mol%) fluid end-member, emitted almost unmodified at SC but affected by secondary shallow alterations at other vents. Daily fluxes in 2012 averaged 200 tons of H 2 O, 15 tons of CO 2 , ~ 4 tons of H 2 S and 1 ton of HCl, increased by a factor ~ 3 compared to 2006. Even though modest, such fluxes make La Soufrière the second most important volcanic gas emitter in the Lesser Antilles arc, after Soufriere Hills of Montserrat. Taking account of other hydrothermal manifestations (hot springs and diffuse soil degassing), the summit fumarolic activity is shown to contribute most of the bulk volatile and heat budget of the volcano. The hydrothermal heat output (8 MW) exceeds by orders of magnitude the contemporaneous seismic energy release. Isotopic evidences support that La Soufrière hydrothermal emissions are sustained by a variable but continuous heat and gas supply from a magma reservoir confined at 6–7 km depth. By using petro-geochemical data for La Soufrière magma(s) and their dissolved volatile content, and assuming a magmatic derivation of sulfur, we estimate that the volcanic gas fluxes measured in 2012 could result from the underground release of magmatic gas exsolved from ~ 1400 m 3 d − 1 of basaltic melt feeding the system at depth. We recommend that fumarolic gas flux at La Soufrière becomes regularly measured in the future in order to carefully monitor the temporal evolution of that magmatic supply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]