Determining volcanic eruption styles on Earth and Mars from crystallinity measurements

Kellie T. Wall, Michael C. Rowe (), Ben S. Ellis, Mariek E. Schmidt and Jennifer D. Eccles
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Kellie T. Wall: School of the Environment, Washington State University, Webster Physical Science Building
Michael C. Rowe: School of Environment, University of Auckland, Commerce A Building
Ben S. Ellis: Institute of Geochemistry and Petrology, ETH Zurich
Mariek E. Schmidt: Brock University
Jennifer D. Eccles: School of Environment, University of Auckland, Commerce A Building

Nature Communications, 2014, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Both Earth and Mars possess different styles of explosive basaltic volcanism. Distinguishing phreatomagmatic eruptions, driven by magma–water interaction, from ‘magmatic’ explosive eruptions (that is, strombolian and plinian eruptions) is important for determining the presence of near-surface water or ice at the time of volcanism. Here we show that eruption styles can be broadly identified by relative variations in groundmass or bulk crystallinity determined by X-ray diffraction. Terrestrial analogue results indicate that rapidly quenched phreatomagmatic ejecta display lower groundmass crystallinity ( 40%). Numerical modelling suggests Martian plinian eruptive plumes moderate cooling, allowing 20–30% syn-eruptive crystallization, and thus reduce the distinction between eruption styles on Mars. Analysis of Mars Curiosity rover CheMin X-ray diffraction results from Gale crater indicate that the crystallinity of Martian sediment (52–54%) is similar to pyroclastic rocks from Gusev crater, Mars, and consistent with widespread distribution of basaltic strombolian or plinian volcanic ejecta.

Date: 2014
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6090

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