Crystallisation in basaltic magmas revealed via in situ 4D synchrotron X-ray microtomography

Scientific Reports
Margherita PolacciM Burton

Abstract

Magma crystallisation is a fundamental process driving eruptions and controlling the style of volcanic activity. Crystal nucleation delay, heterogeneous and homogeneous nucleation and crystal growth are all time-dependent processes, however, there is a paucity of real-time experimental data on crystal nucleation and growth kinetics, particularly at the beginning of crystallisation when conditions are far from equilibrium. Here, we reveal the first in situ 3D time-dependent observations of crystal nucleation and growth kinetics in a natural magma, reproducing the crystallisation occurring in real-time during a lava flow, by combining a bespoke high-temperature environmental cell with fast synchrotron X-ray microtomography. We find that both crystal nucleation and growth occur in pulses, with the first crystallisation wave producing a relatively low volume fraction of crystals and hence negligible influence on magma viscosity. This result explains why some lava flows cover kilometres in a few hours from eruption inception, highlighting the hazard posed by fast-moving lava flows. We use our observations to quantify disequilibrium crystallisation in basaltic magmas using an empirical model. Our results demonstrate the potential of ...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1993·Ultramicroscopy·A J Gubbens, O L Krivanek
Aug 10, 2004·Nature Materials·László GránásyJack F Douglas
Aug 11, 2005·Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics·László GránásyJack F Douglas
Feb 17, 2010·Journal of Synchrotron Radiation·Margherita PolacciDon R Baker
Oct 17, 2014·Optics Express·Nghia T VoChristina Reinhard
Sep 12, 2015·Nature Communications·S KaragaddeR C Atwood
Dec 25, 2015·Optics Express·Nghia T VoMichael Drakopoulos

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Citations

Sep 25, 2020·Science Advances·Danilo Di GenovaNobuyoshi Miyajima
Nov 25, 2018·Optics Express·Nghia T VoMichael Drakopoulos
Apr 2, 2020·Journal of Imaging·Sophia Bethany CobanKees Joost Batenburg

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
rheology
X-ray
lava
lava flows
chips

Software Mentioned

Pore3D
ImageJ
MELTS
Diamond
Avizo 3D
BoneJ
VGStudio

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