Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions

Polymer co-extrusion experiments are described simulating the dynamics of two different magmas (e.g., silicic and mafic having different viscosities) flowing simultaneously in a vertical volcanic pipe or conduit which results in the effusion of composite lava domes on the surface. These experiments,...

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Main Authors: Charles R. Carrigan, John C. Eichelberger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Geosciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/185
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author Charles R. Carrigan
John C. Eichelberger
author_facet Charles R. Carrigan
John C. Eichelberger
author_sort Charles R. Carrigan
collection DOAJ
description Polymer co-extrusion experiments are described simulating the dynamics of two different magmas (e.g., silicic and mafic having different viscosities) flowing simultaneously in a vertical volcanic pipe or conduit which results in the effusion of composite lava domes on the surface. These experiments, involving geologically realistic conduit length-to-diameter aspect ratios of 130:1 or 380:1, demonstrate that co-extrusion of magmas having different viscosities can explain not only the observed normal zoning observed in planar dikes and the pipelike conduits that evolve from dikes but also the compositional layering of effused lava domes. The new results support earlier predictions, based on observations of induced core-annular flow (CAF), that dike and conduit zoning along with dome layering are found to depend on the viscosity contrast of the non-Newtonian (shear-thinning) magmas. Any magma properties creating viscosity differences, such as crystal content, bubble content, water content and temperature may also give rise to the CAF regime. Additionally, codependent flow behavior involving the silicic and mafic magmas may play a significant role in modifying the nature of volcanic eruptions. For example, lubrication of the flow by an annulus of a more mafic, lower-viscosity component allows a more viscous but more volatile-charged magma to be injected rapidly to greater vertical distances along a dike into a lower pressure regime that initiates exsolving of a gas phase, further assisting ascent to the surface. The rapid ascent of magmas exsolving volatiles in a dike or conduit is associated with explosive silicic eruptions.
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spelling doaj-art-bb19ebb3170d4e15bf5dee74c87411482025-08-20T03:14:42ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632025-05-0115518510.3390/geosciences15050185Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic EruptionsCharles R. Carrigan0John C. Eichelberger1Stratify/MH Chew LLC and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USAAlaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys, Fairbanks, AK 99709, USAPolymer co-extrusion experiments are described simulating the dynamics of two different magmas (e.g., silicic and mafic having different viscosities) flowing simultaneously in a vertical volcanic pipe or conduit which results in the effusion of composite lava domes on the surface. These experiments, involving geologically realistic conduit length-to-diameter aspect ratios of 130:1 or 380:1, demonstrate that co-extrusion of magmas having different viscosities can explain not only the observed normal zoning observed in planar dikes and the pipelike conduits that evolve from dikes but also the compositional layering of effused lava domes. The new results support earlier predictions, based on observations of induced core-annular flow (CAF), that dike and conduit zoning along with dome layering are found to depend on the viscosity contrast of the non-Newtonian (shear-thinning) magmas. Any magma properties creating viscosity differences, such as crystal content, bubble content, water content and temperature may also give rise to the CAF regime. Additionally, codependent flow behavior involving the silicic and mafic magmas may play a significant role in modifying the nature of volcanic eruptions. For example, lubrication of the flow by an annulus of a more mafic, lower-viscosity component allows a more viscous but more volatile-charged magma to be injected rapidly to greater vertical distances along a dike into a lower pressure regime that initiates exsolving of a gas phase, further assisting ascent to the surface. The rapid ascent of magmas exsolving volatiles in a dike or conduit is associated with explosive silicic eruptions.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/185core-annular flowCAFlubricated flowbimodal eruptionmagma transportco-extrusion
spellingShingle Charles R. Carrigan
John C. Eichelberger
Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
Geosciences
core-annular flow
CAF
lubricated flow
bimodal eruption
magma transport
co-extrusion
title Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
title_full Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
title_fullStr Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
title_full_unstemmed Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
title_short Co-Extrusive Magma Transport and Volcanic Dome Formation: Implications for Triggering Explosive Volcanic Eruptions
title_sort co extrusive magma transport and volcanic dome formation implications for triggering explosive volcanic eruptions
topic core-annular flow
CAF
lubricated flow
bimodal eruption
magma transport
co-extrusion
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/15/5/185
work_keys_str_mv AT charlesrcarrigan coextrusivemagmatransportandvolcanicdomeformationimplicationsfortriggeringexplosivevolcaniceruptions
AT johnceichelberger coextrusivemagmatransportandvolcanicdomeformationimplicationsfortriggeringexplosivevolcaniceruptions