Eruptive Products from the Bezymianny Volcano Eruption of April 7, 2023

Abstract

We have obtained the first data on the chemical composition of the eruptive materials from the explosive eruption of Bezymianny volcano on April 7, 2023. Our unique collection includes freshly sampled pumice lapilli from the eruption and juvenile blocks from pyroclastic flows. We have identified interesting patterns in both macro components and specific chalcophile elements, such as copper. The rocks we studied belong to medium-K two-pyroxene basaltic andesite (55.5‒57 wt % SiO₂), with mafic enclaves characterized by a slightly more primitive composition (53.7 wt % SiO₂). According to mineral geothermometry data, the phenocrysts of basaltic andesite crystallized at temperatures in the range from 940 to 960°C, while the formation of phenocryst rims and microlites occurred at 980°C, which corresponds to conditions immediately before the eruption. The composition of volcanic glass allows us to estimate the pressure at which the magma reached the last equilibrium with crystallizing phases before eruption (0.5‒0.6 kbar). Based on these findings, we have formulated hypotheses about the potential evolution of the shallow magma chamber of Bezymianny volcano during the period from 2017 to 2023.