Volcanic gases reflect magma stalling and launching depths

Abstract

Many open-vent arc volcanoes display two modes in their continuous gas emissions, one with a characteristic CO₂/ S_T ratio typical of periods of quiescent degassing and another punctuated by high CO₂/ S_T gas emitted in the weeks before eruption, a recently recognized eruption precursor. In this study we explore the origin of the two modes of degassing revealed by time-series gas data at Turrialba volcano (Costa Rica) in the context of new melt inclusion (MI) data. To reconstruct the c[CO₂] of undegassed magma, we developed a rapid-quench piston-cylinder assembly to rehomogenize the vapor bubble commonly contained in MIs. We focus on olivine-hosted MIs from a mafic scoria sample erupted from Turrialba in 1864–1866. The reconstructed CO₂ contents in MIs decrease from ∼4000 to <1000 ppmw as S contents decrease from 3500 to <1000 ppmw. The highest reconstructed S and CO₂ in the MIs resulted in an initial magmatic CO₂/ S_T ratio (molar) of 0.83. Informed by the MI data, we modeled the decompression degassing of Turrialba magma and vapor composition using the Sulfur_X and EVo models. Instead of being controlled by initial magmatic CO₂/S_T ratio as suggested by previous studies, we find that the quiescent gas emitted from Turrialba during 2014–2018 (CO₂/ S_T = 2.3 ± 0.8, molar) appears to reflectequilibrium with magmas stored at 4–8 km (Sulfur_X) or 2 km (EVo) depth, when H₂O is degassing extensively from the magma. A magma storage region at 4–8 km is also supported by seismic tomography. The second gas mode is noted by spikes in CO₂/ S_T ∼ 7.9 ± 2 in the weeks prior to eruption. This gas reflects equilibrium with a magma at 12–18 km (Sulfur_X) or 4–8 km (EVo), where the ascending magma is saturated with a CO₂-rich vapor. Thus, there are two important trans crustal depths beneath the volcano: one where the rate of H₂O loss from the magma and thus magma viscosity increases, and one at greater depths where high CO₂/S_T vapor forms and may facilitate dike propagation. We interpret the shallower, H₂O-loss region as the main site of magma stalling and storage, where quiescent gas is generated continuously. We interpret the greater depth (12–18 km) as the source of the precursory gas that precedes eruption, and where the mafic melt lastly equilibrated with a mush zone before ascending and triggering eruption weeks later. This hypothesis is ripe for testing at other volcanoes that exhibit two modes in gas geochemistry.