Trans-crustal structural control of CO2-rich extensional magmatic systems revealed at Mount Erebus Antarctica

Graham J Hill; Phil E Wannamaker; Virginie Maris; J. A. Stodt; Michael Kordy; Martyn J. Unsworth; Paul A. Bedrosian; Erin L. Wallin; Danny F. Uhlmann; Yasuo Ogawa; Philip R. Kyle

doi:10.1038/s41467-022-30627-7

Trans-crustal structural control of CO₂-rich extensional magmatic systems revealed at Mount Erebus Antarctica

Nature Communications

By: Graham J Hill, Phil E Wannamaker, Virginie Maris, J. A. Stodt, Michael Kordy, Martyn J. Unsworth, Paul A. Bedrosian, Erin L. Wallin, Danny F. Uhlmann, Yasuo Ogawa, and Philip R. Kyle

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30627-7

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Abstract

Erebus volcano, Antarctica, with its persistent phonolite lava lake, is a classic example of an evolved, CO₂-rich rift volcano. Seismic studies provide limited images of the magmatic system. Here we show using magnetotelluric data that a steep, melt-related conduit of low electrical resistivity originating in the upper mantle undergoes pronounced lateral re-orientation in the deep crust before reaching shallower magmatic storage and the summit lava lake. The lateral turn represents a structural fault-valve controlling episodic flow of magma and CO₂ vapour, which replenish and heat the high level phonolite differentiation zone. This magmatic valve lies within an inferred, east-west structural trend forming part of an accommodation zone across the southern termination of the Terror Rift, providing a dilatant magma pathway. Unlike H₂O-rich subduction arc volcanoes, CO₂-dominated Erebus geophysically shows continuous magmatic structure to shallow crustal depths of < 1 km, as the melt does not experience decompression-related volatile supersaturation and viscous stalling.

Suggested Citation

Hill, G.J., Wannamaker, P.E., Maris, V., Stodt, J.A., Kordy, M., Unsworth, M.J., Bedrosian, P.A., Wallin, E.L., Uhlmann, D.F., Ogawa, Y., and Kyle, P.R., 2022, Trans-crustal structural control of CO2-rich extensional magmatic systems revealed at Mount Erebus Antarctica: Nature Communications, v. 13, 2989, 10 p., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-30627-7.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Trans-crustal structural control of CO2-rich extensional magmatic systems revealed at Mount Erebus Antarctica
Series title	Nature Communications
DOI	10.1038/s41467-022-30627-7
Volume	13
Publication Date	May 30, 2022
Year Published	2022
Language	English
Publisher	Nature
Contributing office(s)	Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Description	2989, 10 p.
Other Geospatial	Antarctica, Mount Erebus