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Spatter stability: constraining accumulation rates and temperature conditions with experimental bomb morphology

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Abstract

We have developed the first experimental methodology to create a volcanic spatter pile using molten basalt. This method permits reproduction of thermal conditions that yield the wide variety of spatter morphologies observed in nature. The morphology of the clasts is most strongly controlled by the time the clast spends above the glass transition temperature, which is in turn affected by the rate of accumulation and cooling of the deposit. Also, spatter piles that remain hotter over longer durations experience increased fusion between clasts, less void space between clasts, and generally larger aspect ratios. Our experimental method successfully replicated natural microcrystal textures, rheology, and clast size. Work is still therefore required to achieve realistic vesicle distribution and deposit void space. Based on presented experimental work, we estimate emplacement conditions of Southern Idaho spatter vents to have been ~ 850–900 °C, with eruption temperatures closer to 1000–1100 °C. The rapid decrease from eruption temperature to effective emplacement temperature is the result of clast flight as well as equilibrating with the cooler surrounding material. The morphology of the natural clasts matches experiments that have accumulation rates of 2.5–4.5 m/h, which also is consistent with the few measurements made at active eruptions. Finally, we provide a constraint on the temperatures and accumulation rates that can lead to the construction of fused spatter features, as well as provide the steps for future experiments to investigate other aspects (such as compression, impact, and larger sizes) of spatter formation by adapting our methodology.

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Acknowledgements

This study required the dedicated contributions of numerous undergraduate and graduate students from Syracuse University, Colgate University, and Franklin and Marshall College. The writing was greatly improved through discussions with Dr. John Wolff and E. Rader’s writing group. Editing and suggestions by Ingo Sonder, Karoly Nemeth, two anonymous reviewers, and handling editor Laura Pioli, as well as Andrew Harris were extremely helpful and are deeply appreciated. A. Sehlke assisted with XRF analyses and a final thanks is owed to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, which secured access to the Leilani eruption site, allowing for the visual record of the height of spatter ramparts at fissure 11.

Funding

Funding for this study originates from several sources including the FINESSE project and the NASA Postdoctoral Program of the United Space Research Association, as well as several grants from Colgate University during the early stages of experimentation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA

    E. Rader

  2. Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA

    R. S. Wysocki

  3. NASA Ames, Mountain View, CA, USA

    J. Heldmann

  4. Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, USA

    K. Harpp & M. Bosselait

  5. Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    M. Myers

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  1. E. Rader
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Correspondence to E. Rader.

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Rader, E., Wysocki, R.S., Heldmann, J. et al. Spatter stability: constraining accumulation rates and temperature conditions with experimental bomb morphology. Bull Volcanol 82, 49 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-020-01386-4

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