Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Active hydrothermal fluids circulation triggering small-scale collapse events: the case of the 2001–2002 fissure in the Lakki Plain (Nisyros Island, Aegean Sea, Greece)

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Natural Hazards Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In 2001–2002, two ground collapses occurred in the island of Nisyros (Aegean Sea, Greece), which formed a 600 m long and up to 5 m wide fissure in the vegetated central part of the Lakki Plain caldera. The fissure was alternatively ascribed to tensional stress release and hydrothermal alteration. In this study, we present original data of diffuse CO2 soil fluxes, soil temperatures, mineralogical and chemical composition of the caldera-filling deposits exposed on the fissure walls, and chemical and isotopic composition of interstitial soil gases collected from: the bottom of the fissure, the adjacent vegetated areas, the hydrothermal craters, and selected sites outside the caldera. The occurrence of intense hydrothermal alteration was shown by both mineralogical and chemical analyses of the fissure walls material. Typical mineral assemblage and enrichments in incompatible elements related to advanced argillic alteration, characterizing steam-heated hydrothermal environments, were recognized. Although the low-permeable sediment cover in the Lakki Plain concealed the underneath hydrothermal gas flow, preventing anomalous soil temperatures and CO2 fluxes, the chemical and isotopic composition of the interstitial soil gases revealed an active hydrothermal fluids circulation below the collapsed area, likely controlled by buried structural lineaments. Hydrothermal alteration can then be invoked as the most likely trigger mechanism for the 2001–2002 collapse event.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aiuppa A, Caleca A, Federico C, Gurrieri S, Valenza M (2004) Diffuse degassing of carbon dioxide at Somma–Vesuvius volcanic complex (Southern Italy) and its relation with regional tectonics. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 133:55–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambrosio M, Doveri M, Fagioli MT, Marini L, Principe C, Raco B (2010) Water-rock interaction in the magmatic-hydrothermal system of Nisyros Island (Greece). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 192:57–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arthur CL, Pawliszyn J (1990) Solid phase microextraction with thermal desorption using fused silica optical fibers. Anal Chem 62(19):2145–2148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baubron JC, Rigo A, Toutain JP (2002) Soil gas profiles as a tool to characterise active tectonic areas: the Jaut Pass example (Pyrenees, France). Earth Planet Sci Lett 196:69–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Billi A, De Filippis L, Poncia PP, Sella P, Faccenna C (2016) Hidden sinkholes and karst cavities in the travertine plateau of a highly-populated geothermal seismic territory (Tivoli, central Italy). Geomorphology 255:63–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosák P (2000) Notes on the history of some karstological terms—hydrothermal karst, geysermite, vadose zone. Acta Carsol 29:233–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Brombach T, Hunziker JC, Chiodini G, Cardellini C, Marini L (2001) Soil diffuse degassing and thermal energy fluxes from the southern Lakki plain, Nisyros (Greece). Geophys Res Lett 28(1):69–72

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brombach T, Caliro S, Chiodini G, Fiebig J, Hunziker JC, Raco B (2003) Geochemical evidence for mixing of magmatic fluids with seawater, Nisyros hydrothermal system, Greece. Bull Volcanol 65:505–516

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caliro S, Chiodini G, Galluzzo D, Granieri D, La Rocca M, Saccorotti G, Ventura G (2005) Recent activity of Nisyros volcano (Greece) inferred from structural, geochemical and seismological data. Bull Volcanol 67:358–369

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caramanna G, Ciotoli G, Nisio S (2008) A review of natural sinkhole phenomena in Italian plain areas. Nat Hazards 45:145–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardellini C, Chiodini G, Frondini F, Granieri D, Lewicki J, Peruzzi L (2003) Accumulation chamber measurements of methane fluxes: application to volcanic-geothermal areas and landfills. Appl Geochem 18:45–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiodini G, Cioni R, Leonis C, Marini L, Raco B (1993) Fluid geochemistry of Nisyros island, Dodecanese, Greece. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 56(1–2):95–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiodini G, Cioni R, Guidi M, Raco B, Marini L (1998) Soil CO2 flux measurements in volcanic and geothermal areas. Appl Geochem 13(5):543–552

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiodini G, Frondini F, Cardellini C, Granieri D, Marini L, Ventura G (2001) CO2 degassing and energy release at Solfatara volcano, Campi Flegrei, Italy. J Geophys Res 106(B8):16213–16221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiodini G, Brombach T, Caliro S, Cardellini C, Marini L, Dietrich V (2002) Geochemical indicators of possible ongoing volcanic unrest at Nisyros Island (Greece). Geophys Res Lett 29(16):1759

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiodini G, Avino R, Brombach T, Caliro S, Cardellini C, De Vita S, Frondini F, Granieri D, Marotta E, Ventura G (2004) Fumarolic and diffuse soil degassing west of Mount Epomeo, Ischia, Italy. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 133:291–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciotoli G, Guerra M, Lombardi S, Vittori E (1998) Soil gas survey for tracing seismogenic faults: a case study in the Fucino basin, Central Italy. J Geophys Res 103(B10):23781–23794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daskalopoulou K, Calabrese S, Milazzo S, Brusca L, Bellomo S, D’Alessandro W, Kyriakopoulos K, Tassi F, Parello F (2014) Trace elements mobility in soils from the hydrothermal area of Nisyros (Greece). Ann Geophys 57(Fast Track 2):1–6

    Google Scholar 

  • Dublyansky YV (2000) Hydrothermal speleogenesis—its settings and peculiar features. In: Klimchouk AB, Ford DC, Palmer AN, Dreybrodt W (eds) Speleogenesis: evolution of karst aquifers. National Speleological Society, Huntsville, pp 292–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Dublyansky YV (2013) Karstification by geothermal waters. In: Shroder JF (ed) Treatise on geomorphology, vol 6. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 57–71

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Evans WC, White LD, Rapp JB (1998) Geochemistry of some gases in hydrothermal fluids from the southern Juan de Fuca ridge. J Geophys Res 15:305–313

    Google Scholar 

  • Facca G, Tonani F (1967) The self-sealing geothermal field. Bull Volcanol 30(1):271–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiebig J, Woodland AB, Spangenberg J, Oschmann W (2007) Natural evidence for rapid abiogenic hydrothermal generation of CH4. Geochim Cosmochim Ac 71:3028–3039

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiebig J, Woodland AB, D’Alessandro W, Püttmann W (2009) Excess methane in continental hydrothermal emissions is abiogenic. Geology 37(6):495–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiebig J, Hofmann S, Tassi F, D’Alessandro W, Vaselli O, Woodland AB (2015) Isotopic patterns of hydrothermal hydrocarbons emitted from Mediterranean volcanoes. Chem Geol 396:152–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francalanci L, Varekamp JC, Vougioukalakis G, Defant MJ, Innocenti F, Manetti P (1995) Crystal retention, fractionation and crystal assimilation in a convecting magma chamber, Nisyros Volcano, Greece. Bull Volcanol 56:601–620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francalanci L, Vougioukalakis GE, Perini G, Manetti P (2005) A west-east traverse along the magmatism of the south Aegean volcanic arc in the light of volcanological, chemical and isotope data. In: Fytikas M, Vougioukalakis GE (eds) The South Aegean active volcanic arc, present knowledge and future perspectives. Developments in volcanology, vol 7. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 65–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Frumkin A, Zaidner Y, Na’aman I, Tsatskin A, Porat N, Vulfson L (2015) Sagging and collapse sinkholes over hypogenic hydrothermal karst in a carbonate terrain. Geomorphology 229:45–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fu CC, Yang TF, Walia V, Chen CH (2005) Reconnaissance of soil gas composition over the buried fault and fracture in southern Taiwan. Geochem J 39:427–439

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gagliano AL, Calabrese S, Daskalopoulou K, Cabassi J, Capecchiacci F, Tassi F, Bonsignore M, Sprovieri M, Kyriakopoulos K, Bellomo S, Brusca L, D’Alessandro W (2017) Mobility of mercury in the volcanic/geothermal area of Nisyros (Greece). Bull Geol Soc Greece 50:2118–2126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geotermica Italiana (1983) Nisyros 1 geothermal well. Unpublished PPC-EEC report, p 106

  • Geotermica Italiana (1984) Nisyros 2 geothermal well. Unpublished PPC-EEC report, p 44

  • Giammanco S, Gurrieri S, Valenza M (1998) Anomalous soil CO2 degassing in relation to faults and eruptive fissures on Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy). Bull Volcanol 60:252–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez F, Parise M, De Waele J, Jourde H (2014) A review on natural and human-induced geohazards and impacts in karst. Earth Sci Rev 138:61–88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han X, Li Y, Du J, Zhou X, Xie C, Zhang W (2014) Rn and CO2 geochemistry of soil gas across the active fault zones in the capital area of China. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 2:1729–1757

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidari M, Khanlari GR, Taleb Beydokhti AR, Momeni AA (2011) The formation of cover collapse sinkholes in North of Hamedan, Iran. Geomorphology 132:76–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland HD, Malinin SD (1979) The solubility and occurrence of non-ore minerals. In: Barnes HL (ed) Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits, 2nd edn. Wiley, New York, pp 461–508

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurni L, Jenny B, Gogu R, Freimark H, Terribilini A, Dietrich V (2005) Geowarn: a web-based atlas information system for volcanic monitoring. In: Proceedings of the 21st international cartographic conference ICC 2005, A Coruña, Spain

  • Kavouridis T, Kuris D, Leonis C, Liberopoulou V, Leontiadis J, Panichi C, La Ruffa G, Caprai A (1999) Isotope and chemical studies for a geothermal assessment of the island of Nisyros (Greece). Geothermics 28(2):219–239

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinvig HS, Winson A, Gottsmann J (2010) Analysis of volcanic threat from Nisyros Island, Greece, with implications for aviation and population exposure. Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 10:1101–1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lagios E, Sakkas V, Is Parcharidis, Dietrich V (2005) Ground deformation of Nisyros Volcano (Greece) for the period 1995–2002: results from DInSAR and DGPS observations. Bull Volcanol 68:201–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linares R, Roqué C, Gutiérrez F, Zarroca M, Carbonel D, Bach J, Fabregat I (2017) The impact of droughts and climate change on sinkhole occurrence. A case study from the evaporite karst of the Fluvia Valley, NE Spain. Sci Total Environ 579:345–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López DL, Williams SN (1993) Catastrophic volcanic collapse: relation to hydrothermal processes. Science 260:1794–1796

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lueth VW, Rye RO, Peters L (2005) “Sour gas” hydrothermal jarosite: ancient to modern acid-sulfate mineralization in the southern Rio Grande Rift. Chem Geol 215:33–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marini L, Fiebig J (2005) Fluid geochemistry of the magmatic-hydrothermal system of Nisyros (Greece). In: Hunziker JC, Marini L (eds) The geology, geochemistry and evolution of Nisyros Volcano (Greece), implications for the volcanic hazards. Memoires de Geologie, Lausanne, pp 121–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Marini L, Principe C, Chiodini G, Cioni R, Fytikas M, Marinelli G (1993) Hydrothermal eruptions of Nisyros (Dodecanese, Greece). Past events and present hazard. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 56:71–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montegrossi G, Tassi F, Vaselli O, Buccianti A, Garofalo K (2001) Sulphur species in volcanic gases. Anal Chem 73:3709–3715

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palme H, O’Neill HStC (2004) Cosmochemical estimates of mantle composition. In: Holland HD, Turrekian KK (eds) Treatise on geochemistry, vol 2. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 1–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Papadopoulos GA, Sachpazi M, Panopoulou G, Stavrakakis G (1998) The volcanoseismic crisis of 1996–97 in Nisyros, SE Aegean Sea, Greece. Terra Nova 10(3):151–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pe-Piper G, Piper DJW (2005) The South Aegean active volcanic arc: relationships between magmatism and tectonics. In: Fytikas M, Vougioukalakis GE (eds) The South Aegean active volcanic arc, present knowledge and future perspectives. Developments in volcanology, vol 7. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 113–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Principe C, Marini L (2005) Reaction path modeling of argillic alteration (AA) and advanced argillic alteration (AAA): consequences for debris avalanches induced by flank collapse and hydrothermal eruptions. In: Hunziker JC, Marini L (eds) The geology, geochemistry and evolution of Nisyros Volcano (Greece), implications for the volcanic hazards, vol 44. Memoires de Geologie, Lausanne, pp 164–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosas-Carbajal M, Komorowski JC, Nicollin F, Gilbert D (2016) Volcano electrical tomography unveils edifice collapse hazard linked to hydrothermal system structure and dynamics. Sci Rep 6:29899

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santo A, Ascione A, Del Prete S, Di Crescenzo G, Santangelo N (2011) Collapse sinkholes distribution in the carbonate massifs of central and southern Apennines. Acta Carsol 40:95–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Tassi F, Capecchiacci F, Buccianti A, Vaselli O (2012) Sampling and analytical procedures for the determination of VOCs released into air from natural and anthropogenic sources: a comparison between SPME (solid phase micro extraction) and ST (solid trap) methods. Appl Geochem 27:115–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tassi F, Capecchiacci F, Giannini L, Vougioukalakis GE, Vaselli O (2013) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air from Nisyros Island (Dodecanese Archipelago, Greece): natural versus anthropogenic sources. Environ Pollut 180:111–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tassi F, Venturi S, Cabassi J, Capecchiacci F, Nisi B, Vaselli O (2015) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil gases from Solfatara crater (Campi Flegrei, southern Italy): geogenic source(s) vs. biogeochemical processes. Appl Geochem 56:37–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tibaldi A, Pasquarè FA, Papanikolaou D, Nomikou P (2008) Tectonics of Nisyros Island, Greece, by field and offshore data, and analogue modelling. J Struct Geol 30:1489–1506

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toutain JP, Baubron JC (1999) Gas geochemistry and seismotectonics: a review. Tectonophysics 304:1–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanderkluysen L, Gex P (2005) A geochemical investigation of Nisyros’ hydrothermal field using the self-potential and very low frequencies-tilt methods. In: Hunziker JC, Marini L (eds) The geology, geochemistry and evolution of Nisyros Volcano (Greece), Implications for the volcanic hazards, vol 44. Memoires de Geologie, Lausanne, pp 107–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderkluysen L, Volentik A, Hernandez J, Hunziker JC, Bussy F, Principe C (2005) The petrology and geochemistry of lavas and tephras of Nisyros Volcano (Greece). In: Hunziker JC, Marini L (eds) The geology, geochemistry and evolution of Nisyros Volcano (Greece), implications for the volcanic hazards, vol 44. Memoires de Geologie, Lausanne, pp 79–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaselli O, Tassi F, Montegrossi G, Capaccioni B, Giannini L (2006) Sampling and analysis of volcanic gases. Acta Vulcanol 18(1–2):65–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Venturi S, Tassi F, Kanellopoulos C, Vaselli O, Caponi C, Ricci A, Raspanti A, Gallorini A, Cabassi J, Vougioukalakis GE (2016) Soil gas composition from the 2001–2002 fissure in the Lakki Plain (Nisyros Island, Greece): evidences for shallow hydrothermal fluid circulation. EGU General Assembly 2016, Vienna, Austria; 17–22 April 2016

  • Viveiros F, Cardellini C, Ferreira T, Caliro S, Chiodini G, Silva C (2010) Soil CO2 emissions at Furnas volcano, São Miguel Island, Azores archipelago: volcano monitoring perspectives, geomorphologic studies, and land use planning application. J Geophys Res 115:B12208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volentik A, Principe C, Vanderkluysen L, Hunziker JC (2005a) Explanatory notes on the “Geological Map of Nisyros Volcano (Greece)”. In: Hunziker JC, Marini L (eds) The geology, geochemistry and evolution of Nisyros Volcano (Greece), implications for the volcanic hazards, vol 44. Memoires de Geologie, Lausanne, pp 7–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Volentik ACM, Vanderkluysen L, Principe C, Hunziker JC (2005b) The role of tectonic and volcano-tectonic activity at Nisyros Volcano (Greece). In: Hunziker JC, Marini L (eds) The geology, geochemistry and evolution of Nisyros Volcano (Greece), implications for the volcanic hazards, vol 44. Memoires de Geologie, Lausanne, pp 67–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Vougioukalakis GE (2003) Passive fissuring in long-dormant caldera volcanoes: the Nisyros case. Meeting on “The South Aegean Volcanic Arc: Present knowledge and future perspectives”, Milos island, Greece. Book of abstracts 105

  • Vougioukalakis GE, Fytikas M (2005) Volcanic hazards in the Aegean area, relative risk evaluation, monitoring and present state of the active volcanic centers. In: Fytikas M, Vougioukalakis GE (eds) The South Aegean active volcanic arc, present knowledge and future perspectives. Developments in volcanology, vol 7. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 161–183

    Google Scholar 

  • Waltham T, Fookes PG (2003) Engineering classification of karst ground conditions. Q J Eng Geol Hydrogeol 36(2):101–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waltham T, Bell F, Culshaw M (2005) Sinkholes and subsidence. Karst and cavernous rocks in engineering and costruction. Springer, Berlin

    Google Scholar 

  • Zimbelman DR, Rye RO, Breit GN (2005) Origin of secondary sulfate minerals on active andesitic stratovolcanoes. Chem Geol 215:37–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by a project between IGME-Athens and the Department of Earth Sciences of Florence, the laboratories of Fluid and Rock Geochemistry and Stable Isotope Geochemistry (Department of Earth Sciences of Florence) and the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources of the National Research Council of Italy (IGG-CNR Florence). Part of this work was presented as an oral contribution at the EGU General Assembly 2016 (Venturi et al. 2016). E. Calvi (CNR-IGG Pisa), E. Pecchioni (Department of Earth Sciences of Florence) and S. Ciattini (CRIST Florence) are warmly thanked for their help for the IRMS, XRD and XRF analysis, respectively. Many thanks are due to A. Gallorini and A. Raspanti for their help during the sampling campaign. The authors wish to thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments that contributed to improve the first version of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources of the National Research Council of Italy (IGG-CNR), Via G. La Pira 4, 50121, Florence, Italy

    Stefania Venturi, Franco Tassi, Orlando Vaselli, Francesco Capecchiacci, Jacopo Cabassi & Luciano Giannini

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Florence, Via G. La Pira 4, 50121, Florence, Italy

    Stefania Venturi, Franco Tassi, Orlando Vaselli, Heba Rashed, Chiara Caponi, Francesco Capecchiacci, Jacopo Cabassi & Luciano Giannini

  3. Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration, S. Lui 1, Olympic Village, Aharne, 13677, Athens, Greece

    Georges E. Vougioukalakis

  4. Department of Geology and Geoenvironment, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimioupoli Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece

    Christos Kanellopoulos

  5. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Porta S. Donato 1, Bologna, Italy

    Andrea Ricci

Authors
  1. Stefania Venturi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Franco Tassi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Orlando Vaselli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Georges E. Vougioukalakis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Heba Rashed
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Christos Kanellopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Chiara Caponi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Francesco Capecchiacci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jacopo Cabassi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Andrea Ricci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Luciano Giannini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefania Venturi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Venturi, S., Tassi, F., Vaselli, O. et al. Active hydrothermal fluids circulation triggering small-scale collapse events: the case of the 2001–2002 fissure in the Lakki Plain (Nisyros Island, Aegean Sea, Greece). Nat Hazards 93, 601–626 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3318-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3318-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation