Solid sulfur spherules near fumaroles of Hakone volcano, Japan

International Journal of Earth Sciences volume 108, pages347–356(2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Occurrence of sulfur spherules near subaerial fumaroles is relatively uncommon and their mineralogical characteristics and formation mechanisms are still incompletely understood. Yellow to greenish-gray solid sulfur spherules were observed near a fumarole that was formed in the fumarolic area (Owakudani) during the 2015 eruption of Hakone volcano, Japan. The yellow sulfur spherules (up to 1 mm in diameter) are composed entirely of α-sulfur, and the greenish-gray spherules (up to 2 mm in diameter) consist mainly of matrix-forming α-sulfur with lesser amounts of pyrite, amorphous silica, pyrophyllite, and rare marcasite. Based on the results of the field observations and the micro-analyses of the samples, these sulfur spherules were formed by rapid cooling of molten sulfur blobs ejected from a low-viscosity molten sulfur pool (124.7–128.7 °C) in the bottom of the fumarole during vigorous fumarolic activity. Color difference between yellow and greenish-gray sulfur spherules is explained by the presence of xenolithic altered mineral fragments in the greenish-gray sulfur spherules. Our observations indicate significant fluctuations of the level of the molten sulfur forming inside the fumarolic vent, and these fluctuations may imply the existence of other molten sulfur reservoirs beneath the fumarolic area. Presence of solid sulfur spherules in the fumarolic area may be an indicator of a molten sulfur pool within fumaroles or volcanic vents that are often difficult to directly observe.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Mr. Naoki Honma (Japan Meteorological Agency) for help in field observations. Dr. Felipe Aguilera and an anonymous reviewer are thanked for their constructive comments that helped improve the manuscript. We thank Dr. Wolf-Christian Dullo for editorial help. This research was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (no. 16K16372) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). This work was also partially supported by Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP), “Next-generation technology for ocean resources exploration (Zipangu in the Ocean)”.

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Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan

    Kei Ikehata & Minori Date

  2. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, 819-0395, Japan

    Jun-ichiro Ishibashi

  3. Hot Springs Research Institute of Kanagawa Prefecture, 586 Iriuda, Odawara, Kanagawa, 250-0031, Japan

    George Kikugawa & Kazutaka Mannen

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  1. Kei Ikehata
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  2. Minori Date
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  3. Jun-ichiro Ishibashi
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  4. George Kikugawa
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  5. Kazutaka Mannen
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Correspondence to Kei Ikehata.

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Ikehata, K., Date, M., Ishibashi, Ji. et al. Solid sulfur spherules near fumaroles of Hakone volcano, Japan. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 108, 347–356 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-018-1657-z

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Keywords

  • Sulfur spherule
  • Molten sulfur
  • Fumarole
  • Hakone volcano