A model for mixing basaltic and dacitic magmas as deduced from experimental data

Abstract

It has been demonstrated experimentally that basaltic and dacitic magmas can be easily mixed to form both banded dacite and homogeneous andesite in less than a few hours. The presence of phenocrysts larger than 0.5 mm increased considerably the efficiency of mixing. Flow patterns in the experimental system were visualized using Pt spheres, which indicated that convection occurs in basalt melt, but not in dacite melt. The Reynolds numbers of the basaltic and dacitic melts in the experimental system were calculated to be about 10⁻³ and 10⁻⁶, respectively. Mixing proceeds initially by mechanical mixing of the two magmas in a large scale, but later by coupling interfacial convection and mutual diffusion. Thus, depending on the depth where vesiculation and following disruption of the magma occurs, banded pumice, homogeneous pumice and homogeneous andesite lava are erupted. The observed textures of mixed rocks of Plinian type eruption and the limiting occurrence of banded pumice are satisfactorily accounted for on this model.