Heterogeneities in the Cohesion of the Deposits of the 2021 Tajogaite Eruption of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain)

Abstract

The present study analyzes the electrical and thermodynamic properties of the volcanic ash deposits from the recent eruption that started on 19 September 2021 in the Cumbre Vieja area on the island of La Palma. This work compares the analysis of the zeta potential and the surface free energy components of representative samples of unaltered tephra deposits with samples affected by the fumarolic activity near the emission zone, where sulfurous vapors were present. The results show that fumarolic activity modifies both the zeta potential and the surface free energy components of volcanic ash, decreasing its surface electrical charge and conferring less hydrophilicity on the deposit. Based on this, the interaction energies between ash particles in an aqueous medium have been calculated, in order to analyze the cohesion of the deposit and, where appropriate, its rheological properties, ending with the analysis of the effect produced by different chemical species on the surface charge and free energy of the ashes, and their influence on the cohesion of the deposit. The results confirm an attractive interaction energy between the ash particles and therefore greater stability to the deposit affected by fumarolic activity.