Abstract
Here we explore and review some of the latest ideas and applications of Raman spectroscopy to the volcanological sciences. Firstly, we provide a brief overview of how Raman spectral analysis works and how spectra from silicate glasses are interpreted. We then look at specific applications of Raman spectral analysis to the volcanological sciences based on measurements on and studies of natural materials in the laboratory. We conclude by examining the potential for Raman spectral analysis to be used as a field based aid to volcano monitoring via in situ studies of proximal deposits and; perhaps; in remote sensing campaigns
Highlights
One of the central goals of modern volcanology is to understand the physics and chemistry of processes that operate during transport, storage and eruption of magmas
Volcanic glasses are informative in that they represent the quenched melt fractions of magmas at the time of eruption. These natural glasses can be investigated in the laboratory to track the transient evolution of volcanic systems
Two main strategies are commonly employed to retrieve the H2O contents of glasses: (1) the internal normalization of the H2OT band whereby the integrated intensity of the 2800–3800 cm−1 region is ratioed with the 490 cm−1 or the 850 and 1250 cm−1 (T-O stretching band, [26,27,45]) regions in spectra of silicate glasses [14,15] and (2) the external calibration procedure which directly consider the water bands and compare with well characterized glass standards [13,43]
Summary
One of the central goals of modern volcanology is to understand the physics and chemistry of processes that operate during transport, storage and eruption of magmas These endeavors include both forensic reconstructions of pre-historic volcanic eruptions and real-time analysis of active volcanic systems. Raman spectra collected from silicate glasses are sensitive recorders of melt structure and inform on mechanisms of polymerization These same spectra can be used to estimate the chemical composition of the melt and to constrain the melt physical properties, including viscosity, melt fragility, and the heat capacity near the glass transition (Tg) as well as to monitor the “time - Temperature (t - T)” windows for processes such as the onset of crystallization or volatile-exsolution. These attributes suggest many diverse applications in the earth, planetary and material sciences [5,6]
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