The Role of Tuffs in Sealing Volcanic Conduits

Abstract

AbstractAcid‐sulphate alteration commonly changes the physicochemical properties of volcanic conduits. Although several conduit pressurization models suggest hydrothermal sealing, little experimental evidence exists from conduit‐filling rocks on the development of such a seal. Here we show that acid‐sulphate alteration affects conduit‐filling lavas and tuffs differently, with implications for their role in sealing the conduit. In lavas, alteration creates fluid pathways and decreases rock stiffness by dissolving primary minerals. In contrast, in the inherently porous tuffs, alteration reduces fluid pathways and increases rock stiffness by precipitating secondary minerals. Compaction of tuffs under subsurface pressures together with such alteration‐related sealing can form low porosity and low permeability zones within the conduit. Such zones could promote fluid‐pressure build‐up and predispose the volcano to explosive eruptions. We discuss our results in the context of observed seismicity and ground deformation and suggest using our elastic properties data to constrain geophysical inversions of acid‐sulphate altered volcanic conduits.