Bubble nucleation in rhyolitic melts: Experiments at high pressure, temperature, and water content

Details Bubble nucleation in rhyolitic melts: Experiments at high pressure, temperature, and water content Bubble nucleation in rhyolitic melts: Experiments at high pressure, temperature, and water content

Apr 1994

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1994e%26psl.122..267h&link_type=abstract

Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 122, Issue 3-4, p. 267-280.

Other

73

Scientific paper

We report the first measurement of bubble nucleation in hydrated rhyolitic melts in response to pressure release. Two rhyolitic obsidians, one containing less than 1% of microlites of Fe-Ti oxides and the other about 20% of various crystals were hydrated at 150 MPa and 780-850°C. After saturation was reached (5.3-5.5 wt% water), pressure was lowered and the samples were allowed to nucleate and grow bubbles for various amounts of time, before the final, rapid quenching of the experiments.
The results demonstrate the importance of heterogeneous nucleation. Microlites of Fe-Ti oxides are very efficient as sites for bubble nucleation. In their presence, modest nucleation was observed even after decompression by < 1 MPa, and decompression of more than 5 MPa produced extensive nucleation (106-108 bubbles cm-3). In the absence of microlites, no nucleation occurred at ΔP < 10 MPa. At ΔP > 10 MPa, bubbles also nucleated on crystals of biotite, zircon and apatite. Modest nucleation (103-105 cm-3) took place even in crystal-free samples, but it was still heterogeneous. When ΔP exceeded 80 MPa, nucleation in crystal-free samples became extensive (105-107 cm-3). The lack of correlation of bubble density with either time or decompression suggests that nucleation was still heterogeneous. Nucleation rates were controlled mainly by the availability of sites. Rates were faster than 106 cm-3 s-1 when microlites were present, and faster than 105 cm-3 s-1 in the absence of microlites at ΔP > 70 MPa. Narrow size distributions in most samples suggests that nucleation took place immediately after the pressure drop.
The experimental data we present here indicate that the presence or absence of efficient nucleation sites can lead to two distinct modes of bubble formation. When a large number of efficient sites (e.g., Fe-Ti oxide) are present, bubble nucleation requires very little supersaturation, and to a good approximation, gas and magma are in equilibrium. In magmas that are crystal-free or contain crystals that are inefficient at nucleating bubbles, very high degrees of supersaturation are required in order to initiate nucleation. These two modes of exsolution may lead to contrasting styles of convection, pressure build up and eruption.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Bubble nucleation in rhyolitic melts: Experiments at high pressure, temperature, and water content does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Bubble nucleation in rhyolitic melts: Experiments at high pressure, temperature, and water content, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Bubble nucleation in rhyolitic melts: Experiments at high pressure, temperature, and water content will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1256499