Catastrophic growth of totally molten magma chambers in months to years

0562175 - GFÚ 2023 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Annen, Catherine - Latypov, R. - Chistyakova, S. - Cruden, A. R. - Nielsen, T. F. D.
Catastrophic growth of totally molten magma chambers in months to years.
Science Advances. Roč. 8, č. 38 (2022), č. článku eabq0394. ISSN 2375-2548. E-ISSN 2375-2548
Institutional support: RVO:67985530
Keywords : basaltic magma chambers * vertical growth * volumetric flow rate
OECD category: Geology
Impact factor: 13.6, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.abq0394

The vertical growth rate of basaltic magma chambers remains largely unknown with available estimates being highly uncertain. Here, we propose a novel approach to address this issue using the classical Skaergaard intrusion that started crystallizing from all margins inward only after it had been completely filled with magma. Our numerical simulations indicate that to keep the growing Skaergaard magma chamber completely molten, the vertical growth rate must have been on the order of several hundreds to a few thousands of meters per year, corresponding to volumetric flow rates of tens to hundreds of cubic kilometers per year. These rates are several orders of magnitude higher than current estimates and were likely achieved by rapid subsidence of the floor rocks along faults. We propose that the Skaergaard is a plutonic equivalent of supereruptions or intrusions that grow via catastrophically rapid magma emplacement into the crust, producing totally molten magma chambers in a matter of a few months to dozens of years.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0334590