Perlite deposits of the Central Slovakia Volcanic Field (Western Carpathians): Geology and properties

Perlites in the Central Slovakia Volcanic Field are associated with with rhyolite dykes, cryptodomes, extrusive domes, coulées and volcanoclastic rocks of the Jastrabá Fm. (12.3–11.4 Ma). From numerous occurrences only the Lehôtka pod Brehmi (LPB) and Jastrabá (JST) represent deposits of economic interest. The LPB deposit exploits a pile of extruded hyaloclastite breccia composed of grey porous and dark dense fragments. The JST deposit exploits glassy rhyolite breccia composed of grey porous fragments associated with an extrusive dome/coulée. The perlites at both deposits are peraluminous, calc-alkaline of the high-K type, poor in phenocrysts (around 5 %) of plagioclase, biotite and minor amphibole (LPB) or sanidine/anorthoclase (JST). Glass at both deposits is silica rich (75.4–79.5 wt. % dry) with Al2O3, K2O and Na2O as other major constituents. It is inhomogeneous showing domains enriched in Na2O or K2O. Glass water content (3.0–6.0 wt. %) shows a weak positive correlation with its silica content and a negative correlation with its Na2O content. Perlites show porosities of 5–16 % (dark dense), 16–30 % (grey porous) and 30–44 % (pale grey ­pumiceous). Narrow stretched pores represent remnants after outgassing of ascending magma while open undeformed pores grew at a low pressure before quenching. The transformation of volcanic glass into perlite took place owing to the hydration by heated fluids of meteoric origin. The hydration was supported by a significant porosity with inter­connected pores and by sustained elevated temperature. Perlites at both deposits show a low content of tightly-bound water and a low Na/K ratio. These properties are responsible for their relatively low degree of expansion. On the other hand, due to the same reason, the perlites have a good mechanical stability.

SQUEEZING OUT PLASTIC LAVA BLOCKS ON YOUNG SHIVELUCH VOLCANO (KAMCHATKA) IN 2020–2021

Volcano Young Sheveluch is one of the most active volcanoes in Kamchatka. Since August 1980 to the present time, an extrusive dome has been growing in the crater of the volcano. Plastic lavas in the form of large ribbons were noted on the dome already in 1980–1981, the first lava flow was observed after a paroxysmal eruption on May 9, 2004. The next large block of lava started to extrude in the end of April – beginning of May 2020. By June, 11th, it rose above the dome on 50–80 m, and up to 120 m by the end of October. On September 28, it was noted that the lava block acquired smooth surfaces. Portions of lava squeezed out from inside of the volcano in August – September were plastic. By December 8, the block had collapsed. In February 2021, a new block of plastic lava began to rise from the destroyed block. In March its height above the dome exceeded 50–60 m, and 200 m in June.

Observation of the seismic mode «drumbeats» on volcanoes of the world and Kizimen volcano (Russia)

The squeezing of viscous lava flows or blocks on an extrusive dome during eruptions of andesitic and dacitic volcanoes is accompanied by volcanic earthquakes the seismic mode «drumbeats». The features of this mode are the quasi-periodicity of the volcanic earthquakes appearance for a long time, uniform waveforms and close VE magnitudes. This mode shows surprisingly the equilibrium behavior of a volcanic eruption.