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Magma mixing: a mechanism for triggering acid explosive eruptions

Abstract

Injection of basic magma into acid magma causes superheating of the acid magma and vigorous convection. Vesiculation induced by convection and increased magma pressure fractures the volcanic edifice triggering an explosive acid eruption. The 1875 plinian eruption of Askja, Iceland is an example of an explosive eruption triggered by magma mixing.

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Sparks, S., Sigurdsson, H. & Wilson, L. Magma mixing: a mechanism for triggering acid explosive eruptions. Nature 267, 315–318 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/267315a0

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