The ultralow viscosity of volatile-rich kimberlite magma: Implications for the water content of primitive kimberlite melts.

ABSTRACT: The eruption of deeply sourced kimberlite magma offers the fastest route to bring deep-seated volatiles back to the Earth's surface. However, the viscosity of kimberlite magma, a factor governing its migration and eruption dynamics within Earth, remains poorly constrained. We conducted synchrotron in situ falling sphere viscometry experiments to examine kimberlite magma with different volatile contents (0 to 5 wt % H₂O and 2 to 8 wt % CO₂) under high pressure-temperature conditions. The results reveal that the viscosity of volatile-rich kimberlite magma is ~1 to 2 orders lower than that of mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) and comparable to the ultramobile pure carbonate melt. Using the measured viscosity values, we simulated the ascent and eruption process of kimberlite

SUBMITTER: Hao M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11378914 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature