| Title | Evolution of Magma Chamber of Kikhpinych Hydrothermal-Magmatic System. Kamchatka |
|---|---|
| Authors | Vladimir BELOUSOV. Irina BELOUSOVA |
| Year | 2018 |
| Conference | Stanford Geothermal Workshop |
| Keywords | Valley of Geysers, magma-hydrothermal system, magma chamber, glacier, partial melting, hydrothermal processes, ignimbrite, mantle melts, accumulate, trans-magmatic heat-transfer agents (alkali metals), silicic melts, effusive eruption |
| Abstract | The Valley of Geysers on Kamchatka Peninsula is the part of the Kikhpinych magma-hydrothermal system. The crust magma chamber is a source of heat supply for the Geyser hydrothermal system. Its growth in the Quaternary period coincided with the presence of the glacier cover. It is assumed that the glacier limited the infiltration of water into the subsurface magma-hydrothermal system and at the same time played the role of a heat insulator. Beneath it, the heat transported by the volcano Kikhpinych accumulated, and a thermal field was formed sufficient for partial melting of rocks altered by hydrothermal processes. The intrusion of high-temperature mantle melts was accompanied by the formation of mixed melts. They contained mantle gases (CO2 and H2). Subsequent injection of mantle melts led to the strong steam-gas and detonation explosions which formed ignimbrites. They could spread along the glaciers surface over long distances. Evacuation of large volumes of materials in the magma chamber area stimulated the inflow of high-temperature mantle melts into the magma chamber and the increase in the flow of trans-magmatic heat-transfer agents (alkali metals). The high temperature in the melting zone resulted in the formation of high-temperature silicic melts released from the Earth crust as an effusive eruption. The disappearance of glaciers and permafrost during the interglacial period and the formation of effusive structures were accompanied by an increase in the downward flow of meteoric waters. They cooled the magma chamber in the Earth crust, and that resulted in the reduction of the crustal magma chamber towards the volcano Kikhpinych. |