Unusual types of degassing from melts of peripheral magma chambers of “dormant” El’brus volcano, Russia: Geochemical and mineralogical features

In addition to traditional degassing of the melt in the subsurface magma chambers of the “dormant” El’brus volcano, alsodegassing through pores and microcracks that occur in the top of magma chambers has also been detected. It is proven by studies of compactness, porosity, and permeability of the rocks. The speeds at which gases (H, He, H2S, CO2, F, and Cl) pass through gneiss and volcanic rocks were estimated. Magma chambers on the ground surface are expressed in stable thermal anomalies revealed by night-time thermal sounding from an NOAA satellite. The presence of magma chambers at depths of 2–12 km was proven by magnetotelluric sounding [Sobisevich et al., 2003] and gravity studies. In addition to occasional “columns” of bright-white fluorescence above the thermal anomalies, aerosol “clouds” and hydrogen flows were detected by lidar and hydrogen surveying [Alekseev et al., 2007, 2009]. Observation at the same sites detected steam outbursts occurring periodically, the snow-ice cover thaws and the smell of hydrogen sulfide is felt. Geochemical characteristics of degassing were studied by snow sampling from up to 1 m deep pits. They were taken within contours of the thermal anomalies, above active fault zones, in the sites of bright-white fluorescence “columns,” and on a new fumarole locality. It is shown that the degassing of melt was accompanied by the gas transporting many elements (Li, B, Si, P, S, Ca, Zn, Pb, Mo, Ba, W, Hg, Ag, U, Th, I, Au, and Pt) in a fine-grained state (a few microns or possibly nanometers) with an active participation of F and Cl. Native platinum, chalcopyrite, halite, sylvite, barite, gypsum, zircon, opal, chlorinated organics, etc. were for the first time discovered in the Mt. El’brus area using electron microscope studies of solid residue from dehydrated snow samples. “Hidden” ore mineralization genetically related to degassing of melts enriched in ore elements may be supposedly found in paleo- and present-day areas of volcanic activity.