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New Inferences on Magma Dynamics in Melilitite-Carbonatite Volcanoes: The Case Study of Mt. Vulture (Southern Italy)
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  • Gabriele Carnevale,
  • Antonio Caracausi,
  • Silvio Rotolo,
  • Michele Paternoster
Gabriele Carnevale
University of Palermo

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Antonio Caracausi
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
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Silvio Rotolo
Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Palermo, Italy
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Michele Paternoster
Università della Basilicata
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Abstract

This study provides the first micro-thermometric data of fluid inclusions in mafic loose xenocrysts and ultramafic xenoliths in explosive products of the melilitite-carbonatite Mt. Vulture volcano (southern Italy). We found within ultramafic xenoliths CO2-dominated fluid inclusions with trapping pressures between 8.5 and 8.9 kbar, corresponding to a depth of 26-27 km, in proximity of the local crust-mantle boundary. In contrast, trapping pressures within the loose xenocrysts are up to 2.8 and 3.2 kbar (8-9 km). We estimated an ascent rate of the latest 141 ka old melilititic-carbonatitic magmas from the Moho depth to the surface in the range of few hours. Considering the ongoing degassing of mantle-derived CO2 rich gases at Mt. Vulture, together with geophysical evidences of the presence of low amount of melts at depth, and the tectonic control of the past volcanic activity, our study opens new perspective about the hazardous nature of the “quiescent” melilitite-carbonatite volcanoes.