Control of source fertility on the eruptive activity of Piton de la Fournaise volcano, La Réunion

Research on Piton de la Fournaise volcano, Réunion Island, reveals that its eruptive activity is directly linked to the fertility of its mantle source. The study demonstrates that decadal-scale eruptive sequences are initiated by melt extraction from fertile, incompatible element-enriched veins within the plume source, while reactive flow of enriched melts increases mantle porosity, promoting further melt extraction. This dual control mechanism led to a fourfold increase in magma supply between 1998 and 2014, offering insights into similar surges at other hotspot volcanoes like Kilauea, Hawaii. The findings highlight the critical role of lithological heterogeneities in mantle plumes in regulating short-term eruptive activity.

Vlastélic, I., Di Muro, A., Bachèlery, P., Gurioli, L., Auclair, D., & Gannoun, A. (2018). Control of source fertility on the eruptive activity of Piton de la Fournaise volcano, La Réunion. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-32809-0