Seismically active subcrustal magma source of the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka, Russia

Klyuchevskoy volcano, located in Kamchatka’s UNESCO-listed volcanic region, harbors a unique subcrustal magma source characterized by persistent seismic activity at depths exceeding 20 km. Unlike typical crustal earthquakes, these deep tremors exhibit tectonic signatures, indicating brittle failure in mantle rock. Researchers used P-to-S converted teleseismic waves to pinpoint the crust-mantle transition (~25 km) and a deeper seismic boundary (~50 km), confirming that Klyuchevskoy’s magma originates from depths of 46 ± 7 km—a finding supported by melt inclusion analysis. This subcrustal zone, marked by vigorous magma accumulation, challenges conventional models of volcanic processes in island arc systems.

Levin, V., Droznina, S., Gavrilenko, M., Carr, M. J., & Senyukov, S. (2014). Seismically active subcrustal magma source of the Klyuchevskoy volcano in Kamchatka, Russia. Geology, 42(11), 983–986. https://doi.org/10.1130/g35972.1