Study of the Chemical Composition of Ash Nanoparticles from the Volcanoes of Kamchatka

A groundbreaking study reveals that ash nanoparticles from Kamchatka's volcanoes—Klyuchevskoy, Tolbachik, Kizimen, and Shiveluch—concentrate toxic and potentially toxic metals (e.g., Ni, Cu, As) 10 to 535 times more than bulk ash samples. The most volatile elements (As, Sn, Te, Hg, Tl, Bi) exhibit the highest enrichment factors, suggesting they condense from the gaseous phase into individual nanophases (12–74 nm). Surprisingly, acidic volcanic ashes yield fewer nanoparticles compared to basaltic ones, contradicting expectations for fine ash distribution. Pearson correlation analysis shows strong, often inverse relationships between ash basicity and element concentrations in nanoparticles, highlighting unique nanostructure behaviors that challenge conventional geochemical models.

Ermolin, M. S., Shilobreeva, S. N., & Fedotov, P. S. (2023). Study of the Chemical Composition of Ash Nanoparticles from the Volcanoes of Kamchatka. Geochemistry International, 61(4), 348–358. https://doi.org/10.1134/s0016702923040043