Authigenic mineralization in Surtsey basaltic tuff deposits at 50 years after eruption

A study of Surtsey, a basaltic island in SW Iceland, reveals that authigenic mineralization processes in young pyroclastic deposits are influenced by thermal and hydrological factors, as well as the chemistry of original basaltic components. Researchers analyzed 50-year-old tuff samples from a borehole drilled in 2017 using petrographic studies, X-ray powder diffraction, and SEM-EDS imaging. They found multi-stage palagonitization processes and secondary mineral precipitation, including phillipsite, analcime, and Al-tobermorite, within basaltic pyroclasts. Temperature plays a significant role in controlling these reactions, but the chemistry of interstitial fluids also influences reaction pathways. This study provides a reference framework for understanding mineralogical evolution in Surtseyan-type volcanoes worldwide.

Montesano, G., Rispoli, C., Petrosino, P., Jackson, M. D., Weisenberger, T. B., Gudmundsson, M. T., & Cappelletti, P. (2023). Authigenic mineralization in Surtsey basaltic tuff deposits at 50 years after eruption. Scientific Reports, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-47439-4