Abstract

The solubility of H2O in three melt compositions along the haploandesite join Na2Si4O9-Na2(NaAl)4O9 (0, 3, 6 mol % Al2O3) has been determined as a function of pressure and temperature in the 0.8-2.0 GPa and 1000°-1300°C ranges, respectively. H2O solubility is a linear or near-linear positive function of pressure (16-18 mol % H2O/GPa) at constant temperature, and a negative near-linear function of temperature (1-2 mol % H2O/100°C) at constant pressure. The solubility is negatively correlated with Al2O3 content of the melts.

Partial molar volume of H2O in the melt, , was derived from solubility isotherms (1000°, 1100°, 1200°, 1300°C) at 0.8, 1.05, 1.3, 1.65, and 2.0 GPa pressure. Values range between 7.8 and 12.8 cm3/mol, and decrease with increasing Al2O3 content. In the pressure-temperature range studied, ( /T)P ranges from -7.1±0.810-3 to -5.6±1.310-3 cm3/mol °C, becoming slightly less negative as the melts become more aluminous.

The values were combined with published partial molar volume information for anhydrous oxides in silicate melts to estimate densities of water-rich dacitic magmas in shallow magma chambers associated with explosive volcanism. For a chamber of constant bulk composition during a comparatively short explosive event such as that of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991 or Mount St. Helens in May 1980, the average density of the magma after eruption is ~ 3 % higher than before the eruption occurred. Furthermore, because of removal of overburden during an eruption, the H2O saturation values of remaining magma is less than that prior to eruption. From density calculations of the residual hydrous magma after eruption, its density decreases from top to bottom in the magma chamber. Consequently, this magma is gravitationally unstable.