Fracturing of Etnean and Vesuvian rocks at high temperatures and low pressures

The mechanical properties of volcanic rocks at high temperatures and low pressures are key properties in the understanding of a range of volcanological problems, in particular lava flow dynamics. The measurement of these properties on extrusive volcanic samples under the appropriate pressure and temperature conditions has a direct application in the assessment of volcanic hazards. A new triaxial deformation cell has been designed to obtain mechanical strength data on rock samples at temperatures up to 1000°C and pressures up to 30 MPa. Significantly, the cell uses large cylindrical rock specimens, 25 mm diameter by 75 mm long, never previously employed in such a high-temperature apparatus. The large specimen size is necessary to test volcanic rocks with their large crystals and vesicles. The design of this novel apparatus is presented. Its operating temperature and pressure range encompasses the conditions of an advancing flow from the vent to the front, as well as the conditions of the volcanic rocks hosting magma at equivalent depths of up to 2 km. Experimental results are presented for tests on Vesuvian and Etnean rocks. Results show that the Vesuvius and the Etnean rocks remain fully brittle up to 600°C with typical strengths of 90 MPa and 100 MPa and Young’s moduli of 60 GPa and 40 GPa, respectively. Above these temperatures the elastic modulus and compressive strength decreases steadily in both the Vesuvian and Etnean rocks, reaching 10% of the original values at 900°C and 800°C, respectively, when partial melting occurred. Full melting occurs at 1100°C in the Vesuvian rock and at 1040°C in the Etnean rock. Results also show that confining pressure has only a small effect on the strength of the rock at these low pressures, and that strain rates are important at high temperatures. Fracture energy release rates have been calculated and show an inversely proportional relationship with temperature. Results reveal why fracturing is important on the crust of the lava flow as much as at the flow front where the flow has almost completely solidified but still maintains high temperatures. These results put quantitative limits on models where fracturing processes play an important role.