The role of CO2 flushing in triggering the 'Millennium' eruption and recent unrests at Changbaishan volcano (China/North Korea)

The impact of large-scale caldera-forming eruptions on our society and climate can be considerable. The triggering mechanisms of these eruptions and the instability of their magmatic systems are still elusive. Here we use X-ray tomographic microscopy, glass geochemistry and volatile element concentration data on the products of the 946 CE 'Millennium' eruption (ME) of Changbaishan volcano (China/North Korea) with the aim to identify the triggering mechanism of the eruption. ME emitted rhyolites and trachytes whose textural parameters suggest vesiculation events related to crystallization and magma ascent in the conduit, and to the arrival of new gas in the magmatic system. Solubility models show that the CO2 and H2O dissolved in the glass are consistent with a pressure of 100-200 MPa. Literature data from fluid inclusions in minerals indicate that the residing magma was CO2 free before the eruption, whereas the CO2 content in the glass reaches 600 ppm at the flash of the ME event. We find that a single, shallow magma reservoir localized between 7.5 and 3.7 km depth in which rhyolites occupies the top and trachytes the bottom is fully destabilized by the arrival of external CO2-rich fluids. Such fluids are released from a deeper, carbonate-rich mantle source. Our results and those of independent geophysical data show that the ME magmatic system is still active, and the continuous upraising of fluids from depth may drive unrest episodes like that recorded in 2002-2006. Our findings elucidate the role of deep, mantle-derived fluids in driving large-scale explosive eruptions. We provide evidence that volcanic unrests may not mirror the internal dynamics of magmatic reservoirs.

Automated summary

We investigate the triggering mechanism of the 946 CE 'Millennium' eruption of Changbaishan volcano using various analytical techniques. Our results suggest that the eruption was triggered by the destabilization of a shallow magma reservoir by external CO2-rich fluids coming from a deeper mantle source. This study also highlights the ongoing activity of the magmatic system and the potential for future unrest episodes.