Whole-rock oxygen isotope ratios as a proxy for the strength and stiffness of hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks

Hydrothermal alteration is considered to increase the likelihood of dome or flank collapse by compromising stability. Understanding how such alteration influences rock properties, and providing independent metrics for alteration that can be used to estimate these parameters, is therefore important to better assess volcanic hazards and mitigate risk. We explore the possibility of using whole-rock delta O-18 and delta D values and water contents, metrics that can potentially track alteration, to estimate the strength (compressive and tensile) and Young's modulus (i.e. stiffness) of altered (acid-sulphate) volcanic rocks from La Soufriere de Guadeloupe (Eastern Caribbean). The delta O-18 values range from 5.8 to 13.2 parts per thousand, delta D values from - 151 to - 44 parts per thousand, and water content from 0.3 to 5.1 wt%. We find that there is a good correlation between delta O-18 values and laboratory-measured strength and Young's modulus, but that these parameters do not vary systematically with delta D or water content (likely due to their pre-treatment at 200 degrees C). Empirical linear relationships that allow strength and Young's modulus to be estimated using delta O-18 values are provided using our new data and published data for Merapi volcano (Indonesia). Our study highlights that delta O-18 values can be used to estimate the strength and Young's modulus of volcanic rocks, and could therefore be used to provide parameters for volcano stability modelling. One advantage of this technique is that delta O-18 only requires a small amount of material, and can therefore provide rock property estimates in scenarios where material is limited, such as borehole cuttings or when sampling large blocks is impracticable.

Automated summary

This study explores the use of whole-rock delta O-18 and delta D values and water content as metrics to estimate the strength and stiffness of altered volcanic rocks. It finds that delta O-18 values can be used to estimate these parameters and highlights the advantage of this technique in scenarios with limited material.