Evidence of Deep Fluid Explosions in Products of the Bityuk-Tyube Independent Eruption Center (Western Cis-Elbrus Region)

摘要

Four glass types, which sharply differ in terms of their silica content and the K2O/Na2O ratio are found in the earliest eruption products of the Bityuk-Tyube independent eruption center in the Western Cis-Elbrus Region. In addition to this, two monomineral glasses, which are close to monomineral plagioclase and quartz types, are identified. Such a composition of initial melts was produced by deep fluid explosions. It is shown that deep fluid explosions, on the one hand, initiate substrate melting and, on the other hand, prepare and develop channels for the further eruption of igneous material.