Eleven-Year Survey of the Magmatic-Hydrothermal Fluids From Peteroa Volcano: Identifying Precursory Signals of the 2018–2019 Eruption

Abstract

Over the past decade, we have conducted geochemical and isotopic monitoring of the fumarolic gases of the Peteroa volcano (Argentina-Chile). Using the resulting data set, we constructed a conceptual model that describes the evolution of the magmatic-hydrothermal system and identifies precursory geochemical signals of the last eruption. Our data set includes new chemical and isotopic analyses of fumarolic gas samples collected from 2016 to 2021, as well as previously published data from the 2010–2015 period. After an eruptive period in 2010–2011, the activity was characterized by low degassing rates and seismic activity. However, an increase in seismic activity and fumarolic gas emissions was observed from 2016 to 2018–2019 eruptive episode, leading to a major phreato-magmatic eruption. Fumarole gases show different compositions during quiescent versus unrest/eruptive degassing related to the interaction of deep (magmatic) and shallow (hydrothermal) fluid contributions. During quiescent periods, fumaroles exhibited low SO2/H2S, HF/CO2, and HCl/CO2 ratios (<0.1), revealing a dominant hydrothermal contribution. In contrast, during pre-and syn-eruptive periods, fumaroles showed ratios up to 100 times higher indicative of an enhanced magmatic input. When compared to the evolution of the seismic activity, the increment of magmatic-related strong acidic gases suggests repeated inputs of hot magmatic fluids, which are only partially dissolved into the hydrothermal system feeding the fumaroles. Interestingly, the 3He/4He and δ13C-CO2 values remained relatively constant during the magmatic and hydrothermal degassing in 2016–2021, suggesting that the deep magmatic gas source did not significantly change throughout variations in Peteroa's activity.