Magma and mud volcano: from reducing dangerous to using
by
Oleg B. Khavroshkin
Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth Russian Academy of Sciences, B. Gruzinskay, 10, Moscow D-242, 123995 GSP, Russia
Coauthors: V.V. Tsyplakov, R.F. Ourdukhanov, N.A. Vidmont

Preexplosive state of magma volcano and penetrating action. The penetrating action producing by the projectile (penetrator) which is made from a super strong material of high density and has a length-to-diameter ratio of 5 to 20 and mass of 0.1t (in the case of multiple penetrating) to 10t. It strikes the study site of the volcano cone at a designed velocity (1.0-4.0)km/s and angle of incidence. For an optimum configuration, its penetration depth was estimated to be 0.1-0.5 km in soft structures, and as much as 0.1km in hard rocks. In contrast to volcano eruption, the penetration of the plug or lateral wall of cone can provides gradual and directed gas ejection through the interaction channel. The main requirement in this case is the discovery of the location of the catastrophic pressure rise zone and penetration of projectile into into this zone. In order to accomplish this, autonomous geophysical stations recording physical fields should be established on the volcanic cone and velocity and mass of the projectile should be chosen.

Geophysics mud volcano research by baro- resistant seismometer. Mud volcanoes are natural unique wells. Till now mud volcano study was restricted to recording reflected and - or transmitted seismic waves and chemical analysis of samples of fluid from gryphons as well as natural seismic field of a mud volcano when eruption.

The most key processes of mud volcanoes are represented in statistical performances of high-frequency seismic noise and seismic emission (HFSN and SE) (spectrum, spectral-time analysis etc.)/ high-frequency seismic noise and seismic emission (HFSN and SE).

But the geologic features of mud volcanoes eliminate an opportunity of recording informative HFSN and SE on a daylight area due to strong attenuation at route “deep structures of a mud volcano - daylight area”. Accordingly for a solution of the problem a principally new pressure proof geophysical system (baro-resistant instruments) allowing investigating wave processes of deep structures of a mud volcano and its volcanic channel up to 12 km and more was designed and tested.

Testing the system at descent of the pressure proof seismic station into gryphons of mud volcanoes (Taman peninsula) verified efficiency of the new approach and revealed features of a microseismic field of a mud volcano in the as-attenuated state.

On the whole we consider that the exogenic processes play the defining role in a local microseismic field of a mud volcano. Thus using of mud volcanoes to study both local and regional tectonics and deformation processes is perspective.

Date received: August 30, 2004

Copyright © 2004 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # caon-26.