Local Effects of a Kimberlite Eruption?

In summary, an eruption at the Diamond Caves in the 1830s could have harmed the townspeople, but it would not have prevented transcontinental migration.
  • #1
Malapine
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Are there any thoughts on what effects a Kimberlite eruption would have on nearby populations, if one occurred in modern history? They were supposedly quite violent based on the estimated rates of ascent of the diamond-bearing lava, but how does that translate to VEI or megatons, etc. ?

[ Specifically: in the 1830s, several key players in the Texas Revolution (Houston, Bowie, Crockett, etc.) were hanging out in Washington, Arkansas, about 15 miles south of Crater of Diamonds. If there had been an eruption at that time, could it have harmed the townspeople or made the Southwest Trail impassable? ]
 
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  • #2
Any volcanic activity would be locally dangerous, but not so dangerous that it could not be bypassed, so it would not prevent transcontinental migration.

If the eruption had covered a greater area in recent times, then there would be diamonds scattered widely across the region, but the kimberlite diamond pipes are a local feature.

Diamond is a high pressure - low temperature mineral. It is unlikely that a red-hot fluid lava would be involved. It is more likely that erosion has exposed the deep kimberlite pipe, which continues to be weathered on the surface, concentrating diamonds in the soil.

Malapine said:
They were supposedly quite violent based on the estimated rates of ascent of the diamond-bearing lava, ...
Where is the reference to that high rate of ascent?
 
  • #3
If I am understanding the following correctly,

Kimberlite Volcanology: Transport, Ascent, and Eruption
J. Kelly Russell, R. Stephen J. Sparks, and Janine L. Kavanagh

https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/3066251/1/Final_Elements_Manuscript_w_Figs_Nov6_2019.pdf

then roughly 0.2 km3 of rock is being ejected through a 10m wide pipe, entrained in a 900° C plume of CO2 spewing out at near Mach 1, for 36 to 48 hours.
 
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  • #4
Almost tektites !!
But seriously, per Wiki, 'potentially from anomalously enriched exotic mantle compositions', you'd have bad stuff launched into stratosphere, then raining down for miles around...

This 'pop-science' discussion may amuse : https://www.wired.com/2017/05/crazy-eruptions-spit-diamonds/
 
  • #5
Nik_2213 said:
Almost tektites !!
How high could you get at Mach 1.0 = 343 m/s ?
KE = PE; ½·m·v² = m·g·h ; ½·v² = g·h ;
h = ½·v² / g ;
h = 0.5 * 343 * 343 / 9.8 = 6 km.
 
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  • #6
Baluncore said:
How high could you get at Mach 1.0 = 343 m/s ?
KE = PE; ½·m·v² = m·g·h ; ½·v² = g·h ;
h = ½·v² / g ;
h = 0.5 * 343 * 343 / 9.8 = 6 km.
Then what form will the cloud take?
Vesuvius, on the first day, formed a pine-shaped cloud directly upwards. Ash raining down on Pompeii was cool and safe. It did eventually collapse roofs; but there was a thick layer of cold ash on Pompeii and people were still alive in strong cellars and walking on top of ashes next morning when a hot pyroclastic flow overtook and slew them all.
Whereas in St. Pierre, on 8th of May, 1902, everyone save one person in a strong cellar was killed... but from the descriptions and even photos of the next two weeks, there was little ash deposited (3...7 cm in the city?)

From a geological deposit, how do you distinguish cold (and safe) ashfall from the thin but fatal pyroclastic surge?
From the properties of volcano, how do you predict if the eruption will result in safe cold ashfalls or dangerous hot surges?
Do kimberlite eruptions produce cold ashfall or hot surges?
 
  • #7
snorkack said:
From a geological deposit, how do you distinguish cold (and safe) ashfall from the thin but fatal pyroclastic surge?
From the properties of volcano, how do you predict if the eruption will result in safe cold ashfalls or dangerous hot surges?
Do kimberlite eruptions produce cold ashfall or hot surges?
I would expect kimberlite eruptions to be cold and safe. They are mostly CO2 expanding noisily near the surface. They often occur underwater or from cracks below the local topography. If they flow for long enough, a heap of ash can build up downwind.

As a neighbour, or for a graduate study project, you need to pick a volcano with a small and symmetrical cone. That will produce ash to fertilise the soil, without the risk of repeated pyroclastic flows. Ugly shaped cones, that show evidence of angry explosions, do not make good neighbours. Vulcanologists die when they cannot get away fast enough. It is safer to select a career in archaeology, once things have quietened down a little.

The most dangerous volcanic eruptions occur when one side of an old, several kilometre high volcanic cone is blown off, that releases a huge volume of quickly expanding hot gas and ash in an instant steam explosion. That then flows downhill as a red-hot cloud, accelerating towards the coast where people live. The key places to avoid are those where ignimbrites are going to be found later.
 

1. What is a kimberlite eruption?

A kimberlite eruption is a volcanic event that occurs when molten rock, called kimberlite, rises from the Earth's mantle and reaches the surface. Kimberlite eruptions are rare and are typically associated with the formation of diamond deposits.

2. What are the local effects of a kimberlite eruption?

The local effects of a kimberlite eruption can include the release of toxic gases, such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which can be harmful to human and animal health. The eruption can also cause earthquakes, landslides, and the destruction of vegetation and infrastructure in the surrounding area.

3. How far can the local effects of a kimberlite eruption reach?

The local effects of a kimberlite eruption can reach up to several kilometers from the eruption site. The exact distance depends on the size and strength of the eruption, as well as the topography and wind patterns of the area.

4. What are the long-term effects of a kimberlite eruption?

The long-term effects of a kimberlite eruption can include changes in the local environment, such as altered soil composition and reduced biodiversity. The eruption can also affect the local economy, as it may disrupt agriculture and other industries in the area.

5. Can the local effects of a kimberlite eruption be mitigated?

While it is not possible to prevent a kimberlite eruption from occurring, the local effects can be mitigated through proper planning and preparation. This can include establishing evacuation plans, monitoring the volcano for signs of activity, and implementing measures to protect infrastructure and minimize damage to the surrounding environment.

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