The campanian ignimbrite (southern Italy) geochemical zoning: insight on the generation of a super-eruption from catastrophic differentiation and fast withdrawal

In our research we have carried out geochemical and textural analyses on Campanian Ignimbrite glass and minerals with the intent of investigating the development of such large magma chamber, and the mechanisms and timing that lead to unstable chamber conditions that generate large-scale explosive eruptions. Particularly, we determine: (1) for the first time trace element partition coefficients of Campanian Ignimbrite alkaline rocks essential to accurately model chemical magma evolution, (2) equilibrium minerals assemblages and glass compositions to reconstruct compositional, thermal and pressure gradients in the pre-eruptive reservoir, (3) crystal size distributions on feldspar phenocrysts to define crystal growth time, (4) bubble size number density and distribution of pumices that provided constraints on magma withdrawal, degassing and fragmentation conditions during eruption.