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Role of non-mantle CO₂ in the dynamics of volcano degassing: The Mount Vesuvius example

¹ Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo, Via Ugo la Malfa 153, 90146 Palermo, Italy
² CNRS, INSU, Université d'Orléans, Institut des Sciences de la Terre d'Orléans (ISTO), UMR 6113 CNRS, Orléans Cedex 2, France
³ Osservatorio Vesuviano, Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124 Napoli, Italy

Mount Vesuvius, Italy, quiescent since A.D. 1944, is a dangerous volcano currently characterized by elevated CO₂ emissions of debated origin. We show that such emissions are most likely the surface manifestation of the deep intrusion of alkalic-basaltic magma into the sedimentary carbonate basement, accompanied by sidewall assimilation and CO₂ volatilization. During the last eruptive period (1631–1944), the carbonate-sourced CO₂ made up 4.7–5.3 wt% of the vented magma. On a yearly basis, the resulting CO₂ production rate is comparable to CO₂ emissions currently measured in the volcanic area. The chemical and isotopic composition of the fumaroles supports the predominance of this crust-derived CO₂ in volatile emissions at Mount Vesuvius.