Physical and Chemical Properties of Volcanic Ejecta Produced During the Eruption of Shinmoe-Dake, Mt. Kirishima: Explosive Eruption on March 25, 2018

Abstract

The objective of this study was to clarify the actual physical and chemical properties of volcanic ejecta immediately after the explosive eruption of Shinmoe-dake, Mt. Kirishima, in Japan. The day after the explosive eruption occurred on March 25, 2018, permeability tests using a cylindrical frame were conducted, and samples collected in the test site were subjected to laboratory soil tests. The real infiltration capacity of the volcanic ejecta showed that the final values were lower (38–92 mm/h) in the talus inside the forest than in the plain outside the forest. This was attributed to the small particle size distribution above 1 mm, regardless of the particle size of the silt/clay particle size segment. The rainfall after the explosive eruption was at most 20–22 mm/h, indicating that the real infiltration capacity value at the end of the eruption was higher than the rainfall value. This was consistent with the fact that no debris-flow was observed at the foot of Shinmoe-dake after the recent eruption. On the other hand, examination of the chemical properties of the volcanic ejecta collected revealed high values of Ca and SO₄. These compounds form gypsums by reaction with water, could reduce the infiltration capacity of deposit, possibly contributing generation of mudslide.