A group of scientists headed by Greek professor Ioannis Baziotis have used a modern geochemical technique to draw conclusions on how tectonic slabs melt underneath the Santorini island volcano, causing eruptions.
The international team applied the pioneering geochemical method of research in the rocks of the island.
“The purpose of this study,” as Professor Baziotis told the Athens – Macedonian News Agency, “was to bring together two great, yet different, disciplines of geology science, petrology and geochemistry. Through the study of stone chemistry we were able to answer questions that concern the field of geophysics and seismology.”
Scientists took samples from the volcanic rocks on the surface of Santorini and analyzed them with a number of techniques regarding their basic minerals and geochemistry (main elements and trace elements). Then, using – for the first time in the country – a special geochemical model developed by the Japanese professor Jun-Ichi Kimura, they proceeded to simulate the behavior of the main elements and the trace elements.
Applying the method, scientists estimated that the tectonic plate of Africa releases fluids from a depth of about 145 km. This depth is the same as the one resulting from the study of seismic data (intermediate depth earthquakes), thus outlining the upper surface of the underlying tectonic slab of Africa under the Eurasian one.
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