Identifying the microstructural characteristics of volcanic ash particles is key in developing our understanding of their production, transport and impact. Volcanic glass in ash clouds can damage aircraft engines, surfaces and coatings, and if inhaled cause harm to humans and animals on which they depend. We present results of 3D imaging of volcanic glass particles from two Icelandic volcanoes together with two samples of experimentally vesicu-lated volcanic glass. True colour 3D images were obtained using an Olympus LEXT 3D laser scanning confocal microscope. The images enabled examination of bubble structure, fracture patterns, and shape morphology characteristics of grains. For the two simulated fragments, the bubbles had a median long axis lengths of 13.2 and 37.0 μm. For the material from Grimsvötn and Eyjafjallajökul volcanic eruptions, the median long axis length was 25.2 μm and 23.1 μm, respectively. Laser confocal microscopy-based 3D imaging of volcanic glass fragments provides a rapid, non-destructive way to assess 3D particle geometry and quantify internal artefacts responsible for their formation.
Citation
Gillmore, G. K., Wertheim, D., Mcintosh, I. M., Petford, N., & Gill, I. (2023). 3D imaging of volcanic ash using the confocal microscope; a comparison of natural fragments and experimentally vesiculated volcanic glass. Natural Hazards, 116(3), 4021-4036. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-023-05823-3
Received: 12 June 2021; Accepted: 5 January 2023; First Online: 23 January 2023; : ; : There are no conflicts of interest or competing interest in this work.; : Not relevant for this research.; : Not relevant.; : All authors have agreed to the publication of this project.
