Variations in Mercury Concentrations at the Thermal Fields of the Kambalny Range as a Consequence of the Kambalny Volcano Eruption (Kamchatka, Russia)

Abstract

Kambalny volcanic range (Southern Kamchatka, Russia) represents a group of highly eroded volcanic structures elongated in the submeridional direction, their age is defined as from the Pleistocene to the Holocene [Beloysov, 1978; Sygrobov, 1976]. The Kambalny volcano is located in the southern part of that structure. Its last eruption occurred in March-April of 2017 [Girina, 2017; Rychagov, 2017]. Hydrothermal activity in the form of individual water-mud pots and steam-gas jets are observed over almost the entire area of the Kambalny range with tree groups of hydrothermal fields being the most active: Severo-, Uzhno- and Centralno-Kambalny thermo anomalies [Sygrobov, 1976]. In the period from 2010 to 2018 steam-gas jets of Severo-, Uzhno- and Centralno-Kambalny geothermal fields were subjected to mercury concentration testing [Rychagov, 2014]. The comparison of results on mercury concentration obtained through 2010-2018 shows noticeable increase in mercury content in 2017 (i.e. straight after eruption). These data suggest that the Kambalny range hydrothermal system is a powerful modern source of mercury intake and accumulation. It also shows the connection of the modern hydrothermal system with active volcanism.