The 2014–15 eruption and the short-term geochemical evolution of the Fogo volcano (Cape Verde): Evidence for small-scale mantle heterogeneity

Recurrent eruptions at very active ocean island volcanoes provide the ideal means to gain insight on the scale of spatial variations at the mantle source and on temporal changes of magma genesis and evolution processes. In 2014, after 19years of quiescence, Fogo volcano (Cape Verde Archipelago) experienced a new eruption, with the vents located 200m from those of the 1995 eruption, and less than 2000m from those of the 1951 event. This offered a unique opportunity to investigate the existence of small-scale mantle heterogeneities and the short-term compositional evolution of magmas erupted by a very active oceanic volcano like Fogo. Here we present petrological and geochemical data from the early stages of the Fogo's most recent eruption – started on November 23, 2014 – and compare them with the signature of previous eruptions (particularly those of 1995 and 1951).