Relating pumice permeability to vesicle properties using 3D printed models

Single page posterPumice is a highly porous rock composed of volcanic glass bearing dense and complex networks of vesicles-- bubbles preserved in solid rock resulting from the exsolution of volatiles such as water and carbon dioxide from the magmatic melt during its ascent to the surface. These vesicles often become interconnected, rendering the magma permeable to buoyant gas which escapes into the host rock or the atmosphere. This process, which is known as outgassing, reduces the overpressure in the magma and may prevent fragmentation and explosive eruption. How permeability varies depends on the size, shape, and abundance of vesicles and fractures.The goal of my project is to analyze the physical properties of 3D printed pumice models. While some data can be obtained from virtual pumice models, having physical representations of the tortuous, constricting passages that render pumice permeable will lead to a better understanding of real-world pumice permeability. Studying the properties of volcanic products grants insight into the eruption process. Understanding how vesicle networks develop and how they impact eruption style will lead to enhanced volcanic hazard prediction and mitigation. To aid in the effort of better understanding the effects that developing vesicle networks have on the eruption process of a volcano, I will establish functional relationships between pumice permeability and vesicle and fracture characteristics such as number density, size, and shape