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Zinc Enrichment | John Seach
Zinc enrichment was observed in Mt St Helens ash of April 1980. Volcanic activity began with phreatic eruptions produced by a shallow magma reservoir.
Zincite (ZnO) was produced as a result of the action of steam, air, and magmatic zinc halide. Zinc nerichment in the phreatic ash indicates that magmatic vapours were involved in the early stages or eruptions.
Monitoring zinc in hot springs and fumaroles may be useful in predicting volcanic activity.