The presence and migration of fluids in the lithosphere can be caused by natural mechanisms (e.g. meteoric water percolation, melt degassing, dehydration metamorphic reactions) or by industrial activities (e.g. ore deposit exploitation and energy production). Subsurface fluids interact with the rock matrix, triggering or enhancing numerous geological processes in the crust and lithosphere. For example, the presence of fluids can lead to rocks’ stress changes and reactivate pre-existing faults, therefore generating earthquakes. Fluids also play a crucial role in the development of magmatic processes and have a remarkable environmental impact. In the lithospheric mantle, fluids can cause a drastic reduction in rock viscosity and favor mechanisms of delamination, or be a key factor in the generation of intraslab earthquakes during subduction. In this view, accurate analyses of fluid properties and reliable reconstructions of source-reservoir systems become of paramount importance for a realistic assessment of crustal and lithospheric features and evolution. In recent years, innovative methods and technologies for reconstructing the 4D physical and chemical variations of fluid-filled porous media gave an important contribution to the comprehension of fluid-rock interaction systems, with a remarkable impact on the assessment of seismic, volcanic and industrial hazards.
This session deals with the main results obtained in the study of fluid-host rock interactions within the crust and lithosphere. Particular attention will be paid to the development and application of integrated, multi-parametric and multi-disciplinary approaches to imaging and tracing crustal fluids in volcanic, tectonic and industrial exploitation environments. The session will focus on innovative research, field studies, modeling aspects, theoretical, experimental and observational advances in detecting and tracking fluid movement and/or pore fluid-pressure diffusion in different regions around the globe, and analyze their correlation with an increase/decrease in natural and anthropogenic hazards. We welcome contributions on advances in seismic monitoring, modeling of fluid-induced crustal and lithospheric evolution, geochemical analyses, tomographic studies, volcanological analyses of fluid effect on eruption styles and frequency, and physical and/or statistical analyses to identify specific seismicity patterns. The session also encourages contributions from Early Career Scientists.