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An analytical protocol for high-precision, in situ microscale isotopic investigations is presented here, which combines the use of a high-performing mechanical microsampling device and high-precision TIMS measurements on micro-Sr samples, allowing for excellent results both in accuracy and precision. The present paper is a detailed methodological description of the whole analytical procedure from sampling to elemental purification and Sr-isotope measurements. The method offers the potential to attain isotope data at the microscale on a wide range of solid materials with the use of minimally invasive sampling. In addition, we present three significant case studies for geological and life sciences, as examples of the various applications of microscale 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios, concerning (i) the pre-eruptive mechanisms triggering recent eruptions at Nisyros volcano (Greece), (ii) the dynamics involved with the initial magma ascent during Eyjafjallajökull volcano’s (Iceland) 2010 eruption, which are usually related to the precursory signals of the eruption, and (iii) the environmental context of a MIS 3 cave bear, Ursus spelaeus. The studied cases show the robustness of the methods, which can be also be applied in other areas, such as cultural heritage, archaeology, petrology, and forensic sciences.

The presence of crystal mushes in the feeding system of active volcanoes is generally revealed by antecrysts, representing the crystalline portion of old magmas recycled in the juvenile material, but very little is known about the fate of interstitial liquid hosted within the crystal-rich mush (i.e. antemelt). U-series disequilibria measured in magmas erupted in the past 18 years at Stromboli volcano provide the first geochemical evidence of the involvement of antemelt and help constraining the timescales of the processes occurring in the plumbing system of the volcano. Despite almost constant major and trace element composition, significant variations in isotope ratios are observed. (230Th/232Th) decreases with time, whilst (238U/232Th), (226Ra/230Th) and 87Sr/86Sr are different in the two types of magma erupted. Magma with low phenocryst content (lp) is erupted as pumices during paroxysm and is thought to belong to a deep reservoir. Highly porphyritic magma (hp) is erupted during the normal “Strombolian” activity as scoria and during the effusive events as lavas, and it is considered to derive from the former one within a shallow reservoir through degassing-driven crystallisation, mixing and incorporation of antecrysts. The distinct (238U/232Th) of lp and hp magma requires the involvement of a component with high 87Sr/86Sr and (238U/232Th) deriving from older magmas erupted earlier in the volcano history (up to 2.5 ka). The incompatibility of U and Th in major mineral phases limits the possible effect of antecrysts, hence requiring the involvement of a U- and Th-rich antemelt. The decrease of 226Ra-excess from lp to hp magmas provides further and independent evidence for the involvement of a few thousands years old antemelt. The variation with time of (230Th/232Th) within lp and hp magmas is exploited to constrain the residence time of magmas in the deep and shallow reservoir of the volcano to 55 yrs (inferred reservoir volume 0.5 km 3 ) and 2–10 yrs (inferred reservoir volume 0.02 – 0.09 km 3 ), respectively. Our results show the occurrence of magmatic processes operating at different timescale within the feeding system of a so-called steady state volcano, such as Stromboli. We show that, while most of the magma is erupted within few years, a portion of it, made of both crystals (antecrysts) and residual liquid (antemelt), can be stored in the plumbing system for thousands of years to be eventually rejuvenated and mixed back into the shallow reservoir. The presence of antemelts may also affect the eruptive mechanism by promoting heat transfer in locked crystal mushes, hence favouring their remobilisation.