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Abstract The most explosive basaltic scoria cone eruption yet documented (>20 km high plumes) occurred at Sunset Crater (Arizona) ca. 1085 AD by undetermined eruptive mechanisms. We present melt inclusion analysis, including bubble contents by Raman spectroscopy, yielding high total CO₂(approaching 6000 ppm) and S (~2000 ppm) with moderate H₂O (~1.25 wt%). Two groups of melt inclusions are evident, classified by bubble vol%. Modeling of post-entrapment modification indicates that the group with larger bubbles formed as a result of heterogeneous entrapment of melt and exsolved CO₂and provides evidence for an exsolved CO₂phase at magma storage depths of ~15 km. We argue that this exsolved CO₂phase played a critical role in driving this explosive eruption, possibly analogous to H₂O exsolution driving silicic caldera-forming eruptions. Because of their distinct gas compositions relative to silicic magmas (high S and CO₂), even modest volume explosive basaltic eruptions could impact the atmosphere.