A method to control lost circulation in a lost circulation zone in a wellbore during continuous drilling with a dual-purpose drilling mud, the method comprising the steps of: entering the lost circulation zone, the lost circulation zone being where a flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud that returns to a surface is less than a flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud pumped into the wellbore, wherein the dual-purpose drilling mud comprises a volcanic ash, water, a de-foamer, a pH buffer, a viscosifier, and a fluid loss additive; estimating a lost circulation volumetric flow rate, the lost circulation volumetric flow rate being defined as a difference between the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud pumped into the wellbore and the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud that returns to the surface; metering a first amount of a binder into the dual-purpose drilling mud to create a binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud, wherein the first amount of the binder metered is in a pre-selected range based on a target gel characteristic, such that the first amount of the binder metered is operable to achieve the target gel characteristic of the binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud; pumping the binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud into the wellbore; and suspending metering of the first amount of the binder to the dual-purpose drilling mud after a pre-defined regulating period of time, wherein the pre-defined regulating period of time is effective to permit the binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud to achieve the target gel characteristic to create a gel-based LCM for contact with the lost circulation zone, the gel-based LCM being operable to alter the lost circulation zone, such that the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud that returns to the surface increases, and wherein the lost circulation volumetric flow rate is greater than 1.59 m 3 /hr (10 bbl/hr) but less than the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud pumped into the wellbore. entering the lost circulation zone, the lost circulation zone being where a flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud that returns to a surface is less than a flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud pumped into the wellbore, wherein the dual-purpose drilling mud comprises a volcanic ash, water, a de-foamer, a pH buffer, a viscosifier, and a fluid loss additive; estimating a lost circulation volumetric flow rate, the lost circulation volumetric flow rate being defined as a difference between the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud pumped into the wellbore and the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud that returns to the surface; metering a first amount of a binder into the dual-purpose drilling mud to create a binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud, wherein the first amount of the binder metered is in a pre-selected range based on a target gel characteristic, such that the first amount of the binder metered is operable to achieve the target gel characteristic of the binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud; pumping the binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud into the wellbore; and suspending metering of the first amount of the binder to the dual-purpose drilling mud after a pre-defined regulating period of time, wherein the pre-defined regulating period of time is effective to permit the binder containing dual-purpose drilling mud to achieve the target gel characteristic to create a gel-based LCM for contact with the lost circulation zone, the gel-based LCM being operable to alter the lost circulation zone, such that the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud that returns to the surface increases, and wherein the lost circulation volumetric flow rate is greater than 1.59 m 3 /hr (10 bbl/hr) but less than the flow rate of the dual-purpose drilling mud pumped into the wellbore.