Final Magma Storage Depth Modulation of Explosivity and Trachyte–Phonolite Genesis at an Intraplate Volcano: a Case Study from Ulleung Island, South Korea

Abstract

Ulleung Island is the top of a 3000 m (from sea floor) intraplate alkalic volcanic edifice in the East Sea/Sea of Japan. The emergent 950 m consist of a basaltic lava and agglomerate succession (Stage 1, 137-097Ma), intruded and overlain by a sequence of trachytic lavas and domes, which erupted in two episodes (Stage 2, 083-077Ma; Stage 3, 073-024Ma). The youngest eruptions, post 20 ka BP, were explosive, generating thick tephra sequences of phonolitic composition (Stage 4), which also entrained phaneritic, porphyritic and cumulate accidental lithics. Major element chemistry of the evolved products shows a continuous spectrum of trachyte to phonolite compositions, but these have discordant trace element trends and distinct isotopic characteristics, excluding a direct genetic relationship between the two end-members. Despite this, the Stage 3 trachytes and some porphyritic accidental lithics have chemical characteristics transitional between Stage 2 trachytes and Stage 4 phonolites. Within the phonolitic Stage 4 tephras three subgroups can be distinguished. The oldest,Tephra 5, is considerably enriched in incompatible elements and chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) patterns display negative Eu anomalies.The later tephras, Tephras 4-2, have compositions intermediate between the early units and the trachyte samples, and their REE patterns do not have significant Eu anomalies.The last erupted,Tephra 1, from a small intra-caldera structure, has a distinct tephriphonolite composition. Trace element and isotopic chemistry as well as textural characteristics suggest a genetic relationship between the phaneritic lithics and their host phonolitic pumices.The Stage 4 tephras are not related to earlier phases of basaltic to trachytic magmatism (Stages 1-3). They have distinct isotopic compositions and cannot be reliably modelled by fractional crystallization processes.The differences between the explosive phonolitic (Stage 4) and effusive trachytic (Stage 2-3) eruptions are mainly due to different pre-eruptive pressures and temperatures, causing closed-versus open-system degassing. Based on thermodynamic and thermobarometric modelling, the phonolites were derived from deeper (subcrustal) magma storage and rose quickly, with volatiles trapped until eruption. By contrast, the trachytes were stored at shallower crustal levels for longer periods, allowing open-system volatile exsolution and degassing before eruption. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.