Growth of intra-caldera lava domes controlled by various modes of caldera collapse, the Štiavnica volcano–plutonic complex, Western Carpathians

Abstract

The Štiavnica volcano–plutonic complex is an erosional relic of Miocene caldera-stratovolcano in the Western Carpathians. The complex exposes a vertical section from the volcano basement through subvolcanic intrusions and a ring fault to volcanic edifice, comprising mostly andesitic lava flows and domes. This paper examines internal structure, magnetic fabric as derived from the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), and emplacement dynamics of three intra-caldera andesite domes (referred to as Domes 1–3) located near the presumed ring fault. Magnetic fabrics, carried by multi-domain titanomagnetite and titanomaghemite, are interpreted as recording various mechanisms of dome growth controlled by active caldera collapse. Dome 1 is explained as a lava coulée, fed by conduits located along the ring fault, with a long lava outflow down the sloping caldera floor. Dome 2 represents an elongated, ring fault-parallel dome wherein the lava flowed a short distance over a flat floor. Dome 3 is interpreted as a composite dome fed from multiple linear fissures opened at a high angle to the ring fault. Subsequently, the dome was intruded by ring fault-parallel dikes that may have potentially fed overlying, now largely eroded lava domes and flows. Finally, we suggest that all domes formed during collapse of the Štiavnica caldera and the various mechanisms of their growth reflect different stages of the caldera evolution from piston (Dome 2) through trap-door (Dome 1) to piecemeal (Dome 3).