Later stages of volcanic evolution of La Palma, Canary Islands: Rift evolution, giant landslides, and the genesis of the Caldera de Taburiente

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1999 Later stages of volcanic evolution of La Palma, Canary Islands: Rift evolution, giant landslides, and the genesis of the Caldera de Taburiente Juan Carlos Carracedo; Juan Carlos Carracedo 1Estación Volcanológica de Canarias, IPNA-CSIC, P.O. Box 195, 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain2Department of Geography and Geology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Simon J. Day; Simon J. Day 2Department of Geography and Geology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, United Kingdom3Greig Fester Centre for Hazards Research, University College London, WCIE GBT United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Hervé Guillou; Hervé Guillou 4Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CNRS-CEA, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Philip Gravestock Philip Gravestock 2Department of Geography and Geology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Juan Carlos Carracedo 1Estación Volcanológica de Canarias, IPNA-CSIC, P.O. Box 195, 38206, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain2Department of Geography and Geology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, United Kingdom Simon J. Day 2Department of Geography and Geology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, United Kingdom3Greig Fester Centre for Hazards Research, University College London, WCIE GBT United Kingdom Hervé Guillou 4Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement, CNRS-CEA, F-91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Philip Gravestock 2Department of Geography and Geology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, United Kingdom Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1999) 111 (5): 755–768. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1999)111<0755:LSOVEO>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Juan Carlos Carracedo, Simon J. Day, Hervé Guillou, Philip Gravestock; Later stages of volcanic evolution of La Palma, Canary Islands: Rift evolution, giant landslides, and the genesis of the Caldera de Taburiente. GSA Bulletin 1999;; 111 (5): 755–768. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1999)111<0755:LSOVEO>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The islands of La Palma and El Hierro form the western end of the hotspot-induced Canary Islands chain. Both islands are at present in the earliest and fastest shield-building stage of growth and show many similarities with the Hawaiian Islands. La Palma shows two very distinct phases of volcanic construction: (1) a Pliocene submarine volcanic and intrusive series, interpreted as an uplifted seamount at least 1500 m above present sea level, and (2) a subaerial volcanic series erupted in the past 2 m.y. Taburiente volcano initially formed the northern part of the island and then extended to the south, forming a ridge (Cumbre Nueva Ridge) that was partially destroyed about 560 ka by a giant lateral collapse (the Cumbre Nueva collapse), possibly involving 180–200 km3 of subaerial volcanic material. The northwest boundary of the Cumbre Nueva collapse formed a vertical scarp that, enlarged by headward erosion, formed the spectacular depression of Caldera de Taburiente. Cumbre Vieja volcano, a north-south elongated rift, forms the southern half of La Palma and constitutes its last stage of growth, including all eruptive activity in the past 125 k.y. Detailed field observations, mapping, and high-precision radiometric dating have allowed reconstruction of the growth and structural changes of the Cumbre Vieja volcano. Interactions between eruption rates, coastal erosion, and glacio-eustatic sea level change allow stratigraphic subdivision of the edifice. The structure of the volcano has been controlled for most of its history by a rift system with a clearly dominant north-south and less-distinct north-east and north-west volcanic rift zones. The rift reorganization of the volcano to a single north-south rift since 7 ka and the opening of faults during the 1949 eruption probably reflect increasing instability of the west flank of the volcano. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.