Telkibánya lava domes: Lithofacies architecture of a Miocene rhyolite field (Tokaj Mountains, Carpathian-Pannonian region, Hungary)

Abstract

This work focuses on the Miocene Telkibánya Lava Dome Field (Tokaj Mountains, Hungary), proposed as an example of poorly investigated lithofacies architecture of old silicic lava dome fields. A detailed fieldwork, combined with petrographic and radiometric (K/Ar dating) analyses, allows us the redefinition of the volcano-stratigraphy of a 25 km2 area, and the recognition of two temporary different generation of domes that grew in a subaerial environment. 12 cohesive and autoclastic lithofacies are identified and grouped together to document the internal variability of the domes, as well as the erosional phases that affected the lithofacies architecture. Furthermore, stratigraphy, lithofacies association and morphology allow recognizing the areal distribution of 5 lithosomes (lava flows, coulées or domes). All these findings represent a major breakthrough in the identification and interpretation of the volcanic processes that control the growth of silicic lava domes and their products in Late Miocene environment of Carpathian Pannonian region.