The role of viscosity in the emplacement of high-temperature acidic flows of Serra Geral Formation in Torres Syncline (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil)

Abstract

The acidic flows from Serra Geral Formation in Torres Syncline, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, are on the top of a volcanic sequence composed by a complex facies association of compound, simple and rubbly pahoehoebasic flows, acidic lava domes, and tabular acidic lava flows. The origin and emplacement conditions of the acidic volcanic rocks are discussed in this paper based on petrology, on calculated apatite saturation thermometry temperatures, and on estimated viscosity data. The liquidus temperatures for metaluminous rhyodacite to rhyolite samples are about 1,067.5 ± 25oC in average. The viscosity (η) values vary from 105 to 106 Pas for anhydrous conditions, suggesting the emplacement of high-temperature - low-viscosity lava flows and domes. The occurrence of acidic lava domes above simple pahoehoe flows as flow-banded vitrophyres was under low effusion rates, in spite of their high temperature and low viscosities, which are reflected in their small height. The emplacement of lava domes has continued until the eruption of rubbly pahoehoe flows and the geometry of these deposits rugged the relief. Presence of tabular acidic lava flows covering the landscape indicates that it was under high effusion rates conditions and such flows had well-insulated cooled surface crusts. The capacity to attain greater distances and overpass relief obstacles is explained not only by high effusion rates, but also by very low viscosities at the time of emplacement.