Volcanic and Tectonic Framework of the Hydrothermal Activity of the Izu–Bonin Arc

Abstract

AbstractIn the Izu–Bonin Arc, hydrothermal activities have been reported from volcanoes along present‐day volcanic front, a rear arc volcano and a back‐arc rift basin as well as a remnant arc structure now isolated from the Quaternary arc. It is widely known that characteristics of hydrothermal activity (mineralogy, chemistry of fluid etc.) vary depending upon its tectonic setting. The Izu–Bonin Arc has experienced repeated back‐arc or intra‐arc rifting and spreading and resumption of arc volcanism. These characteristics make this arc system a suitable place to study the tectonic control on hydrothermal activity. The purpose of the present paper is, therefore, to summarize volcanotectonic setting and history of the Izu–Bonin Arc in relation to the hydrothermal activity. The volcanotectonic history of the Izu–Bonin Arc can be divided into five stages: (i) first arc volcanism (boninite, high‐Mg andesite), 48–46 Ma; (ii) second arc volcanism (tholeiitic, calc‐alkaline), 44–29 Ma; (iii) first spreading of back‐arc basin (Shikoku Basin), 25–15 Ma; (iv) third arc volcanism (tholeiitic, calc‐alkaline), 13–3 Ma; and (v) rifting in the back‐arc and tholeiitic volcanism along the volcanic front, 3–0 Ma. Magmas erupted in each stage of arc evolution show different chemical characteristics from each other, mainly due to the change in composition of slab‐derived component and possibly mantle depletion caused by melt extraction during back‐arc spreading and prolonged arc volcanism. In the volcanotectonic context summarized here, hydrothermal activity recognized in the Izu–Bonin Arc can be classified into four groups: (i) present‐day hydrothermal activity at the volcanic front; (ii) active hydrothermal activity in the back arc; (iii) fossil hydrothermal activity in the back‐arc volcanoes; and (iv) fossil hydrothermal activity in the remnant arc. Currently hydrothermal activities occur in three different settings: submarine caldera and stratocones along the volcanic front; a back‐arc rift basin; and a rear arc caldera. In contrast, hydrothermal activities found in the back‐arc seamount chains were associated with rear arc volcanism in Neogene after cessation of back‐arc spreading of the Shikoku Basin. Finally, sulfide mineralization associated with boninitic volcanism in the Eocene presumably took place during forearc spreading in the initial stage of the arc. This type of activity appears to be limited during this stage of arc evolution.