Lava Dome Research Articles

Infrasound generated by the 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska

The 2016–2017 shallow submarine eruption of Bogoslof volcano produced numerous infrasound signals over 9 months that were recorded on six Alaska Volcano Observatory (AVO) arrays at ranges of 59 to over 800 km from the volcano. The lack of geophysical monitoring near Bogoslof and the repeated production of volcanic clouds to flight levels made monitoring by remote infrasound critical during the eruption; for the first time, AVO relied extensively on automated infrasound detections from regional arrays to dispatch timely notifications of the ongoing activity. Most of the 70 eruptive events were detected on at least one array, but no array detected all of the events mainly because atmospheric conditions were highly variable during the eruption. Acoustic propagation modeling helps explain some of the variation in array detections but also highlights limitations in regional propagation models. To our knowledge, this is the first example of well-recorded infrasound from an explosive eruption occurring in shallow seawater, providing extensive insights into eruption dynamics in this unique environment. The dominance of low-frequency infrasound (0.1–1 Hz) is attributed to eruptions occurring beneath tens of meters of seawater. Higher-frequency infrasound signals were mostly limited to eruptions where the vent was isolated from major interaction with seawater or in several cases where a lava dome grew above sea level.

Geology and eruptive history of Bogoslof volcano

Bogoslof volcano is a shallow submarine/subaerial volcano in the southern Bering Sea about 100 km west of the community of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The subaerial parts of the volcano consist of two small islands, Bogoslof Island and Fire Island, that together have a total area of about 1.6 km2. Bogoslof was first depicted on a Russian map in 1772 and since then has been observed and visited occasionally. The volcano has had at least nine periods of eruptive activity since 1796 and all of its historical eruptions have been similar in style. Historical Bogoslof eruptions involved the effusion of basalt, trachybasalt, basaltic trachyandesite, and trachyandesite lava domes with above sea level relief of 100–200 m. Many of the eruptions are accompanied by the formation of tuff rings and ejection of ballistic particles. Historical observations suggest that eruption clouds are relatively ash-poor. Minor ash fallout has typically occurred within about 100 km of the volcano. Many of the historical eruptions began at vents that were below sea level, and thus, seawater has played an important role in the style of eruptive activity exhibited by the volcano. At times, eruptive activity has been characterized by Surtseyan style eruptions and magma interaction with wet vent-fill deposits. At other times, the eruptive style has been more magmatically driven and has resulted in the formation of pyroclastic flows and small ash clouds. Preliminary studies of the deposits produced during the 2016–2017 eruption indicate vertical sequences of coarse-grained, horizontally bedded pyroclastic flow and fall deposits with numerous blocks, bombs, and lapilli of dense juvenile and accidental lithic material. These deposits were emplaced by near-vent pyroclastic flows, surges, and explosions some of which originated from shallow, highly crystalline cryptodomes.

Ordovician shoshonitic to ultrapotassic volcanism in the central Norwegian Caledonides: The result of sediment subduction, mantle metasomatism and mantle partial melting

Shoshonitic to ultrapotassic, mantle-derived volcanic rocks found within certain accretionary and collisional settings have trace element patterns comparable to those of common arc-related rocks, but with extreme enrichments in highly incompatible elements. Such rocks, previously unknown in the Scandinavian Caledonides, have been discovered in the Oppdal area in the Trondheim Nappe Complex, central Norway. The volcanic rocks are part of the Skarvatnet unit, which consists of (1) the Kinna volcanic succession, (2) the Storgruvpiken rhyolite, and (3) the Skaret conglomeratic succession. The Kinna volcanic succession is interpreted as consisting mainly of submarine pyroclastic flows. A trachytic bed from within this succession is dated to 474 ± 1 Ma. The Storgruvpiken rhyolite is interpreted as a shallow, subvolcanic intrusion or volcanic dome, and is dated to 470 ± 1 Ma. The Skaret conglomerates were deposited in a shallow-marine, tectonically active setting post-dating the Storgruvpiken rhyolite. The Kinna volcanic succession is highly enriched in Th, U, Pb and LREE, with trace element signatures remarkably similar to high-K to ultrapotassic rocks of the Alpine-Himalayan and other orogenic belts. By analogy with these recent examples, the Kinna volcanic succession is interpreted as the result of a two-stage process: (1) subduction and partial melting of continent-derived material caused extensive metasomatism of the overlying mantle wedge, (2) partial melting of this heterogeneous mantle source produced the highly enriched mantle melts. The Storgruvpiken rhyolite, particularly enriched in beryllium, is interpreted as the result of partial melting of Kinna-type rocks at depth. The Skarvatnet unit is interpreted as the result of a complex tectonic evolution at the margin of the Iapetus Ocean, involving the following stages: (1) intra-oceanic subduction, producing the Løkken-Vassfjellet-Bymarka ophiolite at 487–480 Ma, followed by (2) the arrival of the Laurentian margin or an associated micro-continent at ca. 480 Ma, leading to the subduction of large amounts of continent-derived material and subsequent metasomatism of the overlying mantle wedge, (3) arc-continent-collision and slab retreat/slab break-off, causing an intermittent phase of mantle-derived, highly enriched magmatism preserved as the Kinna volcanic succession and the Storgruvpiken rhyolite at 475–470 Ma.

Seismic character and progression of explosive activity during the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof volcano, Alaska

Bogoslof volcano, in the central Aleutian arc, experienced a major eruption between December 2016 and August 2017 that was characterized by explosive activity (Volcanic Explosivity Index 2 to 3) and the extrusion of lava domes. The Alaska Volcano Observatory tracked the activity in real time using seismicity observed on distant stations as well as infrasound, lightning, satellite data, and occasional visual observations. In this study, we measure the duration of seismic signals associated with individual explosive events to track their progression during the two explosive phases of the eruption. Seismic recordings of Bogoslof explosions show complex waveforms that suggest both individual explosive events and sequences of several explosions separated by lower amplitude tremor. The lack of local seismic monitoring (stations at distances of 1 km to 15 km distance) unfortunately limits our ability to closely observe seismicity and to interpret changing conditions at the vent such as position, the presence of a lava dome or plug, and the role of seawater associated with the eruption. We use the rate of explosive activity, seismic waveform character, and repose time between explosions to infer the conditions within the conduit.

Is it possible to estimate surface displacement vector via distance measurement in two directions? : A case of distance measurement at a lava dome of Mt. Unzen-Fugen-Dake

Is it possible to estimate surface displacement vector via distance measurement in two directions? : A case of distance measurement at a lava dome of Mt. Unzen-Fugen-Dake

Characterization of volcanic structures associated to the silicic magmatism of the Paraná-Etendeka Province, in the Aparados da Serra region, southern Brazil.

The Paraná-Etendeka Magmatic Province is associated with the distensive tectonics that caused the rupture of the Gondwana continent during the Lower Cretaceous and generated an intense volcanism that covers South America and the NW portion of Namibia in Africa. In Brazil, this volcanic sequence is named Serra Geral Group and predominantly consists of basalts and subordinated silicic rocks. The goal of this study is to characterize the geomorphological features observed in the Aparados da Serra region, southern Brazil, and to evaluate the relationship between these structures and the primary silicic volcanic structures. The geomorphological features were first identified using remote sensing and then correlated with flow structures observed in the field, as well as petrographic and geochemical data. AMS data were used to determine magnetic patterns and the direction of magmatic flow of the rocks. Despite the low degree of anisotropy, clear patterns of lineation and foliation were identified in the studied rocks. Our data shows that Units I and II correspond to silicic lava flows linked to effusive fissure eruptions, presenting a dome morphology caused by differential erosion. Unit III rocks may correspond to true volcanic domes, whereas the Unit IV corresponds to the effusive feeder structures.

Geomorphology of the underwater caldera of the Changbaishan Tianchi volcano using 3D virtual visualization

Based on high‐precision multibeam underwater terrain data, 3D virtual visualization technology is adopted to reconstruct the Changbaishan Tianchi Volcano Crater, China, because this technology can intuitively show the shape of underwater calderas. Results indicate that the current terrain of the lakebed at the Tianchi Caldera mainly formed by a combination of one volcanic explosion, eruption and collapse in the periods of the Tianwen Peak and the Millennium Eruption, and it is also associated with the orographic uplift caused by the subsequent and frequent activities of the magma chamber. Two boccas at different periods are observed at the lakebed of the Tianchi Caldera: the large bocca located in the centre of the caldera that probably formed 5,000–4,000 years ago during the eruption period and the small bocca located in the west of the large bocca that probably formed in the Millennium Eruption period. The eruption resulted in the collapse of the magma cave, thus forming a semi‐annular dike and two lava domes along the topographic slope, which extends along the lakebed with the direction of 30°–45°NE. The southern and northeastern feet of the collapsed crater slid downward and accumulated, with the southern foot of the crater touching the southern end of the ridged dike.

Mineralogical, Petrological and Geochemical Study of the Agios Ioannis Volcanic Rocks, Kamena Vourla Area, Greece

The Plio-Pleistocene volcanic center of Lichades is located in the Northern Euboean Gulf, at the western extremity of the North Anatolian Fault and it is one of the most neo-tectonically active areas in Greece. Volcanic rocks are exposed in the form of lava flows and/or domes mostly in the small islands (Lichades) offshore Kamena Vourla, as well as in a small outcrop in mainland, namely the Agios Ioannis area. Based on the results of the present study, the Agios Ioannis volcanic rocks are characterized as trachyandesites with high-K calc-alkaline affinities, similar to several volcanic rocks from the South Aegean Volcanic Arc. The petrological and mineral-chemical study reveal that the studied volcanic rocks are characterized by vitrophyric texture and a matrix dominated by glass, numerous randomly-oriented microlites of plagioclase and minor sanidine, clinopyroxene and amphibole. Phenocrysts comprise of plagioclase, olivine, quartz, clinopyroxene and amphibole. Plagioclase composition ranges from andesine to bytownite (An30-An73). Olivine cores are typically Mg-rich, and the rims display elevated FeO content. Clinopyroxenes display a narrow compositional range between augite and diopside, with the latter being more common. Amphiboles, are calcic and their composition ranges from tschermakite to tschermakitic hornblende. Mineralogical and geochemical similarities with other volcanic rocks in Greece such as Lesvos lamproites, may be helpful in understanding the genesis of the studied Agios Ioannis volcanics.

Multi-stage growth of the trachytic lava dome of the Puy de Dôme (Chaîne des Puys, France). Field, geomorphological and petro-geochemical evidence

Understanding lava dome eruptions is a major concern in volcanology regarding the assessment of associated hazards. This question is usually addressed through the study of active calc-alkaline domes, however, alkaline domes remaining poorly known. The Puy de Dôme is the most prominent volcano of the Chaîne des Puys Quaternary intraplate volcanic field in the French Massif Central. It is a complex trachytic lava dome ca. 11 ka old. Field investigations, geomorphological and petro-geochemical studies were performed to understand the magmatic system of this dome and reconstruct its volcanic evolution. The different lava facies were fully characterised and their relationships with the volcano building stages have been established. A new four-step evolution is proposed for the growth of this edifice. Mineralogical and geochemical variations document magmatic differentiation with self-mixing and minor crustal contamination in a zoned reservoir within the upper crust. Magma mixing and crustal contamination through fluids interactions during magma ascent and the involvement of fumarolic activity throughout the edifice building are also documented. Further, this work highlights the specific features of the Puy de Dôme compared to calc-alkaline domes: lack of lava flows and almost complete magma degassing during ascent, resulting in the lack of significant explosive activity until the last eruption step.

Seismic and hydroacoustic observations of the 2016–17 Bogoslof eruption

In mid-December 2016, Bogoslof volcano, Alaska, began an 8.5-month-long eruption that produced at least 70 explosions and three lava domes. Bogoslof is an emergent submarine volcano with only the very top forming a small island, so the eruptive activity mostly occurred from a vent submerged beneath a bay or lagoon. The Bogoslof eruption was recorded on regional seismic and infrasound arrays as well as by a hydrophone that was deployed locally during the second half of the eruption. Since few emergent volcanic eruptions have seismo-acoustic recordings, these observations, taken in context with satellite and other observations, provide an opportunity to greatly improve our understanding of the seismo-acoustic signals produced by these eruptions. The instruments detected a range of activity including earthquakes, tremor, and mass flow events. Earthquakes occurred before, during, after, and unassociated with explosions and also often occurred in swarms. The 47 seismically-detected swarms and 27 additional hydroacoustically detected swarms can be further broken into four types: precursory, post-eruptive, general, and tremor-dominated. Most seismic swarms were less than 10 h long, had fewer than 50 earthquakes, and had average earthquake rates below 20/h. For the explosions, we calculate a tremor magnitude, frequency index, and average frequency. The tremor magnitudes determined from the hydrophone data show a roughly linear relation to explosion plume height, though this relation was not clear in the more limited seismic data. Lastly, we categorize the activity into five eruption phases based on seismo-acoustic character—precursory, opening, explosive I, pause, and explosive II.

Evolución espacio-temporal de las bocas eruptivas de los volcanes Irazú, Arenal, Turrialba y Poás en tiempo histórico (Costa Rica)

Historical research was performed analyzing the morphologic and temporary evolution of the craters and small eruptive vents (lateral craters, intracraters, some as pit craters and small craters or “mouths”) of the volcanoes Irazu, Arenal, Turrialba and Poas. The establishment of the small intracrateric eruptive mouths was preceded by fumarolic activity in the summit, where location seems to be controlled by the same tectonic guidelines that predominate at the volcanic edifice or massif: NW-SE, E-W and N-S (Irazu), E-W (Arenal), NE-SE (Turrialba) and N-S (Poas). The initial formation of the intracraters at Irazu and its coalescing was ruled dominated by phreatic activity with phreatomagmatic phases (1917-1921, 1924, 1928-1930, 1933, 1939-1940), which culminated with eruptive activity from 1962 to 1965, in presence of abundant juvenile pyroclasts (strombolian and vulcanian activity), to finally establishing a main crater that encompasses the smaller craters. On Arenal’s western flank, three new craters formed in 1968 in the E-W fissure. Between Irazu’s eruptive period in 1723 and its reactivation in 1917, 194 years passed, similar to Turrialba’s 144 years of relevant inactivity between 1866 and 2010. Turrialba showed the formation of minor vents between 2010 and 2013, to culminate with the enlargement and deepening of the active crater (2014-2019) with various minor active intracraters. The 2017 activity at Poas volcano was also preceded by phreatic activity with the formation of mud volcanoes, which ended with the volcanic dome’s destruction by phreatomagmatic explosions. The birth of a new spatter cone at the same place of the former dome, as well as various sulfur cones and mud volcanoes oriented approximately N-S. In this paper, certain patterns in the succession of craters in the cases mentioned and their relationship with the tectonic trends may have short-term implications for the volcanic hazard once the preferential sectors of evolution and formation are known, as well as the evolution from small crater to larger ones, related to more vigorous eruptive periods.

Detailed volcanic and tectonic morphology of Nakadomari Hill in the southern Okinawa Trough

Nakadomari Hill is an unexplored edifice in the southern Okinawa Trough back-arc basin where crustal extension by continental rifting occurs and few submarine eruptions associated with back-arc volcanism have been mapped in detail. High-resolution bathymetric mapping with an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) reveals that Nakadomari Hill is a submarine volcanic complex with recent lava flow eruptions. The high-resolution (2 m) bathymetry shows striking contrast between rugged terrain in the central area and the adjacent smooth terrain. The cone-shaped features in the rugged terrain are covered by ropey fabric with high acoustic reflectivity and are devoid of tectonic deformation, thus they are interpreted to be relatively younger lava domes. The cone-shaped features in the smooth terrain show low reflectivity and are dissected by ENE–WSW trending tectonic lineaments, suggesting they were formed during older volcanism. Nakadomari Hill developed through multi-stage eruptions before and after back-arc rifting and faulting. The ropey and curtain-folded morphology with high acoustic reflectivity are interpreted to be a field of lava flows and they are relatively young. The area considered to be lava flows is estimated to be over 13 km2, showing that eruptions in the southern Okinawa Trough have been extensive. An active volcanic system is supported by indicators of high-temperature hydrothermal venting. Hydrothermal plumes with concurrent sharp temperature increases of up to 0.17 °C were present even at the vehicle altitude of ~100 m above the bottom. The alignment of volcanic cone-shaped features at Nakadomari Hill is in the NNW–SSE direction which is clearly different from the orientation of local rifting (ENE–WSW). At a larger scale, the volcanic edifices west of Kume Island from the arc to back-arc are also aligned roughly in the NNW–SSE direction and they are sub-parallel to a major tectonic structure in the arc, the Kerama Gap. The agreement of the local volcanic and tectonic trends implies that magmatic focusing may have taken place along the tectonic structures of the Kerama gap and in turn caused the extensive back-arc volcanism in this area.

Contrasting fragmentation and transportation dynamics during the emplacement of Dikkartın rhyodacitic dome; Erciyes stratovolcano, central Turkey

Dikkartin is a monogenetic lava dome emplaced on the southern flank of Erciyes stratovolcano (3917 m) in central Anatolia, Turkey. Stratigraphic, granulometric, morphometric and textural variations are presented to obtain quantitative physical volcanological insight and to interpret eruption and emplacement mechanisms in Dikkartin eruptive sequence. Contrasting fragmentation and transportation dynamics in the stratigraphic sequence of the Dikkartin eruption is related to the ratio of magma and external water during each phases of the activity. We suggest four eruptive phases. The eruption begins with a dry, purely magmatic Plinian eruption with a column height of 20 km. According to the isopleth and isopach maps, the plume stretched in a NNE-SSW direction. The amount of water interacting with magma modified the course of the Dikkartin eruption. During a phase dominated by phreatomagmatism, an explosion crater and a tuff ring were formed. Exhaustion of the water in the environment and depletion of initial magmatic volatiles in the course of time resulted in extrusion of a lava dome. Sequential Fragmentation/Transport (SFT) theory has been applied on tephra samples to comment on fragmentation and transportation dynamics using grain size data. The magmatic and phreatomagmatic characters contained in each explosion sequence were numerically demonstrated. The relationship between the porosity time and the magma-water interaction time was investigated by detailed SEM analysis and roughness values calculated on volcanic ash. Surface analysis on volcanic ash suggested that most of the phreatomagmatic eruptions producing the tuff ring were dry with superheated steam but little vapour condensation occurred allowing adhesion of fine material on surfaces. Considering the c. 20 km plume height calculated for the climactic eruption column (Phase 1), the prevailing winds directed the cloud to the south, but due to the decrease in the plume height (Phase 2), the cloud was later directed to the northeast. According to the direction of seasonal winds, it is suggested that Dikkartin erupted during winter.

Petrology of the 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof Island, Alaska

The 2016–2017 eruption of Bogoslof primarily produced crystal-rich amphibole basalts. The dominant juvenile tephra were highly microlitic with diktytaxitic vesicles, and amphiboles had large reaction rims. Both observations support a magma history of slow ascent and/or shallow stalling prior to eruption. Plagioclase-amphibole-clinopyroxene mineralogy are also suggestive of shallow magma crystallization. Lavas were emplaced as shallow submarine lava domes and cryptodomes that produced 70 relatively short-lived and water-rich explosions over the course of the 9-month-long eruption. The explosions ejected older trachyandesite lavas that were likely uplifted by cryptodome emplacement that began in December 2016 and continued for many months. Trachyte pumice, similar in composition to a 1796 lava dome, was entrained in basalts by the end of the eruption. The pumice appears to be a largely crystalline magma that was rejuvenated, entrained in the basalt, and heated to ~ 1000 °C. The composition of trachytes require differentiation through stronger amphibole control than the apparent shallow crustal evolution implied for the basalt. This suggests that they are magmas derived from a mid-crustal zone of amphibole crystallization. Nearby arc-front volcanoes that notably lack amphibole have strikingly similar compositional trends. Trace element signatures of the Bogoslof basalts, however, suggest derivation from a mantle source with residual garnet and lower-degree melting than basalts from nearby arc-front volcanoes. The diversity of magmas erupted at Bogoslof thus provides an opportunity not only to probe rare backarc compositions from the Aleutian arc but also to examine the apparent role of amphibole in generating evolved compositions more broadly in arc environments.

Eruptive chronology of the Acoculco caldera complex – A resurgent caldera in the eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (México)

The Acoculco caldera complex (ACC) is located in the eastern part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in the northern part of the State of Puebla. The complex sits at the intersection of two regional fault systems with NE-SW and NW-SE orientations. The ACC was built atop Cretaceous limestones, the Zacatán basaltic plateau of unknown age, early Miocene domes (~12.7–10.98 Ma), and Pliocene lava domes (~3.9–3 Ma). Detailed field mapping and stratigraphy studies complemented by 40Ar/39Ar and 14C dating allowed the division of the ACC volcanic succession into 30 volcanic units. Based on the new results and previous studies, the ACC eruptive chronology was grouped in four eruptive phases: syn-caldera, early post-caldera, late post-caldera, and extra-caldera. Inception of the ACC volcanism began around 2.7 Ma with the dispersion of an andesitic ignimbrite followed by the collapse of the magma chamber roof as attested by the presence of a lithic breccia in isolated parts of the caldera rim. The collapse produced a 18 × 16 km caldera depression which was partly filled by the ignimbrite (total volume of ~127 km3) followed by the establishment of an intracaldera lake of unknown total extension. Early post-caldera collapse activity (2.6–2.1 Ma) was restricted within the caldera producing 27 km3 of lava flows and domes dominantly of basaltic trachyandesite to basaltic composition. Late post-caldera collapse activity (2.0-<0.016 Ma) migrated dominantly to the caldera rim and periphery emplacing 90 km3 of magma as rhyolitic domes, lava flows, scoria cones, and two younger ignimbrites. The 1.2 Ma Encimadas ignimbrite (26 km3) was vented through the eastern margin of the caldera and dispersed to the northeast, and the 0.6–0.8 Ma Tecoloquillo ignimbrite and dome (11 km3) erupted from the southwestern margin of the caldera. The most recent eruption of this phase was vented close to the southeastern caldera rim producing the Cuatzitzingo (<16,710 ± 50 years BP) scoria cone. Extra-caldera activity (2.4–0.19 Ma) of the Apan–Tezontepec volcanic field produced scoria cones and lava flows of basaltic trachyandesite to basaltic andesite composition that are interbedded with the products of the caldera complex.Aeromagnetic data further constrains the edge of the caldera rim and is consistent with the presence of at least four intrusive bodies at depths of >1 km hosted in the Cretaceous limestones. These bodies might represent a series of horizontal mafic intrusions located at different depths that provide the energy that maintains the Acoculco geothermal system active.

Spatio-Temporal Relationships between Fumarolic Activity, Hydrothermal Fluid Circulation and Geophysical Signals at an Arc Volcano in Degassing Unrest: La Soufrière of Guadeloupe (French West Indies)

Over the past two decades, La Soufrière volcano in Guadeloupe has displayed a growing degassing unrest whose actual source mechanism still remains unclear. Based on new measurements of the chemistry and mass flux of fumarolic gas emissions from the volcano, here we reveal spatio-temporal variations in the degassing features that closely relate to the 3D underground circulation of fumarolic fluids, as imaged by electrical resistivity tomography, and to geodetic-seismic signals recorded over the past two decades. Discrete monthly surveys of gas plumes from the various vents on La Soufrière lava dome, performed with portable MultiGAS analyzers, reveal important differences in the chemical proportions and fluxes of H2O, CO2, H2S, SO2 and H2, which depend on the vent location with respect to the underground circulation of fluids. In particular, the main central vents, though directly connected to the volcano conduit and preferentially surveyed in past decades, display much higher CO2/SO2 and H2S/SO2 ratios than peripheral gas emissions, reflecting greater SO2 scrubbing in the boiling hydrothermal water at 80–100 m depth. Gas fluxes demonstrate an increased bulk degassing of the volcano over the past 10 years, but also a recent spatial shift in fumarolic degassing intensity from the center of the lava dome towards its SE–NE sector and the Breislack fracture. Such a spatial shift is in agreement with both extensometric and seismic evidence of fault widening in this sector due to slow gravitational sliding of the southern dome sector. Our study thus provides an improved framework to monitor and interpret the evolution of gas emissions from La Soufrière in the future and to better forecast hazards from this dangerous andesitic volcano.

Spanish Bentonites: A Review and New Data on Their Geology, Mineralogy, and Crystal Chemistry

A review and a synthesis of the geological, mineralogical, and crystal chemical data available in the literature on active Spanish bentonitic exploitations were done, and at the same time, new data are provided from a set of representative samples from these deposits. They were located in three different areas with different geological origins: (1) Miocene sedimentary deposits from the Tajo Basin (Madrid–Toledo provinces) in the center of the Iberian Peninsula, where bentonites appear in two different units named for their colors (Green Clays and Pink Clays); (2) samples from Tamame de Sayago (Zamora province) originating from the hydrothermal alteration of granitic Variscan rocks; and 3) Miocene deposits originating from the hydrothermal alteration of volcanic or subvolcanic rocks from the Cabo de Gata volcanic area (Almería Province) in the southern part of Spain, where the three main deposits (Cortijo de Archidona, Los Trancos, and Morrón de Mateo) were studied. The bentonites from the Tajo Basin were formed mainly by trioctahedral smectites, and there were significant mineralogical differences between the Green and Pink Clays, both in terms of the contents of impurities and in terms of smectite crystallochemistry and crystallinity. The smectites from Tamame de Sayago were dioctahedral (montmorillonite–beidellite series), and they appeared with kaolinite, quartz, and mica in all possible proportions, from almost pure bentonite to kaolin. Finally, the compositions of the bentonites from the three studied deposits in Cabo de Gata were quite similar, and zeolites and plagioclases were the main impurities. The structural formulae of the smectites from Cortijo de Archidona and Los Trancos showed a continuous compositional variation in beidellite–montmorillonite, while in Morrón de Mateo, the smectites were mainly montmorillonite, although there was continuous compositional variation from Al montmorillonites to Fe–Mg-rich saponites. The variation in the smectite composition is due to the intrusion of a volcanic dome, which brings new fluids that alter the initial composition of the smectites.

Hydrothermal alteration of andesitic lava domes can lead to explosive volcanic behaviour

Dome-forming volcanoes are among the most hazardous volcanoes on Earth. Magmatic outgassing can be hindered if the permeability of a lava dome is reduced, promoting pore pressure augmentation and explosive behaviour. Laboratory data show that acid-sulphate alteration, common to volcanoes worldwide, can reduce the permeability on the sample lengthscale by up to four orders of magnitude and is the result of pore- and microfracture-filling mineral precipitation. Calculations using these data demonstrate that intense alteration can reduce the equivalent permeability of a dome by two orders of magnitude, which we show using numerical modelling to be sufficient to increase pore pressure. The fragmentation criterion shows that the predicted pore pressure increase is capable of fragmenting the majority of dome-forming materials, thus promoting explosive volcanism. It is crucial that hydrothermal alteration, which develops over months to years, is monitored at dome-forming volcanoes and is incorporated into real-time hazard assessments.

Growth and collapse of a littoral lava dome during the 2018/19 eruption of Kadovar Volcano, Papua New Guinea, analyzed by multi-sensor satellite imagery

Growing volcanic islands and lava domes become structurally unstable, associated with sectoral collapses, explosive volcanism and related hazards. This article describes the rare case of a growing and collapsing lava dome at Kadovar Volcano, a small inhabited volcanic island located north of Papua New Guinea. The eruption began on January 5, 2018 and was monitored by multi-sensor satellite imagery, including optical, thermal and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors. Results show that Kadovar began a new episode of volcanic activity at the central crater and then also at the eastern coast of the island. SAR amplitude imagery has made it possible to monitor the birth of a new peninsula on the eastern coast. This new peninsula has a blocky appearance and is associated with a localized thermal anomaly, which is indicative of an emerging lava dome. We analyzed the changes on the island and the peripheral lava dome and found that after a great increase in the size of the area, parts of the island and the lava dome then collapsed eastwardly into the ocean on February 9, 2018. The sector collapse caused small tsunami waves that hit the neighboring islands. A subsequent slower re-growth of the lava dome is evident from the satellite data, which has reached a final area of ˜40,000 m². This study provides details on the rapid growth and collapse of a peripheral lava dome and a destabilization episode in an island and dome sector, and underlines the great value of remote sensing data on remote volcanic islands.

In situ cosmogenic 3He and 36Cl and radiocarbon dating of volcanic deposits refine the Pleistocene and Holocene eruption chronology of SW Peru

Constraining the age of young lavas, which generally fall outside the effective range of traditional geochronology methods, remains a key challenge in volcanology, limiting the development of high-resolution eruption chronologies. We present an in situ cosmogenic 3He and 36Cl surface-exposure chronology, alongside new minimum-limiting 14C ages, documenting young eruptions at five sites in the Western Cordillera, southern Peru. Four 3He-dated lavas on the Nevado Coropuna volcanic complex (hitherto thought to be dormant) indicate that the central dome cluster is young and potentially active; two Holocene lavas on the easternmost dome are the youngest directly dated lavas in Peru to date. East of Coropuna, lava domes and block-lava flows represent the most extensive output to date of Nevado Sabancaya, one of Peru’s most active volcanoes. Two 3He measurements confirm the Holocene age of these deposits and expand the chronology for one of the youngest major lava fields in Peru. 36Cl surface-exposure ages from the Purupurini dome cluster and Nevado Casiri document middle-late-Holocene episodes of effusive activity, while basal 14C ages from a lava-dammed wetland constrain an effusive eruption at Mina Arcata, north of Coropuna, to the late-glacial period. These new data advance the recent Western Cordillera volcanic record whilst demonstrating both the considerable potential and fundamental limitations of cosmogenic surface-exposure methods for such applications.