Massive Lapilli Tuff Research Articles

Plio-Pleistocene rear-arc volcanism in the Southern Volcanic Zone: Eruptive styles of the Varvarco Volcanic Field

The Varvarco Volcanic Field (VVF) is located in the southern part of the Las Loicas Trough, as part of the Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene rear-arc volcanic belt in the Transitional Southern Volcanic Zone (34.5–37°S). Its volcanic products show an elliptical distribution, elongated parallel to NW-SE main structures that regionally controlled the Las Loicas Trough. A detailed field and petrographic study was carried out to identify main lithofacies and establish its eruptive styles.The VVF magmatic evolution is initially characterized by a voluminous explosive stage represented in the area by dense and dilute pyroclastic density currents (PDC) deposits (massive lapilli tuffs, cross-stratified lapilli tuffs and diffuse-stratified tuffs). Afterwards, it evolved into an effusive stage represented by basaltic lava flows (coherent basalts), associated with Hawaiian to Strombolian eruptive style, which constitutes most of the VVF volume. The final stage of the VVF history was linked to a stratovolcano-type activity where both effusive (coherent basalts and andesites, and rhyolitic coulees) and explosive lithofacies (such as massive lithic breccias and massive lapilli tuffs) are described. Within this stage, the uppermost effusive levels were intruded by dacitic and rhyolitic domes and basaltic dykes. Available ages allow to conclude that the VVF emplacement was developed during Plio-Pleistocene times, linked to the re-steepening of the Nazca plate, after the Late Miocene Payenia shallow subduction regime.

Late Pleistocene to Holocene activity of Alchichica maar volcano, eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

Detailed volcano-stratigraphy and 40Ar/39Ar dating are used for the first time to reconstruct the eruptive evolution of the Alchichica maar and to contribute to the understanding of maar volcanism within the eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). The maar excavated in an area where previous eruptions included Hawaiian, Strombolian, and phreatomagmatic types. Alchichica is characterized by an irregular shape tephra ring with a bulk volume of ∼0.088 km3 based on high-resolution digital terrain model calculations. The maar deposits comprises two stratigraphic units (lower and upper) with contrasting lithofacies characteristics suggesting different depositional conditions and variations in eruption behavior. These units correspond to: (1) vent-clearing stage with explosions producing a succession of massive tuff-breccia intercalated with massive lapilli-tuffs; (2) pulsating phreatomagmatic eruptions producing a series of accretionary lapilli-rich tuffs that alternate with dominantly well-stratified tuffs and lapilli-tuffs deposited from pyroclastic density currents. The geochronological data provide first constraints about the young age (Late Pleistocene-Holocene) of the Alchichica maar. The presence of the maar and some of the other pre-maar eruptions suggest long-lasting dispersed volcanism in a well-defined, but small area, where rejuvenated monogenetic vents cut into earlier ones, having significant implications for hazard assessments in the region.

Contrasting tectonic settings in Northern Chon Aike Igneous Province of Patagonia: subduction and mantle plume-related volcanism in the Marifil formation

ABSTRACT The northern zone of the Chon Aike Igneous Province, located in the North Patagonian Massif, exhibits extensive outcrops of Jurassic volcanic rocks of the Marifil Formation. In the Arroyo Verde area, the initial volcanic stage of the Marifil Formation, that we denominate V0 (192.6 ± 2.5 Ma), includes coulées, megabreccias and lapilli tuffs assigned to plinian-type volcanism. This magmatism was generated by cold-wet-oxidized magmas that resemble those produced in active continental margins and volcanic arcs. The second stage, located unconformably over the first, includes welded lava-like ignimbrites, massive lapilli tuff and rhyolitic lava flow that resemble the Snake River-type volcanism. The magma that produces this volcanic stage exhibit the characteristics of hot-dry-reduced magmas emplaced in intraplate continental environments associated with continental rifting. This stage coincides with the V1 volcanic episode early recorded in the Marifil Formation.

Lithic-rich and lithic-poor ignimbrites and their basal deposits: Sovana and Sorano formations (Latera caldera, Italy)

Conceptual models explaining the characteristics of ignimbrites and their basal deposits have mainly focused on variations in particle concentration and speed of the parent pyroclastic currents. Here, we focus on the effects of relative proportions of clasts that are well coupled to the carrier gas phase and those that are poorly coupled, i.e., the proportions of fine and/or low-density clasts compared to coarse and/or dense clasts. We document facies and macroscopic clast populations of two ignimbrite-producing eruptive sequences of similar volume and composition, both erupted from Latera caldera (central Italy). The Sovana ignimbrite has 1–15 vol% dense lithic clasts and locally up to 70 vol% in lithic-rich domains. It preserves evidence of emplacement of multiple overlapping flow units with local internal channeling. The ignimbrite is underlain by two basal deposits: (1) a radially distributed, 20–80-cm-thick vitric tuff referred to as BUS (basal unit Sovana) that thins gradually with distance and shows evidence of emplacement by lateral currents; and (2) a fines-depleted, lenticular, massive lapilli tuff, up to 20 cm thick, with abundant lithic clasts. The Sorano ignimbrite, in contrast, has < 1 vol% dense lithic clasts. It contains multiple reverse coarse-tail graded emplacement units, but we observed no internal channeling. In most places, its basal deposits are 20–100 cm of dominantly planar-parallel, 5–10 cm-thick, reverse coarse-tail graded tuff beds. However, in local depressions near the tops of paleocanyons that were filled by Sorano ignimbrite, the basal deposits are up to 2 m thick and are clearly cross stratified. We interpret the different deposit characteristics in terms of recent modeling and experimental results. The Sovana eruption involved major caldera collapse that introduced abundant dense lithic clasts into the erupting mixtures. BUS may have partly resulted from expulsion of a dilute, fine-grained mixture at the site where the pyroclastic fountain(s) impacted the ground, which then propagated outward as a dilute pyroclastic current ahead of the main ignimbrite-producing currents; the expulsion process is promoted by collapsing mixtures rich in poorly coupled clasts. The fines-depleted layer overlying BUS was deposited by rapid sedimentation of abundant dense clasts from the head of the ash-cloud surge, which accompanied the concentrated underflow that deposited the ignimbrite. Spatial and temporal variations in dense-clast abundance, and likely other parameters, during eruption resulted in multiple flow units. The Sorano eruption lacked poorly coupled clasts and did not produce an expulsion-driven current. Its ash-cloud head deposited ash and small pumice lapilli that were able to move in traction carpets prior to being overridden by a concentrated underflow. The overriding ash-cloud bodies locally deposited cross-stratified horizons in depressions high on the canyon walls, before they were inundated as the concentrated underflows filled the canyons with ignimbrite. To summarize, the differences between the ignimbrites and their basal deposits can be largely attributed to the differences in proportions of poorly coupled relative to well-coupled particles in the collapsing eruptive mixtures; the resulting conceptual model simplifies the previous range of interpretations for basal deposits, and is consistent with recent modeling and experimental results.

Rock-magnetic evidence for the low-temperature emplacement of the Habushiura pyroclastic density current, Niijima Island, Japan

Abstract The emplacement temperatures of accidental and juvenile fragments in the Habushiura pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposit were estimated using analysis of rock magnetism. The Habushiura PDC was generated in a costal or shallow offshore area during the early stage of the AD 886 phreatomagmatic eruption on Niijima Island, Japan. We collected 160 samples from 11 beds, which include three lithofacies types: a massive lapilli tuff (Facies A); a graded and/or diffusely stratified lapilli tuff (Facies B); and a swarm of large pumice (Facies C). Juvenile specimens from Facies A and C show a wide range of emplacement temperatures, from less than 150 °C up to 300 °C, in contrast with the emplacement temperatures lower than 150 °C of Facies B. Morphological features of the ash components and random changes in palaeomagnetic direction by stepwise thermal demagnetization indicate that low-temperature emplacement occurred by phreatomagmatic eruptions and ingestion of ambient air by the turbulent current. The emplacement temperatures of accidental fragments were up to 380 °C, which is higher than juvenile fragments. They are thought to have cooled more slowly than juvenile fragments due to the smaller surface area with respect to their volume.

Eruptive history of the Barombi Mbo Maar, Cameroon Volcanic Line, Central Africa: Constraints from volcanic facies analysis

Abstract his study presents the first and detail field investigations of exposed deposits at proximal sections of the Barombi Mbo Maar (BMM), NE Mt Cameroon, with the aim of documenting its past activity, providing insight on the stratigraphic distribution, depositional process, and evolution of the eruptive sequences during its formation. Field evidence reveals that the BMM deposit is about 126m thick, of which about 20m is buried lowermost under the lake level and covered by vegetation. Based on variation in pyroclastic facies within the deposit, it can be divided into three main stratigraphic units: U1, U2 and U3. Interpretation of these features indicates that U1 consists of alternating lapilli-ash-lapilli beds series, in which fallout derived individual lapilli-rich beds are demarcated by surges deposits made up of thin, fine-grained and consolidated ash-beds that are well-defined, well-sorted and laterally continuous in outcrop scale. U2, a pyroclastic fall-derived unit, shows crudely lenticular stratified scoriaceous layers, in which many fluidal and spindle bombs-rich lapilli-beds are separated by very thin, coarse-vesiculatedash-beds, overlain by a mantle xenolith- and accidental lithic-rich explosive breccia, and massive lapilli tuff and lapillistone. U3 displays a series of surges and pyroclastic fall layers. Emplacement processes were largely controlled by fallout deposition and turbulent diluted pyroclastic density currents under “dry” and “wet” conditions. The eruptive activity evolved in a series of initial phreatic eruptions, which gradually became phreatomagmatic, followed by a phreato-Strombolian and a violent phreatomagmatic fragmentation. A relatively long-time break, demonstrated by a paleosol between U2 and U3, would have permitted the feeding of the root zone or the prominent crater by the water that sustained the next eruptive episode, dominated by subsequent phreatomagmatic eruptions. These preliminary results require complementary studies, such as geochemistry, for a better understanding of the changes in the eruptive styles, and to develop more constraints on the maar’s polygenetic origin.

철원분지 동막골응회암의 분출유형과 분출과정

동막골응회암은 대부분 화쇄류암으로 구성되지만 입도와 퇴적구조에 따라 암상을 분류하면 (1) 괴상응회각력암, (2) 용결 응회암 및 라필리응회암, (3) 유변상 응회암 및 라필리응회암이 있고 (4) 괴상 라필리응회암, (5) 성층화 라필리응회암, (6) 점이층리 라필리응회암, (7) 불량층리 라필리응회암과 (8) 괴상 세립질 응회암이 있다. 이 암상들은 상하로 3개 화성쇄설암군으로 구별하여 조합할 수 있다. 하부 화성쇄설암군(LI)은 괴상 라필리응회암, 용결 응회암 및 라필리응회암과 유변상 응회암 및 라필리응회암으로 조합되며, 화쇄류형성 분출로부터 끓어넘침 분출에 의한 화쇄류로부터 정치된 것이다. 중부 화성쇄설암군(LT+MI)은 하부에 성층화 라필리응회암, 점이층리 라필리응회암, 괴상 라필리응회암과 이들에 조합된 괴상 세립질 응회암으로 구성되고 중 상부에 괴상 라필리응회암, 용결 응회암 및 라필리응회암과 유변상 응회암 및 라필리응회암으로 조합된다. 이들은 외부물의 소량 유입으로 수증기마그마성 분출에 의한 화쇄써지로 시작하여 끓어넘침 분출의 화쇄류로 전환된 것이다. 상부 화성쇄설암군(lUT+uUT+UI)은 최하부에 성층화 라필리응회암, 점이층리 라필리응회암으로 조합되고, 하부에 괴상 응회각력암, 불량층리 라필리응회암, 괴상 라필리응회암과 괴상 세립질 응회암으로 조합되며 중 상부에 괴상 라필리응회암, 용결 응회암 및 라필리응회암으로 조합되며, 이들은 수증기플리니언 분출에 의한 써지로 시작해서 플리니언 분출에 의한 강하를 거쳐 끓어넘침 분출로 전환되어 화쇄류로부터 퇴적된 것이다. 결론적으로 동막골응회암에서 분출과정은 대체로 전 중 후기 화산작용이 단계별로 수증기플리니언 혹은 플리니언 분출로 시작하여 화쇄류형성 분출로 전환되고 끓어넘침 분출로 진행되는 순서를 밟았다. 그러나 전기 화산작용은 아마도 초엽의 수증기플리니언 혹은 플리니언 분출 없이 진행되었다. The Dongmakgol Tuff is divided into 8 lithofacies based on their grain size and depositional structures: massive tuff breccia(TBm), welded tuff and lapilli tuff(LTw), rheomorphic tuff and lapilli tuff(LTr), massive lapilli tuff(LTm), stratified lapilli tuff(LTs), gradedly bedded lapilli tuff(LTg), crudely bedded lapilli tuff(LTb) and massive fine tuff(Tm). They can be divided into 3 pyroclastic rock group based on their constituents of the lithofacies. The lower group(LI) is composed of LTm, LTw and LTr, which are interpreted to have resulted from emplacement of voluminous pyroclastic flows due to ignimbrite-form eruption to boiling-over eruption. The middle group(LT+MI) consists of LTs, LTg and LTm associated with Tm in the lower part, and of LTm, LTw and LTr in the middle and upper parts; these suggest that started with deposition of pyroclastic surges from phreatoplinian eruption by poor eternal water, passed through emplacement of pyroclastic flows from ignimbrite-form eruption and ended with deposition of voluminous pyroclastic flows from boiling-over eruption. The upper group(lUT+uUT+UI) is composed of LTs, LTg and Tm in the lowermost, TBm, LTb, LTb and Tm in the lower part, and LTm and LTw in the middle and upper part, suggesting that began with deposition of surges from phreatoplinian eruption, passed through deposition of pumice- and ash-fallouts from plinian eruption and transformed into emplacement of pyroclastic flows due to boiling-over eruption. As result, eruptive processes in the Dongmakgol Tuff approximately began with phreatoplinian or/and plinian eruption, transformed into ignimbrite-forming eruption and proceeded into boiling-over eruption in each volcanism, but proceeded presumably without phreatoplinian or plinian eruption in the earlier stage of 1st volcanism.

Mapping and Assessment of Volcanic Hazards Related to the Ignimbritic Eruption by AMS in Bambouto Volcano (Cameroon Volcanic Line)

Pyroclastic deposits constitute major components of explosive volcanic activity. To help improve the safety of the population faced with natural disasters, a study is carried out at Bambouto volcano with a view to map potential hazards related to pyroclastic flows. The Bambouto volcano is indeed considered to be still active since the recent discovery of Quaternary basalts (0.5 Ma) at Totap, a locality situated near the Bambouto Caldera. This discovery has led to reclassify Mount Bambouto among active volcanoes of Cameroon and, therefore, considered as potentially dangerous. The dangerousness of this volcano is accentuated by the presence of ignimbrites that are witnesses of ancient pyroclastic flows. Because a map of volcanic hazards is non-existent on the volcano, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) is the method used in this paper to characterize magnetic fabrics and provides an estimate of flow direction of each ignimbrite sheet (represented by massive lapilli tuff and massive lithic breccia facies). Inferred transport directions based on the AMS data and field indicators show that Bambouto Caldera is the source of main pyroclastic deposits of Mount Bambouto. These results have enabled us to produce a new hazard map related to potential future pyroclastic flows.

Neogene and Quaternary ignimbrites in the area of Arequipa, Southern Peru: Stratigraphical and petrological correlations

This study focuses on the correlation of four newly identified rhyolitic ignimbrites located around Arequipa, which were previously described as a single ignimbrite sheet: (1) The Río Chili Ignimbrite (ca. 13.33 Ma) crops out in the Río Chili canyon and consists of a cooling unit of non-welded to partially welded, massive, crystal-rich lapilli tuff. This ignimbrite represents the base of the Neogene ignimbrite succession in the Arequipa area and may be stratigraphically equivalent to the 14–13 Ma Huaylillas Ignimbrites in southern Peru. (2) The second voluminous (∼ 20 km 3) and widespread La Joya Ignimbrite sheet (ca. 4.87 Ma) filled the Arequipa depression. Its probable source is now buried underneath the Chachani volcanic complex. The La Joya Ignimbrite covers both the Arequipa Batholith toward the Río Vitor piedmont and also part of the Altiplano to the East and North of the Chachani complex. (3) The Arequipa Airport Ignimbrite (AAI) sheet (ca. 1.6 Ma, ∼18 km 3), the third and latest infill of the Arequipa basin, consists of a lower white, columnar jointed, massive lapilli tuff, indurated by vapor-phase recrystallization, and is overlain by an upper, pink, lithic-rich, non-welded, massive lapilli-tuff. The source of this ignimbrite is also buried underneath the Chachani complex, as indicated by anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility measurements and component lithology. (4) The Yura non-welded pumice-flow deposits (ca. 1.02 Ma, 1.5 km 3) are restricted to the northern and western flanks of the Chachani complex and may correlate with tuffs of the Capillune Formation on the Altiplano. All ignimbrites are high-K calc-alkaline to alkaline rhyolites, which contain variable amounts of plagioclase, biotite, quartz, sanidine, and Fe–Ti oxides. The modal composition of mineral phases and chemistry of amphiboles and biotites are useful for distinguishing the ignimbrites. Specific geochemical fingerprints, such as Sr, Y, Rb, Ba, Cs, REE, and Sr isotopes were effective discriminator elements. Magmatic differentiation, crustal residence time and contamination, and source melting processes are discussed in order to explain compositional variations. The older La Joya Ignimbrite and Río Chili Ignimbrite reflect initial wetter crustal melts closer to granite composition, whereas with time the younger Arequipa Airport Ignimbrite and Yura Tuffs initial melts are slightly less evolved and dryer due to more extensive crustal melting. The voluminous (> 40 km 3) Neogene ignimbrites of the Arequipa area were produced by three major explosive volcanic pulses in the Central Volcanic Zone of southern Peru, whose genetic relation with tectonic uplift and crustal thickening of the Andean Cordillera are still a matter of debate.

Archean, deep-marine, volcanic eruptive products associated with the Coniagas massive sulfide deposit, Quebec, Canada

The mafic-dominated volcanic and related volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks, which host the Archean Coniagas Zn–Pb–Ag massive sulfide deposit, are inferred to be the result of submarine explosive and effusive eruptions at depths of approximately 1000 m, as suggested by the presence of volcaniclastic turbidites, the absence of wave-induced sedimentary structures, pillowed lava flows, the sulfide deposit itself, and the incipient arc setting. The rock assemblage includes massive, pillowed and brecciated, basaltic to andesitic flows, massive, andesitic to rhyodacitic lapilli tuffs, andesitic stratified lapilli tuffs, and bedded tuffs. Preserved fragments and delicate volcanic textures, such as angularity of clasts, chilled clast margins, and clast vesicularity, and sedimentary structures are consistent with a subaqueous hydroclastic origin for the volcaniclastic sedimentary rocks. Explosive degasification of magma and (or) lava, in conjunction with fragmentation due to the interaction of magma–water, or nonexplosive hydroclastic fragmentation can account for the observed characteristics in the volcaniclastic deposits.The 280 m thick Coniagas volcano-sedimentary succession, used to reconstruct the volcanic history of the deposit, records two explosive–effusive volcanic cycles. The initial stage of each cycle is envisaged to have commenced with a small fire fountain or boiling-over eruption. Transport and deposition of the fragmented debris along the flanks of the volcanic edifice is attributed to high-concentration particulate gravity flows. The massive lapilli tuffs are interpreted as laminar debris flows, whereas the stratified lapilli tuffs may reflect turbulent flow deposits. The bedded tuffs were produced during the waning eruptive stages or elutriated from high-concentration syneruption flows. Ingestion of water, causing hydroclastic fragmentation, occurred during the eruptive and (or) the transport process. Calm, effusive mafic volcanism, characterized by massive, pillowed and brecciated flows and reworked counterparts, terminates each volcanic cycle. The massive, felsic lapilli tuffs, which host the mineralization, are inferred to represent locally reworked hydroclastic products of explosive or nonexplosive origin. The Coniagas mine deposit may serve as a guide for future exploration of small Archean volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposits with a restricted alteration halo.

The Udo tuff cone, Cheju Island, South Korea: transformation of pyroclastic fall into debris fall and grain flow on a steep volcanic cone slope

ABSTRACTThe Udo tuff cone of Cheju Island, South Korea, is a middle Pleistocene basalt tuff cone that has formed by early Surtseyan‐type eruptions and later drier hydroclastic eruptions. The tuff cone comprises steep (20–30°) and planar beds of lapillistone, lapilli tuff and tuff that can be grouped into seven sedimentary facies (A‐G). Facies A and B comprise continuous to lenticular layers of grain‐supported and openwork lapillistone that are inversely graded and coarsen downslope. They suggest emplacement by grain flows that are maintained by gravity‐induced stress and grain collisions. Facies C includes poorly sorted, crudely bedded and locally inversely graded lapilli tuff, also suggestive of rapid deposition from highly concentrated grain flows. Facies D includes thinly stratified and mantle‐bedded tuff that was probably deposited by fallout of wind‐borne ash. Other facies include massive lapilli tuff (Facies E), chaotic lapilli tuff (Facies F) and cross‐bedded tuffaceous sandstone (Facies G) that were deposited by resedimentation processes such as debris flow, slide/slump and stream flow, respectively.The grain flows that produced Facies A, B and C are interpreted to have originated from falling pyroclasts, which initially generated highly dispersed, saltating avalanches, in which momentum was transferred by the particles themselves. This transport mechanism is similar to that of debris fall. As the slope gradient was too low to maintain a highly dispersed flow, the debris fall decelerated and contracted due to a decrease in dispersive pressure. The mode of momentum transfer changed to one of collision because contraction of the debris fall resulted in an increase in particle concentration. This transport mechanism is similar to that of common grain flows. Grain segregation occurred in several ways. Initial segregation of ash from lapilli occurred due to their differing terminal fall velocities, and their contrasting degrees of sliding friction with the bed. Percolation of ash into interstices of lapilli during flow (kinematic sieving) augmented further segregation of ash from lapilli. The latter process, along with a dispersive pressure effect, gave rise to vertical inverse size grading. Downdip inverse grading was produced by particle overpassing.

Depositional processes of the Suwolbong tuff ring, Cheju Island (Korea)

ABSTRACTThe Suwolbong pyroclastic sequence in the western part of Cheju Island, Korea, comprises partly preserved rim beds of a Quaternary basaltic tuff ring whose vent lies about 1 km seaward of the present shoreline. The sequence consists of breccia, lapillistone, lapilli tuff and tuff. Eighteen sedimentary facies are established and organized into six lateral facies sequences (LFS) and seven vertical facies sequences (VFS).The LFS 1, 4 and 5 begin with massive lapilli tuff which transforms downcurrent into either planar‐bedded (LFS 1), undulatory‐bedded (LFS 4) or climbing dune‐bedded (LFS 5) (lapilli) tuff units. They are representative of relatively ‘dry’ base surge whose particle concentration decreases downcurrent with a progressive increase in both tractional processes and sorting. The LFS 2 begins with disorganized and massive lapilli tuff and transforms into crudely stratified units downcurrent. It results from relatively ‘wet’ base surge in which sorting is poor due to the cohesion of damp ash. The LFS 3 comprises well‐sorted lapilli tuff and stratified tuff further downcurrent, suggestive of deposition from combined fall and surge of relatively ‘dry’ hydroclastic eruption. All seven vertical facies sequences generally comprise two facies units of coarse‐grained fines‐depleted lapilli tuff and an overlying fine‐grained tuff. These sequences are suggestive of deposition from base surge that consists of a turbulent head and a low‐concentration tail.Depositional processes in the Suwolbong tuff ring were dominated by a relatively ‘dry’ base surge. The base surge comprises turbulent and high‐concentration suspension near the vent whose deposits are generally unstratified due to the lack of tractional transport. As the base surge becomes diluted downcurrent through fallout of clasts and mixing of ambient air, it develops large‐scale turbulent eddies and is segregated into coarse‐grained bedload and overlying fine‐grained suspension forming thinly stratified units. Further downcurrent, the base surge may be either cooled and deflated or pushed up into the air, depending on its temperature. The Suwolbong tuff ring comprises an overall wet‐to‐dry cycle with several dry‐to‐wet cycles in it, suggestive of overall decrease in abundance of external water and fluctuation in the rate of magma rise.