Orthopyroxene Phenocrysts Research Articles

Time‐Resolved Trigger Processes Leading to the Plinian Eruptions at Sakurajima Volcano, Japan

AbstractMafic magma recharge of crustal reservoirs and subsequent magma mixing has been considered a direct trigger of volcanic eruptions. However, although recharge frequently occurs in many active volcanoes, it rarely leads to an eruption immediately, making its role as a trigger ambiguous. Sakurajima volcano, Japan, has vigorously erupted three times since the 15th century following a common process; mixed magmas after recharge were once stored in a shallow, thick conduit before each eruption (conduit pre‐charge). We reconstructed the magma migration with a high time resolution by diffusion modeling on orthopyroxene and magnetite. Orthopyroxene phenocrysts recorded prolonged diffusive re‐equilibration timescales of years or more after recharge‐and‐mixing. Magnetite, which has the fastest elemental diffusivity among the phenocrysts examined, predominantly lacks zoning. This demonstrates that the mineral phase was re‐equilibrated with surrounding magma and homogenized via elemental diffusion after the final magmatic perturbation, implying the final repose of the shallow pre‐charged magma body for more than several tens of days. After this shallow stagnation period, the Plinian magmas began to ascend and reached the surface within 55 hr. Mass balance calculations show that crystallization‐driven vesiculation upon pre‐charge can produce overpressure sufficient to cause an eruption. The Sakurajima cases demonstrate the hierarchical timescales of trigger processes leading to the explosive eruptions.

Petrological and geochemical insights into the magma plumbing system of the Daliuchong dacite eruption, Tengchong Volcanic Field, SW China

The formation of highly evolved, dacitic magmas has been attributed to various processes, including crystal fractionation, partial melting of overlying crust, and/or assimilation of crustal material into an evolving magma chamber. These processes are undoubtedly primary processes involved in the formation of dacites, but they may not be the only mechanism involved in the formation of high-silica dacites. For instance, mafic magma replenishment has been proposed as an additional mechanism but has not been assessed, and thus, its role has not been well-constrained. The Daliuchong volcano is the result of one of the largest eruptive events within the Tengchong Volcanic Field (TVF) in southwest China during the Early-Middle Pleistocene. Here, we conducted detailed mineral textures, mineral chemistry, and geochemical studies on Daliuchong pyroclastic rocks to explore the pre-eruptive storage conditions and evolution processes of the magma. The Daliuchong pyroclastic rocks are dacitic in composition. The samples show porphyritic textures characterized by phenocrysts of plagioclase, amphibole, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and Fe-Ti oxides. Additionally, two distinct types of glomerocryst are identified: a gabbroic glomerocryst containing plagioclase + clinopyroxene + orthopyroxene ± Fe-Ti oxides assemblage and a dioritic glomerocryst containing plagioclase + amphibole ± pyroxene ± Fe-Ti oxides assemblage. Both phenocryst and glomerocryst show rich micro-textures. The Daliuchong dacite exhibits bulk compositional heterogeneity. Analysis of bulk-rock data suggests that this heterogeneity may arise from both the differentiation of the dacite itself and the injection of mafic magma. The compositional similarity between the Daliuchong dacite and experimentally produced partial melts of metamorphic basalt supports that the Daliuchong dacite was predominantly formed through the partial melting of the mafic lower crust. Thermobarometry estimation indicates that clinopyroxenes with high Mg# crystallized at 560–870 MPa, whereas amphibole and clinopyroxenes with low Mg# crystallized at 185–300 MPa. Based on the observed phase relations and the calculated crystallization conditions, we propose that during the differentiation of the Daliuchong dacite, heterogeneous dacitic magma formed by partial melting accumulated in a deep magma reservoir (21–32 km) before subsequently ascending toward shallower depths. Crystallization of plagioclase, amphibole, Fe-Ti oxides, and small amounts of pyroxene and apatite occurred at a shallower depth (7–10 km). The presence of coarse-sieve texture, fine-sieve texture, and oscillatory zoning with high amplitude in plagioclase suggests intermittent injection of mafic magma into the shallow magma reservoir, with the eruption of dacitic magma occurring after the final mafic magma replenishment. The petrological evidence above advocates that primitive magma replenishment could have been involved in the formation and triggered the eruption of dacite in the Daliuchong volcano.

Genesis of Andesitic Magma Erupted at Yufu Volcano, Kyushu Island, Southwest Japan Arc: Evidence from the Chemical Compositions of Amphibole Phenocrysts

Abstract The major- and trace-element compositions of amphiboles in andesite from Quaternary Yufu Volcano, northeastern Kyushu, Japan were analysed to investigate the generation processes of andesitic magma from Yufu Volcano. The amphiboles in andesite from Yufu volcano can be divided into two groups based on major-element composition: pargasite and magnesio-hornblende. To estimate temperature, pressure, and major- and trace-element compositions of melts in equilibrium with amphiboles, we used the recently proposed methods that can calculate temperature, pressure, major element compositions, and partition coefficients of trace-element between amphibole and melt using only the major-element compositions of amphibole. The estimated temperature, pressure, and major-element composition of melt in equilibrium with the amphibole phenocrysts indicate that each group crystallised under different conditions. These differences suggest that two magma chambers at different depths existed beneath Yufu Volcano and that the andesitic magma of Yufu Volcano was formed by mixing of the two magmas. The trace-element compositions of melts in equilibrium with the pargasite and magnesio-hornblende, estimated by applying the partition coefficients calculated from major-element compositions of amphibole to trace-element compositions of amphiboles, indicate magma derived from slab melt and the partial melting of crustal material, respectively. Because magma is a mixture of minerals and melt, we estimate the chemical compositional ranges of the two end-member magmas on the Y versus SiO2 diagram from the mixing relationship between amphibole and estimated melt, as well as phenocrysts of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and orthopyroxene. The overlap of the estimated compositional range with the trend of whole-rock composition represents the chemical compositions of the end-members of magma mixing, yielding estimates of the mafic (SiO2 ≈ 45 wt %) and felsic (SiO2 ≈ 68 wt %) end-member magmas. Furthermore, we estimate the concentrations of other elements in the end-member magmas by substituting the estimated SiO2 concentrations of the magmas into linear regression equations between the whole-rock contents of other elements and SiO2. The trace-element compositions of the mafic and felsic end-member magmas, as estimated in this study, have similar features to those of gabbroids and Cretaceous granitic rocks, respectively, that are presumed to lie beneath Yufu Volcano. These similarities could be explained by the possibility that the compositions of the end-member magmas were influenced by basement rocks.

Dynamics of magma mixing and magma mobilisation beneath Mauna Loa—insights from the 1950 AD Southwest Rift Zone eruption

Eruptions from Mauna Loa’s Southwest Rift Zone (SWRZ) pose a significant threat to nearby communities due to high eruption rates and steep slopes resulting in little time for evacuation. Despite the large body of research done on Mauna Loa, knowledge of the timing and duration of magma residence and transfer through its internal plumbing system is still poorly constrained. This study presents a first quantitative look at thermochemical conditions and timescales of potentially deep storage and disaggregation of magmatic mush during the run-up to the voluminous 1950 AD SWRZ eruption. Details of heterogeneous compositions and textures of the macrocryst and glomerocryst cargo in 1950 AD lavas suggest magma mixing and crystal recycling along the entire plumbing system. Furthermore, the crystal cargo contains evidence for the direct interaction between primitive, deeply stored magma and pockets of more evolved magma stored at shallow to intermediate depths. An enigmatic attribute of 1950 near-vent lava is the near-ubiquitous presence of subhedral, unreacted Mg-rich orthopyroxene phenocrysts (Mg#>80). Phase relations of Mauna Loa olivine-tholeiite indicate that orthopyroxene joins olivine as a primary phase at pressures higher than 0.6 GPa. Coexisting Mg-rich olivine and orthopyroxene and the occurrence of harzburgitic (olivine-orthopyroxene) glomerocrysts provide evidence for cognate crystallisation at near-Moho (~ 18 km) depths (Thornber and Trusdell 2008). Petrogenetically diverse populations of glomerocrysts and macrocrysts alongside evidence of multilevel magma storage indicate a network of ephemeral and possibly interconnected magma pockets from near-Moho depths to the upper/mid-crust. Fe-Mg diffusion chronometry applied to 1950 AD olivine populations implies rapid mobilisation and transport of large volumes of magma (376×106 m3) from near-Moho storage to the surface within less than 8 months, with little residence time (~ 2 weeks) in the shallow (3–5 km) plumbing system.

Origin of Ti-Fe-oxide mineralization of post-island-arc gabbroid complexes in the northern part of the West Magnitogorsk zone (Southern Urals)

Detailed mineralogical and geochemical studies of Ti-Fe oxides from gabbroids of the Nauruz and Utlyktash post-subductional complexes, West Magnitogorsk Zone, South Urals, have been carried out. The polygenic nature of Ti-Fe mineralization in Nauruz sill, Utlyktash layered lopolith and Uraz intrusion rocks has been established. The Nauruz massif is dominated by titanomagnetite, which crystallized both from the Ti-Fe-oxide liquid at the early magmatic stage and from the residual Ti-Fe-enriched silicate melt at the intermediate and late magmatic stages (~970–800°C). The most rich in Ti-Fe oxides (Fe2O3* up to 20.1 wt %, TiO2 up to 1.6 wt %, and V up to 430 ppm) is the middle zone of the sill associated with intrusion of magma enriched in orthopyroxene phenocrysts. Both titanomagnetite and ilmenite are widespread in the Utlyktash lopolith, forming the richest accumulations in the lower part of the massif (Fe2O3* up to 18.1 wt %, TiO2 up to 2.9 wt %, and V up to 545 g/t) due to gravitational settling of crystallizing phases. The gabbroids of the Uraz intrusion are similar in mineral and chemical composition, but differ from the Utlyktash lopolith in the patterns of formation of Ti-Fe mineralization, which requires a special study. In general, the geological settings for the formation of the Nauruz sill and Utlyktash lopolith are quite favorable for the formation of economic Fe-Ti ores.

Translithospheric magmatic plumbing system of a late Early Cretaceous intraplate volcano in NE China: Insights from geochemistry and phenocryst composition

The magmatic plumbing systems of intraplate volcanoes are key to understanding the structure of intraplate continental crust. A late Early Cretaceous volcano in NE China provides an opportunity to reconstruct the magmatic plumbing system of an intraplate paleo-volcano. ArAr and zircon SIMS UPb dating results indicate that olivine basalts formed at 102.81 ± 0.17 Ma and hornblende andesitic rocks formed at 101.1 ± 1.1 Ma–102.84 ± 1.2 Ma. Compared with coeval olivine basalts, the hornblende andesitic rocks have lower rare earth element (REE) abundance and parallel REE patterns, indicating that the basalts and andesitic rocks have independent origins. Olivine phenocrysts only occur in the basalts and are often zoned, with cores of Fo78–86 and rims of Fo62–68, the crystalline temperatures of olivine cores are 1204–1234 °C. The plagioclases from the basalt groundmass have An = 62–63. There are two types of plagioclase phenocryst in the andesitic rocks. One has An = 62–50, the other has An = 27–34.The former is normally zoned crystals (An = 62–50 from the core to rim) with high-An rims (60–63), similar in composition to plagioclase in the groundmass of the coeval basalt. They formed at temperatures of 1140–1162 °C and pressures of 4.7–7.0 kbar, implying that they were crystallized from basaltic melt with H2O contents of 0.60–0.82 wt%. The latter is low-An phenocrysts (27–34) with high-An (∼44) rims, suggesting that they were crystallized from felsic melt and that the injection of mafic magma had happened. The orthopyroxene phenocrysts only occur in andesitic rocks and have Mg# of 80–82, and are estimated to have crystallized at 6.7–8.5 kbar, and 1206–1222 °C, implying that they were crystallized from basaltic melt. The hornblende phenocrysts in andesitic rocks are pargasite, tschermakite, magnesio-hornblende, and magnesio-hastingsite and formed at 2.4–3.5 kbar and 883–957 °C. The estimated pressure and temperature of orthopyroxene and plagioclase (An>55) phenocrysts indicate that mafic magma chambers was located at depths of over 31.0 km, whereas those of hornblende phenocrysts show that felsic magma chamber was located at 8.9–12.8 km and has H2O content of 5.8–7.3 wt%. Using these data, we construct a new model of translithospheric magmatic plumbing system for intraplate volcanoes. Mantle-derived mafic magma chamber was emplaced at the crust–mantle boundary and causes partial melting of the lower crust, which in turn produces felsic magma that would be stored in a magma chamber in the upper crust. The mafic magma chamber at the crust-mantle boundary does not crystallize in-situ, as mafic magma could occasionally rise and be repeatedly injected and mix into the felsic magma chamber in the upper crust.

Mafic magma recharge triggered eruption of a long-lived shallow silicic magma reservoir beneath a submarine volcano from the southwestern Okinawa Trough

Abundant submarine volcanoes have been identified in the southwestern Okinawa Trough, yet the duration of shallow magma reservoirs and processes driving their eruptions remains unclear. Here, the texture and in situ element compositions of orthopyroxene and magnetite in the dacite and mafic magmatic enclaves (MMEs) from the FDV-1 submarine volcano were investigated to decipher the duration of pre-eruption shallow silicic magma storage and eruption triggering processes. Both unzoned and zoned orthopyroxene phenocrysts were observed in the host dacite. The rims of zoned and unzoned orthopyroxene have similar compositions with Mg# from 49 to 55, Cr = 2.31–9.26 μg/g, V = 54.10–137 μg/g, and Ni = 16.44–21.19 μg/g, and they are in equilibrium with the rhyolitic matrix, which is consistent with growth in the shallow silicic magma reservoir. In contrast, the high Mg# cores (Mg# = 63–79) in the zoned orthopyroxenes are in equilibrium with basalt, with significant enrichment in Cr (1092–1737 μg/g), Ni (106–181 μg/g), and V (183–295 μg/g), which indicates a recycled (antecryst) origin by mafic magma recharge and magma mixing. Furthermore, the timescales from FeMg interdiffusion in orthopyroxene phenocrysts suggest that the magma mixing is approximately 600 years before eruption. Correspondingly, the shallow silicic magma reservoir beneath the submarine volcano is longevity. The presence of bubble and V-depleted magnetite aggregates in the MMEs suggests that volatile-saturated and oxidized mafic magma recharges into the shallow silicic magma chamber. Moreover, the distinct contents of relatively fast-diffusing Ni in magnetite between the MMEs and host dacite suggest that the mafic magma injection into the silicic magma reservoir and formation of the MMEs must have occurred over very short timescales (< 24 h) before the eruption to inhibit complete re-equilibration. Therefore, this last mafic magma recharge induces destabilization of the long-lived shallow silicic magma reservoir and leads to the dacitic magma eruption.

Experimental insight into basaltic andesite lava dome oxidation textures at La Soufrière, St Vincent

Abstract Petrological analysis of the 2020–21 La Soufrière lava dome reveals ubiquitous oxidation textures. Comparison of the natural dome rock to subsequent explosive scoria phases highlights the lack of any oxidation features in the latter, indicating that oxidation processes affected only the dome-forming magma, either during pre-eruptive storage or upon emplacement. To investigate the causes of oxidation we present a series of one-atmosphere experiments, using fresh natural basaltic andesite scoria as a starting material. Experiments were performed at 900 and 1020°C and at oxygen fugacities between NNO − 2 and air. Experimental results show that iron oxide nanolites nucleate on the rims of pyroxene microlites and phenocrysts under all experimental conditions except at NNO − 2. Orthopyroxene phenocrysts become unstable at 1020°C, at and above NNO + 2. Olivine symplectites form in all experiments at and above NNO. Titanomagnetite co-exsolves titanohematite and an Mg–Fe–Al spinel (pleonaste–magnesioferrite) at and above NNO + 2. Well-developed Mg–Fe–Al spinel trellis exsolution lamellae in titanomagnetite phenocrysts, as seen in the dome, only form in the presence of air at 900°C. The combination of textures and compositions observed in the natural dome indicates that oxidation of the dome magma occurred during emplacement at Earth's surface, with air percolating through the dome at temperatures ≤900°C.

The magmatism of Atienza (NW Iberian Chain, Spain): age, origin and architecture of the magmatic plumbing system

A sill covering an area of more than 15 km2, several dykes up to 5 m thick and a volcanoclastic deposit crop out with similar petrology in the sector of Atienza (NW Iberian Chain, Spain). They consist of calc-alkaline porphyritic andesites with phenocrysts of plagioclase, amphibole, biotite, garnet and orthopyroxene. Based on U–Pb zircon analysis, an age of 290 ± 3 Ma (Sakmarian-Artinskian in the Cisuralian) has been calculated for this magmatism. The chemistry and geothermobarometry on amphibole crystals revealed crystallisation at different depths between 31 and 16 km, involving several events of magma recharge and fractional crystallisation. Magma ascent led to destabilisation of the amphibole crystals, their replacement by biotite, and the formation of thick microcrystalline coronas. Whole-rock trace element and isotopic compositions support a strong crustal influence in the origin of the magma. Crustal melting was produced by heating generated after lithospheric thinning, delamination, and asthenospheric rise produced after the uplift of the Variscan Orogen and the oroclinal folding of the Iberian Massif.

Sulfur‐rich mafic magma injection into the felsic magma chamber beneath Asama volcano, central Japan: Records in olivine‐hosted melt inclusions from the Itabana and Tenmei eruptions

AbstractEven though no basalts have erupted at Asama volcano, its large, felsic magma chamber standing beneath the summit is frequently replenished by cryptic injections of mafic magma of basalt‐basaltic andesite composition. This mafic magma is preserved within melt inclusions trapped in olivine phenocrysts collected from the old Itabana pumice of the Kurofu stage and the Tenmei pumice of the current Maekake stage. The trapped mafic melts provide a detailed and vivid record of cryptic mafic magma injection into the felsic chamber where they admix to erupt andesite magma. The main phenocrysts of plagioclase, orthopyroxene, and clinopyroxene, commonly seen in the erupted products, are derived from the felsic magmas and trapped felsic melts of dacite‐rhyolite compositions, containing low sulfur contents (0.3 wt% of SO3 or less; most are lower than 0.10 wt%). In contrast, the mafic melts, entrapped by olivine phenocrysts, show high concentrations of SO3, up to 1.06 wt% for Itabana and SO3 0.65 wt% for Tenmei. In addition, the olivine phenocryst commonly encloses early crystalline phases precipitated from the sulfur‐rich mafic magma, such as Cr‐spinel, Mg‐rich orthopyroxene, Fe, Cu, and Ni‐bearing sulfides, and often Al‐rich clinopyroxene. The olivine‐hosted mafic melt inclusions always contain numerous vesicles. Furthermore, they are often included as hourglass‐shaped trapped melts, exhibiting snapshots of intense foaming and gas phase exsolution during the olivine growth and probably in the process of the cryptic injection into the felsic magma beneath the Asama summit. Our new data contributes to a better understanding of the magmatic system of the Asama volcano but also highlight the importance of the “Excess sulfur problem”, especially concerning the 1783 Tenmai eruption, which was contemporary to the Laki Fires.

Pre-eruptive magmatic processes of historical activities at Zao volcano, northeastern Japan: Insights from compositional zoning in orthopyroxene phenocrysts

Textures and compositional features of minerals in igneous rocks indicate magmatic processes during their crystallization history. Orthopyroxene, one of the most ubiquitous rock-forming minerals, is an archive of magmatic conditions such as pressure, temperature, and melt composition. We examined orthopyroxene phenocrysts from the Okama pyroclastics (Okp) of Zao volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in northeastern Japan. Orthopyroxene phenocrysts in the Okp samples exhibited a wide range of compositions, disequilibrium textures, and complex zoning patterns, demonstrating multiple injections of mafic magma and mixing with shallow magma reservoirs. Orthopyroxene phenocrysts in the Okp coexist in equilibrium and disequilibrium with the melt in composition, and record a complex history with compositional zoning that reflects crystallization in three magmatic environments (MEs): M1 (Mg# 68–76), M2 (Mg# 62–68), and M3 (Mg# 55–62). The connection pathways of these MEs were identified using the zoning patterns of the orthopyroxene phenocrysts. The connection between M1 and M2 actively interacted during the entire period, resulting in the formation of Okp. The modeling of Fe–Mg interdiffusion in orthopyroxene phenocrysts provides residence time from interactions with different magma environments to the eruption. Orthopyroxene phenocrysts record a wide range of timescales, between a day and 100 years. Mixing between M1 and M2 commonly occurred 3–7 years (from compositional gradients of broad high-Mg bands) and a day–3 years (from compositional gradients of narrow high-Mg bands). This variation in residence time was caused by the injection of mafic magmas (M1) into the shallow magma reservoir (M2 and M3) at different times. Combining compositional zoning analysis and diffusion modeling helps develop a comprehensive model of the plumbing system beneath arc volcanoes.

Multiple Magma Storage Regions and Open System Processes Revealed by Chemistry and Textures of the Datong Tholeiitic Lavas, North China Craton

ABSTRACT The geochemistry of lavas combined with textural constraints can provide important information on magmatic processes occurring at inaccessible depths. Here we carry out a detailed textural and geochemical study on 0.23 Ma contemporaneous and adjacent Qiulin, Longbao, and Dayukou volcanoes in the intraplate Quaternary Datong volcanic field (DVF) in the North China Craton. Lavas from the three tholeiitic volcanoes have similar major and trace element compositions with their trace element patterns resembling enriched mid-ocean ridge basalts (E-MORB). However, distinct textures are observed between the samples from the three volcanoes. Samples from Qiulin are generally poorly-phyric (&amp;lt;10 vol. %) containing orthopyroxene, plagioclase, and olivine phenocrysts and monomineralic orthopyroxene glomerocrysts set in a groundmass of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and Fe–Ti oxides. In contrast, samples from both Longbao and Dayukou are highly phyric (up to ~50 vol. %) and consist mainly of plagioclase, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and olivine phenocrysts with mm- to cm-sized polymineralic glomerocrysts enclosed in a groundmass comprising plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine, and Fe–Ti oxides. Crystal types and proportions vary significantly between the glomerocrysts of Longbao and Dayukou even on a thin section scale. The phenocrysts and glomerocrysts at the two volcanoes commonly show resorbed and embayed margins and sieve textures. Moreover, pyroxenes present as phenocrysts and glomerocrysts are always characterised by corona textures containing orthopyroxene cores mantled by clinopyroxene. Notably, orthopyroxene is never observed in contact with groundmass. The relatively low Mg# (75–85) and Ca content in the cores indicate that the orthopyroxenes from all three volcanoes are crystallised early from the magma rather than being mantle xenocrysts. Thermobarometry and kernel density estimation indicate that orthopyroxenes in all three volcanoes initially crystallised at ~7 kbar (23 km depth), whereas clinopyroxenes crystallised at ~4 kbar (13 km) and the final crystallisation pressure is ~3 kbar (10 km). Thermodynamic modelling by COMAGMAT suggests early near-liquidus crystallisation of the orthopyroxene at high pressures, followed by partial dissolution likely associated with decompression. The relatively larger proportions of phenocrysts compared with glomerocrysts in Qiulin samples implies that the magma reservoir was only partially turned into mushes at the periphery. Magma ascending via the melt-rich interior of the magma reservoir formed the crystal-poor Qiulin lava. In contrast, those ascending through the mushes at the peripheries of the deeper reservoir and discrete shallower storage regions formed the highly phyric Longbao and Dayukou lavas. The pervasive occurrence of sieve textures and complex mineral composition profiles in both phenocrysts and glomerocrysts in Longbao and Dayukou samples belie complicated open system crystallisation histories of these magmas. We conclude that open system processes involving mush disaggregation and magma recharge in multi-level plumbing systems played an important role in the petrogenesis of these intracontinental tholeiites. Moreover, the important role of orthopyroxene in the petrogenesis of these tholeiites distinguishes them from many other tholeiite suites like MORB, as well as those erupted through thickened oceanic crust like in Iceland and the Shatsky Rise. This study highlights the importance of combining textural constraints with geochemical analyses.

Post-caldera volcanism reveals shallow priming of an intra-ocean arc andesitic caldera: Hunga volcano, Tonga, SW Pacific

Intra-oceanic arcs are typically associated with intermediate (andesitic) cone volcanoes. However, caldera volcanoes may also form in these settings from very large eruptions, resulting in sudden changes to the magma reservoir. These reservoirs can then produce either semi-continuous or intermittent low-intensity volcanism between major caldera-producing or caldera-deepening eruptions, providing insights into the post-caldera evolution of the system. Hunga volcano (Kingdom of Tonga, Southwest Pacific) is a large mainly submarine edifice that produced a series of caldera-forming eruptions ~900 years ago. Since then, numerous smaller-scale subaerial and submarine eruptions occurred, the most recent forming new islands in 2009 and 2014/15. Pyroclastic deposits associated with these latest eruptions have identical (range ~ 0.1 wt% of all major oxides) andesitic composition that overlap with the primitive end of the slightly wider compositional range of the caldera-forming episodes. Texturally simple plagioclase, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene phenocrysts in pre-, syn- and post-caldera pyroclasts point to a single shallow storage reservoir at 5–8 km depth. Lack of complex zonation indicates that this reservoir is constantly resupplied by low-flux inputs of basaltic andesite magma and is large enough that convective mixing rapidly homogenises new inputs. The reservoir feeds intermittent, low-intensity, post-caldera volcanism with constant andesite composition, driven possibly by magmatic overpressure and “leakage” of gas-rich magma pockets around the edges of the caldera. More primitive and compositionally variable basaltic andesites formed a lava-dominated edifice prior to the caldera-forming event. This suggests a causal link between magma supply dynamics and caldera priming relating to the maturing of the plumbing system and formation of a sustained subvolcanic andesite magma reservoir.

Forearc lava stratigraphy of the Beila Ophiolite, north-central Tibetan Plateau: Magmatic response to initiation of subduction of the Bangong-Nujiang Meso-Tethys Ocean

It has been suggested that boninites and associated volcanic rocks found in supra-subduction zone (SSZ) ophiolites form in a forearc setting, meaning that these rocks could provide crucial constraints on understanding the magmatic response to subduction initiation. Here, we report newly documented forearc basalts (FAB) and boninites from the Beila Ophiolite of the Bangong–Nujiang Suture Zone, north-central Tibetan Plateau. The lava stratigraphy, from bottom to up, includes FAB, basaltic boninites, and boninites, similar to lavas from the Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) forearc. The FAB has geochemical characteristics similar to those of IBM forearc basalts, with nearly flat REE patterns, and shows enrichment in Rb, Ba, Pb, and Sr and depletion in Nb, Ta, and Zr, suggesting an origin by decompression melting of a depleted mantle source with minor input of subducting plate materials. The basaltic boninites and boninites show similar petrological features, as well as porphyritic textures with phenocrysts of olivine, clinopyroxene, and minor orthopyroxene. The basaltic boninites and boninites display uniform major- and trace-element characteristics that are similar to those of typical boninites, with high MgO (>10.78 wt%), Cr, and Ni contents, extremely low TiO2 (<0.21 wt%), rare earth element (REE), and high-field-strength element (HFSE) contents, and U-shaped REE patterns. In addition, the basaltic boninites and boninites have lower ɛNd(t) values than those of the FAB and display variable degrees of influence by slab melts and fluids. Geochemical modeling further suggests that the boninites were generated later during residual highly depleted mantle fluxing by the subducting plate. Together with contemporary boninitic and arc-related magmas along the Bangong-Nujiang Suture Zone and adjacent terranes (the North Lhasa and South Qiangtang), it suggests that the whole Meso-Tethys Ocean was subducted since the Middle Jurassic. Moreover, the Beila lava stratigraphy with FAB overlain by boninite is similar to that found in the IBM forearc and in many ophiolites (e.g., Troodos, Oman, and Xigaze), and represents a continuous geochemical transition from MORB-like to boninitic affinities. This similarity suggests that initiation of subduction might be commonly involved in the formation of ophiolites.

Ferrous hydroxychlorides hibbingite [γ-Fe2(OH)3Cl] and parahibbingite [β-Fe2(OH)3Cl] as a concealed sink of Cl and H2O in ultrabasic and granitic systems

Abstract Ferrous hydroxychlorides are geochemically important but less recognized mineral species due to their extreme sensitivity to oxidation and hydration in contact with air {typically they convert to akaganéite [Fe3+(O,OH,Cl)]}. Only the γ-form was previously known as the orthorhombic mineral hibbingite, associated with altered mafic intrusive rocks. In this study, we describe the β-polymorph of Fe2(OH)3Cl as a new mineral parahibbingite that was found in pyroxenite from the Karee platinum mine in the Bushveld Complex, South Africa. The two minerals were distinguished by a combination of Raman spectroscopy and FIB-SEM-TEM analytical techniques (TEM-EDX and TEM-SAED). They can be easily recognized by their distinct Raman spectra. Parahibbingite has two very strong vibration bands at ~3550 and 3560 cm–1, accompanied by much weaker bands at ~124 and 160 cm−1, while the Raman spectrum of hibbingite has a sharp, strong band at 3450 cm−1 and two moderate bands at 199 and 385 cm−1. Parahibbingite was found as fine-grained reaction rims at the contact of orthopyroxene phenocrysts and talc inside a drill core. It has a trigonal space group [R3m, a = 6.94(5) Å; c = 14.5(2) Å], with an empirical formula (Fe1.982+Mn0.012+Ca0.01)(OH)3.08Cl0.92. The origin of this mineral in the Bushveld Complex is most likely related to a late hydrothermal alteration of pyroxenite. Hibbingite forms as an abundant daughter mineral hosted by fluid inclusions and salt melt inclusions in hydrothermal quartz associated with granitic systems during cooling under reducing conditions. Such inclusions are common in Au-porphyry mineralization worldwide, such as the Biely Vrch (Slovakia) deposit studied in detail in this work. The lattice parameters obtained by TEM-SAED are a = 6.30 Å, b = 7.12 Å, and c = 9.89 Å. Hibbingite was recognized as the only phase that carries “water” (as a hydroxyl group) in otherwise water-free, salt melt inclusions. Furthermore, both hibbingite and parahibbingite should be considered as reservoirs for Cl and H2O in large volumes of altered basic and ultrabasic rocks. They can transport volatiles to shallow levels of subduction zones. Alternatively, their dissolution can fuel remobilization, transport, and deposition of sulfidic ores in saline fluids. Their detection, however, is difficult because of their sensitivity to oxidizing atmospheres. For example, in natural outcrops exposed to air, they may vanish, thus distorting estimates of their abundance and role in many processes that involve mineral-derived volatiles.

Source and behavior of pyroclastic density currents generated by Vulcanian-style explosions of Popocatépetl volcano (Mexico) on 22 January 2001

Since 1994 Popocatépetl volcano has extruded 85 lava domes, each of which has been destroyed by Vulcanian-style explosions. The paroxysmal Vulcanian explosion of 22 January 2001 has been unique by generating multiple pyroclastic density currents (PDCs). Scientists and Civil Protection authorities have used those PDCs to remap the high-risk hazard zone of the volcano, although little study has been carried out to understand the generation and evolution of those PDCs. Here, we examine 38 stratigraphic sections and analyze the granulometry, componentry, vesicularity, and petrology (glass, melt inclusions in plagioclase) of collected samples to interpret the origins of the Vulcanian explosions and the PDC behavior. The 22 January event generated two series of dense PDCs that detached from the base of the eruption column. The first set of PDCs traveled northwest across a glacier on the volcano, partially scouring and melting the ice that hours later generated a lahar. Two pulses of these PDCs were confined within a large ravine, surpassed the slope break, and traveled up to 3 km away from the vent. The deposits are matrix-supported throughout their extent. The second set of PDCs traveled to the northeast, mainly as unconfined currents that split into two lobes prior to the slope break. The farthest traveled current followed a western ravine and reached the forest 3.5 km from the summit. The eastern lobe buried a local hiking hut and reached 2.1 km. The deposits from these northeastern currents are massive and block-supported. All deposits (volume of 5.71 × 105 m3) have finger-like morphology with levees and frontal snouts. All PDCs flowed as a dense basal granular current with turbulent upper clouds at minimum speeds of 7–10 m/s.The components of the deposits are, in order of abundance, black scoria (53–62 wt% SiO2), banded scoria, pumice (63 wt% SiO2), dome lithics (60–61 wt% SiO2), accidental lithics, and free crystals. Juvenile pumice and scoria contain phenocrysts of plagioclase (An47±10), clinopyroxene (En48±3), orthopyroxene (En64±1), ilmenite, and titanomagnetite set in a rhyolitic glass (pumice clast; 74.39 wt% SiO2) or microlite-rich matrix (scoria clast). The dome lithics also contain these phenocrysts as well as rare olivine phenocrysts (Fe2+/(Fe2 + Mg) = 0.1). Dissolved H2O-CO2 contents in melt inclusions hosted by pumice-plagioclase phenocrysts suggest the felsic magma was stored at depths of 2–4 km. Thus, the 2001 event was triggered by the injection of mafic magmas into a small volume of felsic magma, probably forming dikes left from the previous eruptive episode. We propose that the Vulcanian-explosions tap a column of magma (~2 km depth) equivalent to the volume that contained the felsic dikes. This mechanism has been acting during the destruction of all summit domes of the ongoing eruption of the volcano.

Subduction initiation of the SE Paleo-Asian Ocean: Evidence from a well preserved intra-oceanic forearc ophiolite fragment in central Inner Mongolia, North China

Subduction of oceanic lithosphere is the primary driver of plate tectonics on Earth. However, one of the least understood aspects of plate tectonics is how subduction zones initiate, due to the lack of recognition of subduction initiation records in many ophiolites. Here we report a newly recognized complete magmatic record including Early Carboniferous fore-arc basalts (FABs), transitional lavas and boninites in the Diyanmiao ophiolite zone in central Inner Mongolia, North China. The stratigraphy and chemo-temporal relations of the suite are identical to those of the Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) forearc as well as the ophiolite suites associated with subduction initiation such as Semail in Oman. In the Diyanmiao suite, the FABs are exposed over a large area, overlying gabbroic rocks of the ophiolite, and underlain by transitional lavas and boninites from bottom to top. Zircon U–Pb geochronology of the FABs shows a mean age of 335.6±2.6 Ma. The Diyanmiao FABs are mainly aphyric, with variolitic groundmass texture, and pillow structure. The boninites (∼328 Ma) are strongly porphyritic with skeletal olivine crystal, clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene phenocrysts. The major and trace element and Sr–Nd isotopic characteristics of FABs, transitional lavas and boninites in the Diyanmiao ophiolite are comparable to those of corresponding rocks in the IBM forearc. The FABs display compositions similar to those of the most depleted mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB), but with lower Ti/V ratios, suggesting slightly higher concentrations of fluid-soluble elements than MORB. The Diyanmiao transitional lavas have transitional compositions between FABs and boninites, and have higher large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and lower high field strength elements (HFSEs) than FABs. The boninites are characterized by significant depletion of Ti, heavy rare earth element (HREE), and HFSE and are more LILE-enriched. This volcanic sequence is akin to that in the Mariana forearc, suggesting that the Diyanmiao FABs might record initial volcanism associated with subduction initiation in the southeastern Paleo-Asian Ocean during Early Carboniferous (∼335.6 Ma). We infer that the primary magmas of the Diyanmiao FABs were generated by partial melting of upwelling mantle associated with decompression during forearc spreading with little or no slab input. Progressive subduction of the Paleo-Asian oceanic slab (ca. 328 Ma), and flushing by slab-derived hydrous fluids resulted in melting of the more depleted, residual mantle at (probably) shallower levels generating the boninites.

Petrological and experimental constraints on magma storage for large pumiceous eruptions in Dominica island (Lesser Antilles)

The general question of the generation of large-volume silicic eruptions is here addressed through the experimental determination of the storage conditions of the primary magmas that generated ignimbritic eruptions at Dominica Island (Lesser Antilles) during the 24–51 ka period of time. The basal plinian fallouts and pumice pyroclastic flows from the large-volume (~ 5 km3 DRE) events of Layou, Roseau and Grand Fond were investigated, together with the smaller ignimbritic eruptions of Grand Bay and Grande Savane. All samples are dacitic (63–66 wt% SiO2) and contain ~ 30 vol% phenocrysts of plagioclase (~ 21 vol%), orthopyroxene (~ 5 vol%) and Fe-Ti oxides (< 1 vol%), in a rhyolitic matrix glass. The most differentiated samples contain additional amphibole (up to 5 vol%) and quartz. Crystallization experiments were performed starting from Layou and Roseau pumice samples at 800 to 900 °C, 200 to 400 MPa, ~ ΔNNO + 1 and for H2O-saturated and H2O-undersaturated conditions. The main phase contents, assemblages and compositions of both natural samples were reproduced experimentally at ~ 850 °C, ΔNNO + 0.6, 7–8 wt% melt H2O and ~ 400 MPa (~ 16 km depth) consistent with magma ponding at the mid-crustal discontinuity. There is also evidence of more differentiated magma batches that may reflect a plumbing system with a significant vertical extension. The relationships between the chamber depth, width and volume argue for eruptions that do not form collapse calderas, in agreement with field evidence. The erupted magma volumes in Dominica are more than five times larger than those emitted in the neighbouring islands (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Montserrat; < 1 km3), which may be explained by a locally extensional tectonic context that favoured assembly of large magma bodies, but also by the rarity of frequently draining upper crustal reservoirs (as evidenced on the neighbouring volcanic systems) that favoured deep accumulation of large volumes of magma during this period and time for differentiation to dacitic compositions.

The geochemical nature of mantle sources for two types of Cretaceous basaltic rocks from Luxi and Jiaodong in east-central China

The composition of mantle-derived basalts reflects the geochemical nature of their source regions in the mantle. Olivine is generally the first mineral to crystallize from basaltic melts, with the composition of this mineral providing important constraints on primary magma compositions. This study presents new whole-rock major- and trace-element, Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic, olivine compositional, and mineral O isotopic data for Cretaceous basalts within the Luxi and Jiaodong areas of east-central China. These data provide insights into the processes that caused the compositional differences between the two types of basaltic rocks. The first type was erupted during the Early Cretaceous with high SiO2 contents and Mg# values [100 Mg/(Mg + Fe2+), molar ratio], and low (Fe2O3)T and TiO2 contents. These basalts have island-arc basalts (IAB)-like trace-element patterns and enriched Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions with high (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios and negative εNd(t) and εHf(t) values. They also contain phenocrysts of olivine and clinopyroxene that have consistently high δ18O values. The most primitive olivine phenocrysts within these basalts have Ni and Mn contents and Fe/Mn ratios similar to those of olivine from mid-ocean-ridge basalts (MORB). The second type generally has basanite compositions and was erupted during the Late Cretaceous, with low SiO2 contents and Mg# values, and high (Fe2O3)T and TiO2 contents. These basanites have ocean-island basalt (OIB)-like trace-element patterns and depleted Sr-Nd-Hf isotopic compositions with low (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios and positive εNd(t) and εHf(t) values. Olivine and orthopyroxene phenocrysts within these basalts have low δ18O values whereas the clinopyroxene phenocrysts have variable δ18O values. The most primitive olivine phenocrysts contain more Ni but less Mn and have higher Fe/Mn ratios than olivine formed in MORB settings. The contrasting geochemistry of these two types of basalts is indicative of derivation from mantle source regions with different compositions, reflecting different types of subduction-related crust-mantle interaction. The Early Cretaceous basalts were derived from an arc-like, isotopically enriched mantle domain that was formed at subarc depths by the metasomatic reaction of mantle wedge peridotite with felsic melts derived from the subducted continental crust during a Triassic continental collision event. In contrast, the Late Cretaceous basanites were derived from an OIB-like isotopically depleted mantle domain generated at postarc depths by the metasomatic reaction of mantle wedge peridotite with felsic melts derived from subducting oceanic crust of the Paleo-Pacific Plate.

The unexpected explosive sub-Plinian eruption of Calbuco volcano (22–23 April 2015; southern Chile): Triggering mechanism implications

Plinian-type eruptions are extremely hazardous, producing pyroclastic fallout and flows extending many kilometres from the vent. The most commonly invoked eruption trigger for Plinian-type eruptions is the intrusion of fresh magma, generally associated with precursory ground deformation and seismicity days/weeks before eruption. Closed-system internal triggering has also been proposed, such as protracted crystallisation of magma, which can produce a build-up of exsolved volatiles and thus pressurise the system prior to eruption. On 22–23 April 2015 Calbuco volcano, Chile, produced a sub-Plinian eruption with <3 h seismic precursory activity and no clear deformation signals in the preceding months. Here, we show that petrological and geochemical evidence do not support a hypothesis of eruption triggering due to pre-eruptive intrusion of fresh magma, but instead are consistent with an internal trigger. We found that basaltic andesitic magma was stored at depths between 8 and 12 km (i.e. 230–320 MPa) beneath Calbuco volcano before the 2015 eruption. The stored magma had an initial temperature of 900–950 °C, was water-saturated (5.5–6.5 wt% H2O) and formed phenocrysts of titanomagnetite, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene and plagioclase cores (An78–93). Gradual cooling of the magma chamber produced thermal gradients and magma convection, evidenced by plagioclase overgrowth rims (An58–77) and blocky microlites (25–250 μm). Our interpretation is that this continuing crystallisation induced second boiling and an over-pressurisation of the system, leading to the rapid onset of the 2015 eruption. Petrological and geochemical evidence therefore shows that a closed-system magma chamber can evolve into a highly explosive eruption with very little precursory warning, posing a challenge for current volcano monitoring paradigms. We propose that internal triggering should be carefully considered as a mechanism for unexpected sub-Plinian eruptions, prompting a potential revision of existing hazard management strategies.