The eruptive history, magmatic evolution, and influence of glacial ice at long-lived Akutan volcano, eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska, USA

Author(s):  
Michelle L. Coombs ◽  
Brian R. Jicha

New 40Ar/39Ar and whole-rock geochemical data are used to develop a detailed eruptive chronology for Akutan volcano, Akutan Island, Alaska, USA, in the eastern Aleutian island arc. Akutan Island (166°W, 54.1°N) is the site of long-lived volcanism and the entire island comprises volcanic rocks as old as 3.3 Ma. Our current study is on the 225 km2 western half of the island, where our results show that the focus of volcanism has shifted over the last ∼700 k.y., and that on occasion, multiple volcanic centers have been active over the same period, including within the Holocene. Incremental heating experiments resulted in 56 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages and span 2.3 Ma to 9.2 ka. Eruptive products of all units are primarily tholeiitic and medium-K, and range from basalt to dacite. Rare calc-alkaline lavas show evidence suggesting their formation via mixing of mafic and evolved magmas, not via crystallization-derived differentiation through the calc-alkaline trend. Earliest lavas are broadly dispersed and are almost exclusively mafic with high and variable La/Yb ratios that are likely the result of low degrees of partial mantle melting. Holocene lavas all fall along a single tholeiitic, basalt-to-dacite evolutionary trend and have among the lowest La/Yb ratios, which favors higher degrees of mantle melting and is consistent with the increased magma flux during this time. A suite of xenoliths, spanning a wide range of compositions, are found in the deposits of the 1.6 ka caldera-forming eruption. They are interpreted to represent completely crystallized liquids or the crystal residuum from tholeiitic fractional crystallization of the active Akutan magma system. The new geochronologic and geochemical data are used along with existing geodetic and seismic interpretations from the island to develop a conceptual model of the active Akutan magma system. Collectively, these data are consistent with hot, dry magmas that are likely stored at 5−10 km depth prior to eruption. The prolonged eruptive activity at Akutan has also allowed us to evaluate patterns in lava-ice interactions through time as our new data and observations suggest that the influence of glaciation on eruptive activity, and possible magma composition, is more pronounced at Akutan than has been observed for other well-studied Aleutian volcanoes to the west.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Jia-Hao Jing ◽  
Hao Yang ◽  
Wen-Chun Ge ◽  
Yu Dong ◽  
Zheng Ji ◽  
...  

Abstract Late Mesozoic igneous rocks are important for deciphering the Mesozoic tectonic setting of NE China. In this paper, we present whole-rock geochemical data, zircon U–Pb ages and Lu–Hf isotope data for Early Cretaceous volcanic rocks from the Tulihe area of the northern Great Xing’an Range (GXR), with the aim of evaluating the petrogenesis and genetic relationships of these rocks, inferring crust–mantle interactions and better constraining extension-related geodynamic processes in the GXR. Zircon U–Pb ages indicate that the rhyolites and trachytic volcanic rocks formed during late Early Cretaceous time (c. 130–126 Ma). Geochemically, the highly fractionated I-type rhyolites exhibit high-K calc-alkaline, metaluminous to weakly peraluminous characteristics. They are enriched in light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) but depleted in high-field-strength elements (HFSEs), with their magmatic zircons ϵHf(t) values ranging from +4.1 to +9.0. These features suggest that the rhyolites were derived from the partial melting of a dominantly juvenile, K-rich basaltic lower crust. The trachytic volcanic rocks are high-K calc-alkaline series and exhibit metaluminous characteristics. They have a wide range of zircon ϵHf(t) values (−17.8 to +12.9), indicating that these trachytic volcanic rocks originated from a dominantly lithospheric-mantle source with the involvement of asthenospheric mantle materials, and subsequently underwent extensive assimilation and fractional crystallization processes. Combining our results and the spatiotemporal migration of the late Early Cretaceous magmatic events, we propose that intense Early Cretaceous crust–mantle interaction took place within the northern GXR, and possibly the whole of NE China, and that it was related to the upwelling of asthenospheric mantle induced by rollback of the Palaeo-Pacific flat-subducting slab.


1984 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent C. Condie ◽  
Craig A. Shadel

The Green Mountain Formation of early Proterozoic age in the Sierra Madre Range of southeastern Wyoming comprises a bimodal mafic and felsic volcanic assemblage. The rocks, which are chiefly breccias, agglomerates, flows, and volcaniclastic sediments, represent both subaerial and submarine eruptions and in part were redeposited in fluvial and nearshore marine environments. Volcanic rocks are clearly calc-alkaline in character and share a large number of geochemical features in common with continental-margin arcs or evolved oceanic-arc systems.The low Mg numbers and Ni contents of the basalts require 30–40% olivine fractional crystallization, and the high contents of the most incompatible elements, high (La/Sm)N ratios, and low Zr/Nb ratios require an undepleted or enriched mantle source. Geochemical data are consistent with an origin for the felsic volcanics and associated Encampment River granodiorite by shallow fractional crystallization of calc-alkaline basalt in a tectonic setting similar to modern arc systems. The near absence of andesites may reflect the retention of andesitic magma in crustal reservoirs during fractional cyrstallization.


2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-21
Author(s):  
Elvaene James ◽  
Azman Abdul Ghani ◽  
Oluwatoyin O. Akinola ◽  
Junaidi Asis

The volcanic rocks in Semporna Peninsula, Sabah, Malaysia forms parts of the Miocene subjected slab during the Miocene-Pliocene orogeny. This study presents new petrographic and geochemical data of volcanic rocks in Semporna area. The volcanic rocks range in composition from basaltic andesite, andesite, dacite to rhyolite, with most of the volcanic shows calc-alkaline affinity with a minor tholeiitic feature. The trace elements shows enrichment in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE) suggesting that the volcanic rocks have similar geochemical patterns and might come from similar magma source. The petrochemical data suggests that volcanic rocks of Semporna shows characteristic of subduction zone (negative Nb, Ta, and Ti). Decreasing magnitude of Europium anomalies from intermediate to acid lavas suggests an important role of plagioclase in the fractional crystallization. Negative Ce anomaly in part of Semporna volcanic rocks suggest that those volcanic rocks may related with emergence of oxygenated deep-sea environment. Tectonic diagrams showed that the Semporna volcanic rocks were formed in an island arc setting.


2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltán Pécskay ◽  
Ioan Seghedi ◽  
Marinel Kovacs ◽  
Alexandru Szakács ◽  
Alexandrina Fülöp

Geochronology of the Neogene calc-alkaline intrusive magmatism in the "Subvolcanic Zone" of the Eastern Carpathians (Romania)The Poiana Botizei-Ţibleş-Toroiaga-Rodna-Bârgâu intrusive area (PBTTRB), northwest Romania, known as the "Subvolcanic Zone", is located between the Gutâi (NW) and Câlimani (SE) volcanic massifs. It consists of rocks displaying a wide range of compositions and textures: equigranular or porphyritic with holocrystalline groundmass (gabbro-diorites, diorites, monzodiorites and granodiorites), and/or porphyritic with fine holocrystalline or glassycryptocrystalline groundmass, similar with effusive rocks: basalts, basaltic andesites, andesites, dacites and rhyolites. The time-span of intrusive rocks emplacement is similar with the nearest calc-alkaline volcanic rocks from Gutâi (NW) and Câlimani (SE) massifs. They are represented by stocks, laccoliths, dykes and sills typical for an upper crustal intrusive environment. In the absence of biostratigraphic evidence, a comprehensive K-Ar study of intrusive rocks using whole rock samples, groundmass and monomineral fractions (biotite, hornblende) has been carried out in order to understand the magmatic evolution of the area. The oldest K-Ar ages recorded in the analysed rocks are close to 11.5 Ma and magmatism continued to develop until about 8.0 Ma. The inception of intrusion emplacement in the PBTTRB is coeval with intrusive activity spatially related to volcanism within the neighbouring Gutâi and Câlimani massifs. However, its culmination at ca. 8 Ma ago is younger than the interruption of this activity at ca. 9.2 Ma in Gutâi and Câlimani Mts where intrusive activity resumed for ca. 1 Myr. These circumstances strongly suggest that the geodynamic evolution of the area controlled the development of both volcanic and intrusive activity and their reciprocal relationships. The overall geological data suggest that in the PBTTRB intra-lithospheric transpressional-transtensional tectonic processes controlled the generation and emplacement of intrusive bodies between ca. 12-8 Ma.


2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 821-847 ◽  
Author(s):  
M D Young ◽  
V McNicoll ◽  
H Helmstaedt ◽  
T Skulski ◽  
J A Percival

New field work, U–Pb ages, geochemical data, and Sm–Nd isotopic analyses have established the timing and determined the nature of volcanism, deformation, and tectonic assembly of the Pickle Lake greenstone belt in the Uchi subprovince of the western Superior Province of the Canadian Shield. The >2860 Ma Pickle Crow assemblage has been redefined to include the former Northern Pickle assemblage on the basis of stratigraphic continuity and similar volcanic geochemistry between the two units across a previously inferred fault contact. The Pickle Crow assemblage consists of tholeiitic basalt with thin, but laterally extensive, oxide-facies iron formation overlain by alkalic basalts and minor calc-alkaline andesites to dacites with primitive Nd isotopic compositions (εNd2.89 Ga = +2.1 to +2.4) suggestive of deposition in a sediment-starved oceanic basin. The ~2 km thick ~2836 Ma Kaminiskag assemblage (former Woman assemblage) consists of tholeiitic basalt interbedded with intermediate and rare felsic pyroclastic flows with primitive Nd isotopic compositions (εNd2.836 Ga = +2.4). Two samples of intermediate volcanic rocks interbedded with southeast-younging pillowed basalt, previously inferred to be part of the Pickle Crow assemblage, yielded U–Pb zircon ages of 2744 [Formula: see text] Ma and 2729 ± 3 Ma. These rocks are thus part of the younger Confederation assemblage, which consists of intercalated basalt and dacite (εNd2.74 Ga = +0.1 to +0.8) exhibiting diverse compositions probably reflecting eruption in a continental margin arc to back-arc setting. The contact between the Confederation and Kaminiskag assemblages is assumed to be a fault. The greenstone belt is intruded by late syn- to posttectonic plutons including the composite quartz dioritic to gabbroic July Falls stock with a new U–Pb zircon age of 2749 [Formula: see text] Ma, and the ~2741 to 2740 Ma trondhjemitic to granodioritic Ochig Lake pluton and Pickle Lake stock, as well as the ~2697 to 2716 Ma Hooker–Burkoski stock. The earliest recognized deformation (D1) is recorded by a local bedding-parallel foliation in the Pickle Crow assemblage. This foliation is truncated by the ~2735 Ma Albany quartz–feldspar porphyry dyke and is not recognized in the volcanic rocks of the Confederation assemblage. The early deformation event is attributed to overturning of the Pickle Crow assemblage prior to deposition of the ~2744 to 2729 Ma Confederation assemblage. Subsequent deformation and development of a regionally penetrative planar fabric (S2) postdates ~2729 Ma volcanism, pre-dates the intrusion of the ca. <2716 Ma Hooker–Burkoski stock and is host to gold mineralization.


1994 ◽  
Vol 31 (12) ◽  
pp. 1749-1762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc I. Legault ◽  
Keiko Hattori

Four types of igneous clasts from Timiskaming conglomerates of the Kirkland Lake area are identified: calc-alkaline porphyry, trachyte (K2O + N2O > 7.25 wt.%), trondhjemite, and tholeiitic basalt. Clasts derived from quartz–carbonate veins and carbonatized porphyries and komatiites indicate CO2-rich hydrothermal activity along the Larder Lake – Cadillac Fault before sedimentation. Calc-alkaline porphyry, the predominant clast, is similar in appearance to feldspar porphyry intrusions widely exposed in the area, but the two are not related. The porphyry clasts are cogenetic with diorite–granodiorite intrusions and volcanic rocks of the greenstone belt. Andesite clasts are only observed near the base of the assemblage, and the ratio of basalt to andesite increases up stratigraphic sections. The change suggests progressive erosion of arc-related volcanic rocks during sedimentation. Composition, texture, and mineralogy of the trondhjemite clasts are consistent with their derivation from the marginal phases of the Round Lake batholith. Intrusive rocks of the Timiskaming Group (coarse-grained holocrystalline syenitic–monzonitic rocks, biotite-bearing feldspar porphyries, and mica-rich lamprophyres) were not observed in the clasts, which suggests sedimentation prior to unroofing of these rocks. Sedimentation of the conglomerates postdated unroofing of underlying plagioclase porphyry (~2685 Ma), but predated unroofing of Timiskaming intrusions. The distribution of alkaline clasts only in proximity to the fault implies that alkaline magmatism was confined along the fault. Derivation of clasts from both sides of the fault and proximity of inferred sources support a pull-apart basin for sedimentation with minor strike-slip movement during and after the sedimentation.


1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 980-991
Author(s):  
V. E. Chamberlain ◽  
R. St J. Lambert ◽  
J. G. Holland

Petrographic, geochemical, and geochronological data are presented on the gneisses of the Bulldog Creek block, the Mount Blackman block, and the Hugh Allan Creek block, which lie to the east of the Southern Rocky Mountain Trench (SRMT) south of Valemount, British Columbia.Petrographical and geochemical data, especially immobile-trace-element ratios (Nb: Y, Ti: Zr), and CaO versus Y and AFM plots are used to deduce the probable origins and protoliths of the gneisses. The Mount Blackman block consists of a psammitic paragneiss, probably derived from an immature arkosic sedimentary protolith, intruded by sills of tholeiitic basalt, now amphibolites. The Bulldog Creek block consists of felsic orthogneisses of calc-alkaline affinity, which are structurally concordant with mafic orthogneisses of possible tholeiitic basalt parentage. The Hugh Allan Creek block consists of a felsic orthogneiss with a probable alkaline granite protolith.Rb–Sr, and some U–Pb analyses show that each block has experienced a separate geological history. The Mount Blackman block psammitic paragneisses are the only analysed gneisses east of SRMT with a probable Archean Rb–Sr model crustal residence age. U–Pb analyses on zircons from these gneisses give a 1950 Ma minimum source rock age, and Rb–Sr whole-rock analyses suggest a 1860 ± 50 Ma age for amphibolite-facies metamorphism of both paragneisses and amphibolites. The Bulldog Creek block gneisses have a metamorphic age of at least 640 Ma, but their Rb–Sr systematics have been extensively disturbed, possibly during Mesozoic retrogressive metamorphism. The Hugh Allan Creek block gneisses have a Rb–Sr model crustal residence age of ~900 Ma and a metamorphic age of 805 ± 11 Ma. It is not possible to correlate any of these lithologies or events across the SRMT with the Malton block, and it is concluded that the SRMT is the site of a major fault or faults at this latitude.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 406-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Duc Anh ◽  
Nguyen Hoang ◽  
Phung Van Phach ◽  
Malinovskii A. I. ◽  
Kasatkin S. A. ◽  
...  

The East Vietnam Sea is one of the largest marginal basins in western Pacific Ocenan, formed by breaking of continental margin in the Late Mesozoic. Geochemical data of the Miocene - Pleistocene bazanic samples collected in the East Sea and neighboring areas show two major eruption trends that reflect the formation and development of the region. The early eruption event is characterized by low alkaline, TiO2, Na2O, K2O and P2O5, and high SiO2 group, comprising olivine and tholeiitic bazans. The later eruption demonstrates high alkaline, TiO2, Na2O, K2O and P2O5, and low SiO2 group, mainly generated by central-type volcanic eruptions, consisting of alkaline olivine and olivine bazans. Distinctive geochemistry of the volcanic rocks within the East Vietnam Sea and adjacent areas is illustrated by wide range of Magnesium index (Mg#= 35-75). At the values of Mg#>65, the relation between Mg# and major oxides is unclear. In contrast, Mg#65 (Olivine differentiation) the isotope ratios start changing. The primitive components are computed based on the principle of olivine compensation. The computed results show that the critical pressure for Tholeiite melting was estimated from ~11.97-20.33 Kb (ca. 30 - 60 km deep) and the Alkaline melting pressure varies from ~16.87-34.93 Kb (corresponding to the depths of ~60 km to 100 km). The continuous range of melting pressures suggests two trends of tholeiitic and alkaline eruptions occurr at various depths in the same magmatic source. Hight temperature and melting pressure of the primitive magma are dependent on partial melting pressure. Possibly, this process was triggered by the asthenosphere intrusion resulted from the closure of the Neo-Tethys following the India - Eurasia collision. This event has not only made the mantle hotter and easily melted but also triggered the opening of the marginal seas, including the East Vietnam Sea.


Intraplate volcanic lineaments include ocean island chains and continental rift systems. Basic lavas erupted in such lineaments form a continuum from tholeiitic basalt in the basements of ocean islands to nephelinites and melilitites in continental rifts and as a capping on ocean islands. All these magma types are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (l.i.l.e.) compared with mid-ocean ridge basalts (m.o.r.b.), although isotopic data suggest that their mantle sources had been depleted in l.i.l.e. for long periods. In this paper we present a comparison of geochemical data from several suites of basic volcanic rocks ranging from Hawaiian tholeiite to Ugandan melilitite. L.i.l.e. abundance patterns can, in most cases, be explained by variable degrees of melting of a l.i.l.e.-depleted m.o.r.b. mantle source containing l.i.l.e.-rich streaks. Metasomatic enrichment of the mantle source is not a necessary precursor to magmatism.


2015 ◽  
Vol 52 (12) ◽  
pp. 1093-1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Lafrance

The Larder Lake – Cadillac deformation zone (LLCDZ) is one of two major, auriferous, deformation zones in the southern Abitibi subprovince of the Archean Superior Province. It hosts the Cheminis and the giant Kerr Addison – Chesterville deposits within a strongly deformed band of Fe-rich tholeiitic basalt and komatiite of the Larder Lake Group (ca. 2705 Ma). The latter is bounded on both sides by younger, less deformed, Timiskaming turbidites (2674–2670 Ma). The earliest deformation features are F1 folds affecting the Timiskaming rocks, which formed either during D1 extensional faulting or during early D2 north–south shortening related to the opening and closure, respectively, of the Timiskaming basin. Continued shortening during D2 imbricated the older volcanic rocks and turbidites and produced regional F2 folds with an axial planar S2 cleavage. D2 deformation was partitioned into the weaker band of volcanic rocks, producing the strong S2 foliation, L2 stretching lineation, and south-side-up shear sense indicators, which characterize the LLCDZ. Gold is present in quartz–carbonate veins in deformed fuchsitic komatiites (carbonate ore) and turbiditic sandstone (sandstone-hosted ore), and in association with disseminated pyrite in altered Fe-rich tholeiitic basalts (flow ore). All host rocks underwent strong mass gains in CO2, S, K2O, Ba, As, and W, during sericitization, carbonatization, and sulphidation of the host rocks, suggesting that they interacted with the same hydrothermal fluids. Textural relationships between alteration minerals and S2 cleavage indicate that mineralization is syn-cleavage. Thus, gold was deposited as hydrothermal fluids migrated upward along the LLCDZ during contractional, D2 south-side-up shearing. The gold zones were subsequently modified during D3 reactivation of the LLCDZ as a dextral transcurrent fault zone.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document