Crystal Specific Constraints on Subvolcanic Processes Preceding Eruptions at Mt Taranaki, New Zealand

10.26686/wgtn.17000224 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Sarah Alicia Martin

Keyword(s):

Trace Element ◽

Lower Crust ◽

Magma Mixing ◽

Oscillatory Zoning ◽

Residence Times ◽

Trace Element Data ◽

Element Data ◽

Wide Range ◽

Crystal Residence

Andesitic magmas are the product of a complex interplay of processes including fractional crystallisation, crystal accumulation, magma mixing and crustal assimilation. Recent studies have suggested that andesitic rocks are in many cases a complex mixture of a crystal cargo and melts with more silicic compositions than andesite. In situ glass- and mineral-specific geochemical techniques are therefore key to unravelling the processes and timescales over which andesitic magmas are produced, assembled and transported to the surface. To this end, this thesis presents a detailed in situ glass- and mineral-specific study of six Holocene eruptions (Kaupokonui, Maketawa, Inglewood a and b, and Korito) at Mt Taranaki to investigate the petrogenetic processes responsible for producing these sub-plinian eruptions at this long-lived (130 000 yr) andesitic volcano. Mt Taranaki is an andesitic stratovolcano located on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island and as such it is distinct from the main subduction related volcanism. Crystal-specific major and trace element data were combined with textural analysis and quantitative modelling of intensive magmatic parameters and crystal residence times to identify distinct mineral populations and constrain the magmatic histories of the crystal populations. Least-squares mixing modelling of glass and phenocryst compositions demonstrates that the andesitic compositions of bulk rock Mt Taranaki eruptives results from mixing of a daciticrhyolitic melt and a complex crystal cargo (plagioclase, pyroxene, amphibole) that crystallised from multiple melts under a wide range of crustal conditions. Magma mixing of compositionally similar end members that mix efficiently also occurred beneath Mt Taranaki, and as such only produced prominent disequilibrium textures in a small proportion of the minerals in the crystal cargo. The chemistry of the earliest crystallising amphibole indicates crystallisation from an andesitic-dacitic melt at depths of ca. 20-25 km, within the lower crust. Magmas then ascended through the crust relatively slowly via a complex magmatic plumbing system. However, most of the crystal cargo formed by decompression-driven crystallisation at depth so 6-10 km, as is indicated by the dominance of oscillatory zoning and the equilibrium obtained between mineral rims and the host glasses. Taranaki magmas recharge on timescales of 1000-2000 yrs. The eruptions investigated here provide a snapshot of the end of one cycle and the beginning of another. The younger Kaupokonui and Maketawa eruptions (ca. 2890 - <1950 yr BP) are the least evolved magmas, record a stronger mixing signal in the crystal cargo, and are volumetrically smaller than the earlier Inglewood a and b and Korito eruptions (ca. 4150-3580 yr BP). The Kaupokonui and Maketawa eruptions may reflect arrival of a new pulse of magma from the lower crust, or that these are early eruptions within a recharge sequence, which have not had as much time to further differentiate and evolve as the earlier Inglewood a and b and Korito eruptions that represent the end of a magma recharge cycle. One of the six investigated eruptions was identified to come from Fantham’s Peak on the basis of its distinctive glass and mineral chemistry and petrology. Glass trace element data indicate that this eurption’s magmatic system was distinct from that of the other main vent Holocene eruptions investigated in this study. Crystal residence times were investigated using Fe-Mg interdiffusion in clinopyroxene and indicate that magma bodies stall in upper crustal storage chambers for timescales of a few months to years. The younger eruptions of the least evolved magmas with the strongest mixing signal return the shortest residence times, which may indicate that magma mixing events occurring a few months before eruption may have been the trigger for these eruptions at Mt Taranaki. Amphibole geospeedometry for these eruptives reveal rapid magma transport from depths of 6-10 km to the surface on timescales of < 1 week.

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Assembling Dacite in a Continental Subduction Zone: A Case Study of Tauhara Volcano

10.26686/wgtn.16992523 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Chelsea May Tutt

Keyword(s):

Trace Element ◽

Subduction Zone ◽

Magma Mixing ◽

Trace Element Data ◽

Ascent Rate ◽

Element Data ◽

Continental Subduction ◽

Trace Element Chemistry ◽

Element Chemistry

Mount Tauhara is the largest dacitic volcanic complex of onshore New Zealand and comprises seven subaerial domes and associated lava and pyroclastic flows, with a total exposed volume of ca. 1 km3. The dacites have a complex petrography including quartz, plagioclase, amphibole, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, olivine and Fe‐Ti oxides and offer an excellent opportunity to investigate the processes and timescales involved in assembling dacitic magma bodies in a continental subduction zone with in situ and mineral specific analytical techniques. Whole rock major and trace element data and Pb isotopes ratios define linear relationships indicating that the dacites are generated by mixing of silicic and mafic magmas. Two groups of samples define separate mixing trends between four endmembers on the basis of La/Yb ratios, 87Sr/86Sr ratios and Sr contents. The older Western and Central Domes have low 87Sr/86Sr (0.7042‐0.7046) and high LREE/HREE (LaN/YbN = 8.0‐11.5) and Sr (380‐650 ppm) compared to the younger Hipaua, Trig M, Breached and Main Domes, which have higher 87Sr/86Sr (0.7047‐0.7052) and lower LREE/HREE (LaN/YbN = 6.5‐7.5) and Sr (180‐400 ppm). In situ mineral major and trace element chemistry of mineral phases, as well as Sr and Pb isotope ratios of mineral separates have been used to: (i) fingerprint the origin of each crystal phase; (ii) constrain the chemistry of the four endmembers involved in the mixing events and; (iii) estimate the timing of mixing relative to eruption and the ascent rate of the dacitic magmas. The presence of quartz and analyses of quartz‐hosted melt inclusions are used to fingerprint the chemistry of the silicic endmembers, which is a rhyolitic melt with a major element chemistry similar to that of either the Whakamaru Group Ignimbrite melts (Western, Central and Trig M Domes) or intermediate between that of the Whakamaru and the Oruanui Ignimbrite melts (Hipaua, Breached and Main Domes). Similarly, Ba‐Sr concentrations and Sr isotopic signatures of plagioclase show that this phenocryst phase also predominantly crystallized from the rhyolitic melt. Variations in the Mg# and trace element chemistry of clinopyroxenes suggest they were formed both in the mixed dacitic melts and in a mafic endmember. The chemistry of the mafic endmembers have been traced using a combination of back‐calculated Sr melt concentrations from clinopyroxene with the highest Mg# in each sample group, and the linear trends between whole rock SiO2 content and most elements. These results indicate that dacites erupted from the Western and Central Dome were generated by the mixing of a high alumina basalt and a rhyolitic melt and Trig M Dome dacites were generated by the mixing of an andesite with a rhyolitic melt. Magmas erupted from Hipaua, Breached and Main Domes were also produced by the mixing of an andesitic melt and a rhyolitic body with a composition intermediate between that of the Whakamaru and the Oruanui melt bodies. Trace element data and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of amphibole demonstrate that it crystallized from the mixed dacitic melt. Thermobarometric conditions obtained from amphibole indicate that the magma mixing event that produced the dacites occurred within a magma chamber located at ca. 9 km depth and ca. 900°C with the exception of Trig M Dome which occurred deeper at 13 km and 950°C. Diffusion profiles of Ti in quartz and Fe‐Mg in clinopyroxene indicate the magma mixing events occurred < 6 months prior to eruption. Amphibole reaction rims show the magma to have ascended over 2‐3 weeks for each dome, with the exception of Main Dome where reaction rims were not present in the amphibole, suggesting the ascent rate was faster than 0.2 m/s (< 6 hours).

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Assembling Dacite in a Continental Subduction Zone: A Case Study of Tauhara Volcano

10.26686/wgtn.16992523.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Chelsea May Tutt

Keyword(s):

Trace Element ◽

Subduction Zone ◽

Magma Mixing ◽

Trace Element Data ◽

Ascent Rate ◽

Element Data ◽

Continental Subduction ◽

Trace Element Chemistry ◽

Element Chemistry

Mount Tauhara is the largest dacitic volcanic complex of onshore New Zealand and comprises seven subaerial domes and associated lava and pyroclastic flows, with a total exposed volume of ca. 1 km3. The dacites have a complex petrography including quartz, plagioclase, amphibole, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, olivine and Fe‐Ti oxides and offer an excellent opportunity to investigate the processes and timescales involved in assembling dacitic magma bodies in a continental subduction zone with in situ and mineral specific analytical techniques. Whole rock major and trace element data and Pb isotopes ratios define linear relationships indicating that the dacites are generated by mixing of silicic and mafic magmas. Two groups of samples define separate mixing trends between four endmembers on the basis of La/Yb ratios, 87Sr/86Sr ratios and Sr contents. The older Western and Central Domes have low 87Sr/86Sr (0.7042‐0.7046) and high LREE/HREE (LaN/YbN = 8.0‐11.5) and Sr (380‐650 ppm) compared to the younger Hipaua, Trig M, Breached and Main Domes, which have higher 87Sr/86Sr (0.7047‐0.7052) and lower LREE/HREE (LaN/YbN = 6.5‐7.5) and Sr (180‐400 ppm). In situ mineral major and trace element chemistry of mineral phases, as well as Sr and Pb isotope ratios of mineral separates have been used to: (i) fingerprint the origin of each crystal phase; (ii) constrain the chemistry of the four endmembers involved in the mixing events and; (iii) estimate the timing of mixing relative to eruption and the ascent rate of the dacitic magmas. The presence of quartz and analyses of quartz‐hosted melt inclusions are used to fingerprint the chemistry of the silicic endmembers, which is a rhyolitic melt with a major element chemistry similar to that of either the Whakamaru Group Ignimbrite melts (Western, Central and Trig M Domes) or intermediate between that of the Whakamaru and the Oruanui Ignimbrite melts (Hipaua, Breached and Main Domes). Similarly, Ba‐Sr concentrations and Sr isotopic signatures of plagioclase show that this phenocryst phase also predominantly crystallized from the rhyolitic melt. Variations in the Mg# and trace element chemistry of clinopyroxenes suggest they were formed both in the mixed dacitic melts and in a mafic endmember. The chemistry of the mafic endmembers have been traced using a combination of back‐calculated Sr melt concentrations from clinopyroxene with the highest Mg# in each sample group, and the linear trends between whole rock SiO2 content and most elements. These results indicate that dacites erupted from the Western and Central Dome were generated by the mixing of a high alumina basalt and a rhyolitic melt and Trig M Dome dacites were generated by the mixing of an andesite with a rhyolitic melt. Magmas erupted from Hipaua, Breached and Main Domes were also produced by the mixing of an andesitic melt and a rhyolitic body with a composition intermediate between that of the Whakamaru and the Oruanui melt bodies. Trace element data and 87Sr/86Sr ratios of amphibole demonstrate that it crystallized from the mixed dacitic melt. Thermobarometric conditions obtained from amphibole indicate that the magma mixing event that produced the dacites occurred within a magma chamber located at ca. 9 km depth and ca. 900°C with the exception of Trig M Dome which occurred deeper at 13 km and 950°C. Diffusion profiles of Ti in quartz and Fe‐Mg in clinopyroxene indicate the magma mixing events occurred < 6 months prior to eruption. Amphibole reaction rims show the magma to have ascended over 2‐3 weeks for each dome, with the exception of Main Dome where reaction rims were not present in the amphibole, suggesting the ascent rate was faster than 0.2 m/s (< 6 hours).

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Differentiating between Inherited and Autocrystic Zircon in Granitoids

Journal of Petrology ◽

10.1093/petrology/egaa081 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 61 (8) ◽

Author(s):

Hugo K H Olierook ◽

Christopher L Kirkland ◽

Kristoffer Szilas ◽

Julie A Hollis ◽

Nicholas J Gardiner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Element ◽

Source Region ◽

Wall Rock ◽

Magma Source ◽

Trace Element Data ◽

Element Data ◽

Age Constraints ◽

Erroneous Interpretation ◽

Zircon Fraction

Abstract Inherited zircon, crystals that did not form in situ from their host magma but were incorporated from either the source region or assimilated from the wall-rock, is common but can be difficult to identify. Age, chemical and/or textural dissimilarity to the youngest zircon fraction are the primary mechanisms of distinguishing such grains. However, in Zr-undersaturated magmas, the entire zircon population may be inherited and, if not identifiable via textural constraints, can lead to erroneous interpretation of magmatic crystallization age and magma source. Here, we present detailed field mapping of cross-cutting relationships, whole-rock geochemistry and zircon textural, U–Pb and trace element data for trondhjemite, granodiorite and granite from two localities in a complex Archean gneiss terrane in SW Greenland, which reveal cryptic zircon inheritance. Zircon textural, U–Pb and trace element data demonstrate that, in both localities, trondhjemite is the oldest rock (3011 ± 5 Ma, 2σ), which is intruded by granodiorite (2978 ± 4 Ma, 2σ). However, granite intrusions, constrained by cross-cutting relationships as the youngest component, contain only inherited zircon derived from trondhjemite and granodiorite based on ages and trace element concentrations. Without age constraints on the older two lithologies, it would be tempting to consider the youngest zircon fraction as recording crystallization of the granite but this would be erroneous. Furthermore, whole-rock geochemistry indicates that the granite contains only 6 µg g–1 Zr, extremely low for a granitoid with ∼77 wt% SiO2. Such low Zr concentration explains the lack of autocrystic zircon in the granite. We expand on a differentiation tool that uses Th/U ratios in zircon versus that in the whole-rock to aid in the identification of inherited zircon. This work emphasizes the need for field observations, geochemistry, grain characterization, and precise geochronology to accurately determine igneous crystallization ages and differentiate between inherited and autocrystic zircon.

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