Eruption Style, Emplacement Dynamics and Geometry of Peralkaline Ignimbrites: Insights From the Lajes-Angra Ignimbrite Formation, Terceira Island, Azores

Ignimbrites are relatively uncommon on ocean island volcanoes and yet they constitute a significant portion of the stratigraphy of Terceira Island (Azores). The Lajes-Angra Ignimbrite Formation (ca. 25 cal ka BP) contains the youngest ignimbrites on Terceira and records two ignimbrite-forming eruptions of Pico Alto volcano that occurred closely spaced in time. Here, we present the first detailed lithofacies analysis and architecture of the Angra and Lajes ignimbrites, complemented by petrographic, mineral chemical, whole rock and groundmass glass geochemical data. The two ignimbrites have the same comenditic trachyte composition, but show considerable variability in trace element and groundmass glass compositions, revealing complex petrogenetic processes in the Pico Alto magma reservoir prior to eruption. The Angra Ignimbrite has a high-aspect ratio and is massive throughout its thickness. It was formed by a small-volume but sustained pyroclastic density current (PDC) fed by a short-lived, low pyroclastic fountain. Overall, the PDC had high particle concentration, granular fluid-based flow conditions and was mostly channelled into a valley on the south part of Terceira. By contrast, the Lajes Ignimbrite has a low-aspect ratio and shows vertical and lateral lithofacies variations. It was formed by a sustained quasi-steady PDC generated from vigorous and prolonged pyroclastic fountaining. The ignimbrite architecture reveals that depositional conditions of the parent PDC evolved as the eruption waxed. The dilute front of the current rapidly changed to a high particle concentration, granular fluid-based PDC that extended to the north and south coasts, with limited capacity to surmount topographic highs. Contrary to what is commonly assumed, the low-aspect ratio of the Lajes Ignimbrite is interpreted to result from deposition of a relatively low velocity PDC over a generally flat topography. This work highlights that the geometry (aspect ratio) of ignimbrites does not necessarily reflect the kinetic energy of PDCs and thus should not be used as a proxy for PDC emplacement dynamics. Although the probability of an ignimbrite-forming eruption on Terceira is relatively low, such a scenario should not be underestimated, as a future event would have devastating consequences for the island’s 55,000 inhabitants.

Vanadium micro-XANES determination of oxygen fugacity in olivine-hosted glass inclusion and groundmass glasses of martian primitive shergottite Yamato 980459

The redox condition of magma determines the stability and composition of crystallizing and volatile phases in martian meteorites, reflecting the evolution of the martian interior. In the current study, direct analyses on the oxidation states of V, Cr, and Fe were performed based on the X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) measurements equipped with a micro-sized X-ray beam. We first applied the micro-XANES (μ-XANES) technique to the olivine-hosted glass inclusion and groundmass glass of martian meteorite Yamato 980459 (Y98), which is interpreted as representing a primary melt composition. Mass-balance calculations and XANES spectra comparisons indicated that, while chromite and pyroxene affected Cr and Fe K-edge XANES spectra, the contribution of these minerals was minimal for V. The pre-edge peak intensity of V K-edge XANES enabled the estimation of the oxygen fugacity for inclusion and groundmass glasses. The calculated oxygen fugacity (fO2) of the glass inclusions was near the Iron-Wüstite (IW) buffer (IW-0.07 ± 0.32) for the glass inclusion, whereas it was 0.9 log units more oxidized (IW+0.93 ± 0.56) for the groundmass glasses. This result suggests that the redox condition of the parent magma of Y98 evolved during magma ascent and emplacement. Since Y98 is interpreted to have evolved in a closed system, our finding suggests that fractional crystallization and/or ascent of magma potentially induces the fO2 increase. This study shows that the μ-XANES technique enables us to determine the fO2 by only measuring a single phase of glassy compounds, and thus, it is useful to discuss the redox condition of volcanic rocks even if they do not crystallize out several equilibrium phases of minerals.

Hydrogen Isotopic Variations in the Shergottites

Hydrogen isotopes in the shergottite Martian meteorites are among the most varied in Mars laboratory samples. By collating results of previous studies on major hydroxyl, deuterium, and H2O bearing phases, we provide a compendium of recent measurements in order to elucidate crustal-rock versus mantle-rock processes on Mars. We summarize recent works on volatile and δD measurements in a range of shergottite phases: from melt inclusions, apatite, merrillite, maskelynite, impact melt glass, groundmass glass, and nominal anhydrous minerals. We interpret these observations using an evidence-based approach, considering two particular scenarios: (1) water-rock crustal interactions versus (2) magmatic-based processes. We consider the implications of these measurements and the scope they have for future studies, paying particular attention to future works on H, S, and Cl isotopes in situ, shedding light on the nature of volatiles in the hydrosphere and lithosphere of Mars.

Plagioclase as a witness of syn-eruptive degassing in rhyolitic magmas

<p>Lithium (Li) is one of the fastest diffusing elements in most geological media and so has the potential to provide information about processes occurring on timescales too short to be captured by other proxies.  These processes may be of fundamental importance both in terms of understanding what happens during explosive volcanism and for defining where lithium, an element of increasing economic importance, ends up.  To investigate the fate of Li, we studied in detail the 1.30 Ma Mesa Falls Tuff (MFT) from the Yellowstone volcanic field (USA).  MFT is a typical rhyolite of the Yellowstone system containing an anhydrous mineral assemblage of sanidine, quartz, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, fayalite, orthopyroxene and accessory phases.  We focussed on plagioclase crystals that have a strong gradient in Li contents from cores at ~25 ppm to rims with ~ 5 ppm.  This notable decrease in Li abundance is decoupled from changes in other major and trace elements.  δ<sup>7</sup>Li values measured by fs-LA-MC-ICPMS in the plagioclase crystals reveal that cores are about 5 ‰ lower than rims.  Taken together, the Li abundance and isotopic data make a compelling case for the plagioclase attempting to react to a sudden change in Li abundance in the surrounding melt.  Diffusion modelling of these gradients indicates that this sudden Li drop in the melt occurred over timescales of tens of minutes prior to quenching.  The volatile behaviour of Li implied by this result finds support in Li concentrations measured in quartz-hosted melt inclusions that reach 400 ppm while groundmass glass Li contents are much lower (36-55 ppm).  While equilibrium fractionation of stable isotopes is minimised at high temperatures, the large-magnitude, rapid loss of lithium from the melt phase may allow kinetic isotopic fractionation to occur, as recorded in the plagioclase crystals.  With glass / groundmass both volumetrically dominant and the main repository of Li in virtually all volcanic deposits, further consideration of how syn-eruptive processes may affect the bulk Li identity of a sample is warranted.        </p><p> </p>

Radiocarbon Dating of the Last Volcanic Eruptions of Ciomadul Volcano, Southeast Carpathians, Eastern-Central Europe

This paper provides new accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon age data for the last volcanic events in the Carpathian-Pannonian region of eastern-central Europe. The eruption ages were determined on charcoal fragments collected from pumiceous pyroclastic flow deposits at 2 localities of the Ciomadul Volcano. Two charcoal samples from the southeastern margin of the volcano (Bixad locality) set the date of the last volcanic eruption to 27,200 ± 260 yr BP (29,500 ± 260 cal BC). On the other hand, our data show that the Tusnad pyroclastic flow deposit, previously considered as representing the youngest volcanic rock of the region, erupted at ∼39,000 yr BP (∼41,300 cal BC). Thus, a period of dormancy more than 10,000 yr long might have elapsed between the 2 volcanic events. The different ages of the Tusnad and Bixad pyroclastic flow deposits are confirmed also by the geochemical data. The bulk pumices, groundmass glass, and the composition of the main mineral phases (plagioclase and amphibole) suggest eruption of slightly different magmas. Considering also the assumed long volcanic history (∼600 ka) of the Ciomadul, these data suggest that further detailed studies are necessary on this seemingly inactive volcano in order to evaluate the possible renewal of volcanic activity in the future.

Andesites as Magmatic Liquids or Liquid-crystal Mixtures; Insights from Egmont and Ruapehu Volcanoes, New Zealand Research Article

Late Quaternary andesitic magmas in New Zealand contain complexly zoned antecrysts and glomerocrysts that are not in equilibrium with either the host whole rock compositions or siliceous groundmass glass and glass inclusions. Glass inclusions represent partial melts of mafic to gabbroic cumulates in the lower crust that mix with restite crystals, or cumulates from earlier magma batches. Assimilation of partial melts of mid-crustal rocks, represented by glass in crustal xenoliths, contributes a crustal component to the andesites. Magmas at Egmont are stored at about the brittle/ductile transition at about 10 km depth and variability in the composition of erupted material is a function of the composition of the recharging magma, and which parts of the storage system are tapped during the eruption. At Taranaki recharge occurs on a c. 1400 year cycle while interactions within the storage give rise to shorter period events. A similar process on a less well constrained timescale operates at Ruapehu. Andesites are therefore complex mixtures of fractionated mantle basalts, siliceous partial melts of both the lower crust and underplated cumulates, restite and cumulate crystals. Further modification occurs by interaction with partial melts of lower to middle crustal basement as geotherms increase with time.