Intermittent Growth of a Newly-Born Volcanic Island and Its Feeding System Revealed by Geological and Geochemical Monitoring 2013–2020, Nishinoshima, Ogasawara, Japan

The island-forming Nishinoshima eruptions in the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, provide a rare opportunity to examine how the terrestrial part of Earth’s surface increases via volcanism. Here, the sequence of recent eruptive activity of Nishinoshima is described based on long-term geological and geochemical monitoring of eruptive products. Processes of island growth and temporal changes in the magma chemistry are discussed. The growth of Nishinoshima was sustained by the effusion of low-viscosity andesite lava flows since 2013. The lava flows spread radially with numerous branches, resulting in compound lava flows. Lava flows form the coherent base of the new volcanic edifice; however, pyroclastic eruptions further developed the subaerial volcanic edifice. The duration of three consecutive eruptive episodes decreased from 2 years to a week through the entire eruptive sequence, with a decreasing eruptive volume and discharge rate through time. However, the latest, fourth episode was the most intense and largest, with a magma discharge rate on the order of 106 m3/day. The temporal change in the chemical composition of the magma indicates that more mafic magma was involved in the later episodes. The initial andesite magma with ∼60 wt% SiO2 changed to basaltic andesite magma with ∼55 wt% SiO2, including olivine phenocryst, during the last episode. The eruptive behavior and geochemical characteristics suggest that the 2013–2020 Nishinoshima eruption was fueled by magma resulting from the mixing of silicic and mafic components in a shallow reservoir and by magma episodically supplied from deeper reservoirs. The lava effusion and the occasional explosive eruptions, sustained by the discharge of magma caused by the interactions of these multiple magma reservoirs at different depths, contributed to the formation and growth of the new Nishinoshima volcanic island since 2013. Comparisons with several examples of island-forming eruptions in shallow seas indicate that a long-lasting voluminous lava effusion with a discharge rate on the order of at least 104 m3/day (annual average) to 105 m3/day (monthly average) is required for the formation and growth of a new volcanic island with a diameter on km-scale that can survive sea-wave erosion over the years.

On the Connection between the 2008–2009 Activation of the Koryakskii Volcano and Deep Magmatic Processes

Abstract—The last activation of the Koryakskii volcano in 2008–2009 was accompanied by intense fumarolic and seismic activity. Volcanic activity peaked in March–April 2009 when ash plume rose to a height of 5.5 km and extended laterally over more than 600 km. To understand the dynamics of the volcanic processes and to forecast the further course of the events, it is relevant to establish whether the eruption was associated with a rise of magma to beneath the volcanic edifice or caused by fracturing of the volcano’s basement and penetration of groundwater into a high temperature zone. Based on the analysis of the images from the Japanese satellite ALOS-1 using satellite radar interferometry methods, the slope displacements of the Koryakskii volcano during its last activation have been estimated for the first time. The displacements reach 25 cm and cannot be explained by the formation of a layer of volcanic ash deposits or by the slope processes. The most likely cause of the displacements should be recognized to be the intrusion of magmatic material into the volcano edifice with the formation of a fracture with its lower edge at a depth of 0.5 km above sea level, with a size of 1.0 and 2.4 km along the strike and dip, respectively, and with a dip angle from 45° to 60°. Therefore, the processes taking place beneath the volcano can be threatening to the nearby localities and infrastructure and require continuous monitoring.

Lithofacies and eruptive conditions of the southernmost volcanoes in the world (87° S)

Neogene volcanic centres are uncommon in the Transantarctic Mountains but at least three basaltic examples occur within 300 km of South Pole, above 2200 m asl and inland of the margin of the West Antarctic Rift System. They are the southernmost volcanoes on Earth and have yielded Early—mid Miocene isotopic ages. Two of the centres, at Mt Early and Sheridan Bluff, have been examined. The centre at Mt Early is unequivocally glaciovolcanic. It formed a tall monogenetic volcanic edifice at least 1 km high and > 1.5 km in diameter. It erupted under significantly thicker-than-modern ice, which was probably a fast-moving ice stream at the eruptive site and resulted in a distinctive constructive architecture and lithofacies. It is the first described example of a glaciovolcano erupted beneath an ice stream. The characteristics of the second centre at Sheridan Bluff indicate that it was also a monogenetic volcano but with a shield-like profile, originally c. 6 km in basal diameter but just c. 400 m high. It probably erupted in a substantial pluvial lake in an ice-poor or ice-free environment. The strongly contrasting eruptive settings now identified by the volcanic sequences at both centres examined testify to a highly dynamic Antarctic Ice Sheet during the Early—mid Miocene.

Earthquake-induced debris flows at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico

The 2017 Mw 7.1 Puebla–Morelos intraslab earthquake (depth: 57 km) severely hit Popocatépetl Volcano, located ∼ 70 km north of the epicenter. The seismic shaking triggered shallow landslides on the volcanic edifice, mobilizing slope material saturated by the 3 d antecedent rainfall. We produced a landslide map based on a semi-automatic classification of a 50 cm resolution optical image acquired 2 months after the earthquake. We identified hundreds of soil slips and three large debris flows for a total affected area of 3.8 km2. Landslide distribution appears controlled by the joint effect of slope material properties and topographic amplification. In most cases, the sliding surfaces correspond with discontinuities between pumice-fall and massive ash-fall deposits from late Holocene eruptions. The largest landslides occurred on the slopes of aligned ENE–WSW-trending ravines, on opposite sides of the volcano, roughly parallel to the regional maximum horizontal stress and to volcano-tectonic structural features. This suggests transient reactivation of local faults and extensional fractures as one of the mechanisms that weakened the volcanic edifice and promoted the largest slope failures. The material involved in the larger landslides transformed into three large debris flows due to liquefaction. These debris flows mobilized a total volume of about 106 m3 of material also including large wood, were highly viscous, and propagated up to 7.7 km from the initiation areas. We reconstructed this mass wasting cascade by means of field evidence, samples from both landslide scarps and deposits, and analysis of remotely sensed and rainfall data. Although subduction-related earthquakes are known to produce a smaller number of landslides than shallow crustal earthquakes, the processes described here show how an unusual intraslab earthquake can produce an exceptional impact on an active volcano. This scenario, not related to the magmatic activity of the volcano, should be considered in multi-hazard risk assessment at Popocatépetl and other active volcanoes located along volcanic arcs.

Forming an economic bentonite resource in a volcanic arc environment: Milos island, Greece

<p>Volcanoes in island arcs can undergo edifice evolution that includes submarine and subaerial volcanism, providing a dynamic environment of magmatic heat and volatiles that drives hydrothermal fluid flow with potential inputs from sea and/or meteoric water. This, in turn, can generate significant hydrothermal alteration that can result in economic deposits of industrial minerals. One example includes bentonite, a smectitic rock composed dominantly of montmorillonite.</p><p>Economically viable bentonite deposits are typically only 0.5 – 5 meters thick and<strong> </strong>although Wyoming-type bentonites comprise 70% of the world’s known deposits, they are commonly no thicker than 8 m. The island of Milos is Europe’s largest and actively mined calcium bentonite resource from volcanic piles exceeding 80 m thickness. Here, we use the Milos island example to understand how magmatism, volcanic edifice evolution and hydrothermal activity interact. We integrate field relationships of volcanic stratigraphy and alteration zones, with clay mineralogy (XRD), stable (S, O and H) isotope analysis and high precision geochronology (CA-ID-TIMS zircon U-Pb, and alunite Ar-Ar) to elucidate the timescales, thermal drivers and fluid components that lead to the development of a globally important bentonite resource.</p><p>A vertical transect through bentonite-altered volcanic stratigraphy indicates multiple magmatic pulses ca. 2.8 Ma with a submarine andesitic cryptodome and accompanying pepperitic hyaloclastite. Cumulative volcanic and sub-volcanic processes occurred over ca. 170 kyrs, resulting in a vertically and laterally extensive volcanic pile overlain by an episode of magmatic quiescence and brackish-water diatomaceous sediments. It is overlain by a silicic pyroclastic flow host to pervasive silica-alunite-kaolinite alteration. Stable isotopic analyses of bentonite indicate a hydrothermal origin at around 70°C with the fluid being sourced from sea and meteoric waters. The timing of formation is defined by a maximum duration of ca. 170 kyrs, with clear geological evidence that a significant period of alteration occurred within < 20 kyrs at ~ 2.64 Ma. Alunite sulfur isotope compositions reflect steaming ground activity that could be interpreted as the oxidised, shallower level counterpart to a boiling geothermal system linked to development of extensive bentonite. However, the timing of alunite can be clearly resolved to > 1.5 myrs after bentonite formation to ~ 1.0 Ma, supporting a later overprint origin due to relatively recent steam heating of groundwater after emergence of the submarine system.</p><p>This study identifies key parameters that have resulted in the formation of an economic-scale bentonite resource on the emergent island of Milos. We conclude that the hydrology needed to form a bentonite deposit is not constrained to the marine environment and can be connected to emergent parts of the volcanic edifice. High precision geochronology indicates bentonite development happens on volcanic timescales (10 to 100 kyrs). A cumulative volcanic and sub-volcanic pile coeval with the formation of bentonite suggests multiple magmatic episodes over narrow timeframes provide and sustain the thermal driver for significant bentonite development. After emergence and development of a groundwater system, the subsequent steam heating is deleterious to grade and results in the development of alunite-kaolinite overburden.</p>

The July 2019 explosive activity of Ubinas Volcano, Peru

<p>Ubinas is a stratovolcano located in the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Peru, with more than 26 eruptive episodes recorded in the last 500 years (VEI 1-3). Its latest eruption began in early 2019, whit the occurrence of some distal VT seismicity accompanied by low levels of LP seismicity and in sometimes high frequency seismic signals associated with rockfalls. Concurrently, SO<sub>2</sub> emissions increased from a few hundred to over 1,000 t/d between January and June while no significant ground deformation could be detected. Throughout the month of June, SO<sub>2</sub> emissions climbed further to over 4,000 t/d, proximal VT swarms began to occur beneath the volcanic edifice, and deformation measurements indicated a pressurization of the system. This ramp-up in activity culminated with an explosive eruption on 19 July 2019 (07:28:49 UTC). The eruption released a cumulative energy of 336 MJ and vented an estimated 4.6x10<sup>6</sup> m<sup>3</sup> of volcanic ash, making this one of the most energetic eruptive events of the last decade. Filled with hot gas and ash, the eruptive column reached 6,500 meters above the volcanic vent, with blocks and ballistic projectiles that reached 3.5 km from the crater and fragments up to 2.5 cm in diameter reported in the Ubinas town, 6.5 km to the southeast. By the time the eruption ended, up to 4 kg/m<sup>2</sup> of tephra had fallen at this distance. Most of the plume was dispersed in east to southeast directions, crossing the regions of Moquegua, Puno. Ashfall was observed as far as Oruro, Bolivia, some 180 km from the volcano. Subsequent analyses of monitoring data and eruptive products allow classification of this event as a VEI 2 eruption caused by a rapid magmatic intrusion to shallow depths below the volcanic edifice.</p>