The volcanic and magmatic evolution of Tongariro volcano, New Zealand

<p>Detailed mapping studies of Quaternary stratovolcanoes provide critical frameworks for examining the long-term evolution of magmatic systems and volcanic behaviour. For stratovolcanoes that have experienced glaciation, edifice-forming products also act as climate-proxies from which ice thicknesses can be inferred at specific points in time. One such volcano is Tongariro, which is located in the southern Taupō Volcanic Zone of New Zealand’s North Island. This study presents the results of new detailed mapping, geochronological and geochemical investigations on edifice-forming materials to reconstruct Tongariro’s volcanic and magmatic history which address the following questions: (1) Does ice coverage on stratovolcanoes influence eruptive rates and behaviour (or record completeness)? (2) What is the relationship between magmatism, its expression (i.e. volcanism) and external but related processes such as tectonics? (3) How are intermediate-composition magmas assembled and what controls their diversity? (4) What are the relative proportions of mantle-derived and crust-derived materials in intermediate composition arc magmas? (5) Do genetic relationships exist between andesite and rhyolite magmas in arc settings? Samples from 250 new field localities in under-examined areas of Tongariro were analysed for major oxide, trace element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope compositions. Analyses were performed on whole-rock, groundmass and xenolith samples. The stratigraphic framework for these geochemical data was established from field observations and 29 new 40Ar/39Ar age determinations, which were synthesised with volume estimates and petrographic observations for all Tongariro map units. Mapping results divide Tongariro into 36 distinct map units (at their greatest level of subdivision) which were organised into formations and constituent members. New 40Ar/39Ar age determinations reveal continuous eruptive activity at Tongariro from at least 230 ka to present, including during glacial periods. This adds to the discovery of an inlier of old basaltic-andesite (512 ± 59 ka) on Tongariro’s NW sector that has an unclear source vent. Hornblende-phyric andesite boulders, mapped into the Tupuna Formation (new), yield the oldest 40Ar/39Ar age determination (304 ± 11 ka) for materials confidently attributed to Tongariro. Tupuna Formation andesites are correlated with Turakina Formation debris flows that were deposited between 349 to 309 ka in the Wanganui Basin, ~100 km south of Tongariro, which indicates that Ruapehu did not exist at this time, at least not in its current form. Tongariro has a total edifice volume of ~90 km3, 19 km3 of which is represented by exposed mapped units. The total ringplain volume immediately adjacent to Tongariro contains ~60 km3 of material. The volume of exposed glacial deposits are no more than 1 km3. During periods of major ice coverage, edifice-building rates on Tongariro were only 17-21 % of edifice-building rates during warmer climatic periods. Because shifts in edifice-building rates do not coincide with changes in erupted compositions, differences in edifice-building rates reflect a preservation bias. Materials erupted during glacial periods were emplaced onto ice masses and conveyed to the ringplain as debris, which explains reduced preservation rates at these times. MgO concentrations in Tongariro stratigraphic units with ages between 230 and 0 ka display successive and irregular cyclicity that occurs over ~10-70 kyr intervals, which reflect episodes of enhanced mafic magma replenishment. During these cycles, more rapid (≤10 kyr) increases in MgO concentrations to ≥5-9 wt% are followed by gradual declines to ~2-5 wt%, with maxima at ~230, ~160, ~117, ~88, ~56, ~35, ~17.5 ka and during the Holocene. Contemporaneous variations in Tongariro and Ruapehu magma compositions (e.g. MgO, Rb/Sr, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios) for the 200-0 ka period coincide with reported zircon growth model-ages in Taupō magmas. This contemporaneity reflects regional tectonic processes that have externally regulated and synchronised the timings of elevated mafic replenishment episodes versus periods of prolonged crustal residence at each of these volcanoes. Isotopic Sr-Nd-Pb data from metasedimentary xenoliths, groundmass separates and whole-rock samples indicate that two or three separate metasedimentary terranes (in the upper 15 km of the crust) were assimilated into Tongariro magmas. These are the Kaweka terrane and the Waipapa or Pahau terranes (or both). Subhorizontal juxtapositioning of these terranes is indicated by the coexistence of multiple terranes in the same eruptive units. Paired whole-rock and groundmass (interstitial melt) samples have effectively equal Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios for the complete range of Tongariro compositions. Despite intra-crystal isotopic heterogeneities that are likely widespread, the new data show that crystal fractionation and assimilation occur in approximately equal balance for essentially all Tongariro eruptives. Assimilated country rock accounts for 22-31 wt% of the average Tongariro magma. Initial evolution from a Kakuki basalt-type to a Tongariro Te Rongo Member basaltic-andesite reflects the addition of 17 % assimilated metasedimentary basement with a mass assimilation rate/mass crystal fractionation rate ratio—a.k.a. ‘r value’ of 1.8-3.5. Subsequent evolution from a Te Rongo Member basaltic-andesite to other Tongariro eruptive compositions represents 5-14 % more assimilated crust (r values of ~0.1-1.0). Magma evolution from high (>1) to lower (0.1-1.0) r values can explain the dearth of andesitic melt inclusions in (bulk) andesite magmas observed globally. High relative assimilation rates characterise rapid evolution from basalt to basaltic-andesite bulk compositions which contain andesitic interstitial melts. Thus, andesitic melt inclusions have a reduced chance of being preserved in crystals which can explain their low representation in global datasets.</p>

The volcanic and magmatic evolution of Tongariro volcano, New Zealand

<p>Detailed mapping studies of Quaternary stratovolcanoes provide critical frameworks for examining the long-term evolution of magmatic systems and volcanic behaviour. For stratovolcanoes that have experienced glaciation, edifice-forming products also act as climate-proxies from which ice thicknesses can be inferred at specific points in time. One such volcano is Tongariro, which is located in the southern Taupō Volcanic Zone of New Zealand’s North Island. This study presents the results of new detailed mapping, geochronological and geochemical investigations on edifice-forming materials to reconstruct Tongariro’s volcanic and magmatic history which address the following questions: (1) Does ice coverage on stratovolcanoes influence eruptive rates and behaviour (or record completeness)? (2) What is the relationship between magmatism, its expression (i.e. volcanism) and external but related processes such as tectonics? (3) How are intermediate-composition magmas assembled and what controls their diversity? (4) What are the relative proportions of mantle-derived and crust-derived materials in intermediate composition arc magmas? (5) Do genetic relationships exist between andesite and rhyolite magmas in arc settings? Samples from 250 new field localities in under-examined areas of Tongariro were analysed for major oxide, trace element and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope compositions. Analyses were performed on whole-rock, groundmass and xenolith samples. The stratigraphic framework for these geochemical data was established from field observations and 29 new 40Ar/39Ar age determinations, which were synthesised with volume estimates and petrographic observations for all Tongariro map units. Mapping results divide Tongariro into 36 distinct map units (at their greatest level of subdivision) which were organised into formations and constituent members. New 40Ar/39Ar age determinations reveal continuous eruptive activity at Tongariro from at least 230 ka to present, including during glacial periods. This adds to the discovery of an inlier of old basaltic-andesite (512 ± 59 ka) on Tongariro’s NW sector that has an unclear source vent. Hornblende-phyric andesite boulders, mapped into the Tupuna Formation (new), yield the oldest 40Ar/39Ar age determination (304 ± 11 ka) for materials confidently attributed to Tongariro. Tupuna Formation andesites are correlated with Turakina Formation debris flows that were deposited between 349 to 309 ka in the Wanganui Basin, ~100 km south of Tongariro, which indicates that Ruapehu did not exist at this time, at least not in its current form. Tongariro has a total edifice volume of ~90 km3, 19 km3 of which is represented by exposed mapped units. The total ringplain volume immediately adjacent to Tongariro contains ~60 km3 of material. The volume of exposed glacial deposits are no more than 1 km3. During periods of major ice coverage, edifice-building rates on Tongariro were only 17-21 % of edifice-building rates during warmer climatic periods. Because shifts in edifice-building rates do not coincide with changes in erupted compositions, differences in edifice-building rates reflect a preservation bias. Materials erupted during glacial periods were emplaced onto ice masses and conveyed to the ringplain as debris, which explains reduced preservation rates at these times. MgO concentrations in Tongariro stratigraphic units with ages between 230 and 0 ka display successive and irregular cyclicity that occurs over ~10-70 kyr intervals, which reflect episodes of enhanced mafic magma replenishment. During these cycles, more rapid (≤10 kyr) increases in MgO concentrations to ≥5-9 wt% are followed by gradual declines to ~2-5 wt%, with maxima at ~230, ~160, ~117, ~88, ~56, ~35, ~17.5 ka and during the Holocene. Contemporaneous variations in Tongariro and Ruapehu magma compositions (e.g. MgO, Rb/Sr, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios) for the 200-0 ka period coincide with reported zircon growth model-ages in Taupō magmas. This contemporaneity reflects regional tectonic processes that have externally regulated and synchronised the timings of elevated mafic replenishment episodes versus periods of prolonged crustal residence at each of these volcanoes. Isotopic Sr-Nd-Pb data from metasedimentary xenoliths, groundmass separates and whole-rock samples indicate that two or three separate metasedimentary terranes (in the upper 15 km of the crust) were assimilated into Tongariro magmas. These are the Kaweka terrane and the Waipapa or Pahau terranes (or both). Subhorizontal juxtapositioning of these terranes is indicated by the coexistence of multiple terranes in the same eruptive units. Paired whole-rock and groundmass (interstitial melt) samples have effectively equal Sr-Nd-Pb isotope ratios for the complete range of Tongariro compositions. Despite intra-crystal isotopic heterogeneities that are likely widespread, the new data show that crystal fractionation and assimilation occur in approximately equal balance for essentially all Tongariro eruptives. Assimilated country rock accounts for 22-31 wt% of the average Tongariro magma. Initial evolution from a Kakuki basalt-type to a Tongariro Te Rongo Member basaltic-andesite reflects the addition of 17 % assimilated metasedimentary basement with a mass assimilation rate/mass crystal fractionation rate ratio—a.k.a. ‘r value’ of 1.8-3.5. Subsequent evolution from a Te Rongo Member basaltic-andesite to other Tongariro eruptive compositions represents 5-14 % more assimilated crust (r values of ~0.1-1.0). Magma evolution from high (>1) to lower (0.1-1.0) r values can explain the dearth of andesitic melt inclusions in (bulk) andesite magmas observed globally. High relative assimilation rates characterise rapid evolution from basalt to basaltic-andesite bulk compositions which contain andesitic interstitial melts. Thus, andesitic melt inclusions have a reduced chance of being preserved in crystals which can explain their low representation in global datasets.</p>

Metals in subduction related magmatism: Insights from melt inclusions and associated glassy groundmass from the Southern Kermadec Arc, New Zealand

<p>The southern Kermadec Arc – Havre Trough (SKAHT) is an intra-oceanic arc – back-arc system where the Pacific plate is subducting beneath the Australian plate. The Kermadec volcanic arc front consists of 33 volcanic centres, four of which host hydrothermal mineralization (Brothers, Haungaroa, Rumble II West, and Clark) such as volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, which are characterised by high concentrations of base and precious metals (e.g., Au, Cu, Zn, Pb). The sources of these metals are strongly tied to the metal contents within underlying magmatic rocks and associated magmatic systems with which the hydrothermal fluids interact. Understanding the sources, movements, and accumulation of metals associated with porphyry copper and exhalative base metal deposits within a subduction – arc setting remains limited. This study reports major, trace, and volatile element contents in basaltic groundmass glasses and olivine-hosted melt inclusions from lavas from four locations within the arc – back-arc setting of the SKAHT. The focus is on understanding the controls on base metal (Pb, Cu, Zn, Mo, V) contents in the magmas. The sample locations, Rumble III and Rumble II West volcanoes, and back-arc Basins D and I, form an arc-perpendicular transect extending from arc front into the back-arc. The analysed melt inclusion and groundmass glasses are all basalt to basaltic andesite in composition, with back-arc basin samples more mafic than arc front volcano samples. The magmatic evolution of the melts is primarily controlled by crystal fractionation of olivine + pyroxene + plagioclase. All glasses have undergone variable degassing, indicated by an absence of detectable CO₂ and curvilinear decreases in S contents with increasing SiO₂. Of the volatile phases analysed, only Cl appears unaffected by degassing. Distinct compositional differences are apparent between arc front and back-arc melts. The arc front magmas formed from higher degrees of melting of a less fertile mantle source and are more enriched in trace elements then the back-arc magmas due to greater additions of slab-derived aqueous fluids to their source. Magmas from a single arc front volcano (Rumble II West) incorporate melts that have tapped variably enriched sources, indicating heterogeneity of the mantle at small scales. Significant variation in mantle composition, however, is also apparent laterally along strike of the arc. Rumble III volcano and Basin I lie on an arc-perpendicular transect south of Rumble II West volcano and Basin D. Their greater enrichment in trace elements and higher concentrations of base metals than Rumble II West and Basin D lavas can be attributed to higher fluxes of subduction derived components. Base metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, and V) are variably enriched in the SKAHT melts compared with typical mid-ocean ridge basalts with relative enrichments in the order Pb >> Cu > Mo, V > Zn. All metals appear to be affected by mantle metasomatism related to slab-derived fluids, either directly from slab components introduced to the mantle source (e.g., Pb) or through mobilisation of metals within the ambient mantle wedge. The apparently compatible behaviour of Zn, Cu, and V in the mantle means that these elements may be enriched in arc front magmas relative to back-arc magmas by higher degrees of partial melting and/or melting of more depleted sources. All base metals behave incompatibly in the magma during crystal fractionation between 48 – 56 wt.% SiO₂. Lead and Cu concentrations, however, begin to level out from ~ 52 wt.% SiO₂ suggesting some subsequent loss to fractionating volatile phases as metal sulfide complexes. Rumble III samples show a decrease in metal concentration (Pb, Cu, V), from melt inclusions to groundmass glasses, suggestive of more significant loss associated with sulfur degassing. Although other factors such as heat generation, hydrothermal flow, fault systems, and magma venting are key in the development of VMS deposits, this study shows that variations in subduction parameters can significantly affect metal concentrations in arc magmas that may host hydrothermal systems, and hence the amount of metals available to be scavenged into the deposits.</p>

Metals in subduction related magmatism: Insights from melt inclusions and associated glassy groundmass from the Southern Kermadec Arc, New Zealand

<p>The southern Kermadec Arc – Havre Trough (SKAHT) is an intra-oceanic arc – back-arc system where the Pacific plate is subducting beneath the Australian plate. The Kermadec volcanic arc front consists of 33 volcanic centres, four of which host hydrothermal mineralization (Brothers, Haungaroa, Rumble II West, and Clark) such as volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, which are characterised by high concentrations of base and precious metals (e.g., Au, Cu, Zn, Pb). The sources of these metals are strongly tied to the metal contents within underlying magmatic rocks and associated magmatic systems with which the hydrothermal fluids interact. Understanding the sources, movements, and accumulation of metals associated with porphyry copper and exhalative base metal deposits within a subduction – arc setting remains limited. This study reports major, trace, and volatile element contents in basaltic groundmass glasses and olivine-hosted melt inclusions from lavas from four locations within the arc – back-arc setting of the SKAHT. The focus is on understanding the controls on base metal (Pb, Cu, Zn, Mo, V) contents in the magmas. The sample locations, Rumble III and Rumble II West volcanoes, and back-arc Basins D and I, form an arc-perpendicular transect extending from arc front into the back-arc. The analysed melt inclusion and groundmass glasses are all basalt to basaltic andesite in composition, with back-arc basin samples more mafic than arc front volcano samples. The magmatic evolution of the melts is primarily controlled by crystal fractionation of olivine + pyroxene + plagioclase. All glasses have undergone variable degassing, indicated by an absence of detectable CO₂ and curvilinear decreases in S contents with increasing SiO₂. Of the volatile phases analysed, only Cl appears unaffected by degassing. Distinct compositional differences are apparent between arc front and back-arc melts. The arc front magmas formed from higher degrees of melting of a less fertile mantle source and are more enriched in trace elements then the back-arc magmas due to greater additions of slab-derived aqueous fluids to their source. Magmas from a single arc front volcano (Rumble II West) incorporate melts that have tapped variably enriched sources, indicating heterogeneity of the mantle at small scales. Significant variation in mantle composition, however, is also apparent laterally along strike of the arc. Rumble III volcano and Basin I lie on an arc-perpendicular transect south of Rumble II West volcano and Basin D. Their greater enrichment in trace elements and higher concentrations of base metals than Rumble II West and Basin D lavas can be attributed to higher fluxes of subduction derived components. Base metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, and V) are variably enriched in the SKAHT melts compared with typical mid-ocean ridge basalts with relative enrichments in the order Pb >> Cu > Mo, V > Zn. All metals appear to be affected by mantle metasomatism related to slab-derived fluids, either directly from slab components introduced to the mantle source (e.g., Pb) or through mobilisation of metals within the ambient mantle wedge. The apparently compatible behaviour of Zn, Cu, and V in the mantle means that these elements may be enriched in arc front magmas relative to back-arc magmas by higher degrees of partial melting and/or melting of more depleted sources. All base metals behave incompatibly in the magma during crystal fractionation between 48 – 56 wt.% SiO₂. Lead and Cu concentrations, however, begin to level out from ~ 52 wt.% SiO₂ suggesting some subsequent loss to fractionating volatile phases as metal sulfide complexes. Rumble III samples show a decrease in metal concentration (Pb, Cu, V), from melt inclusions to groundmass glasses, suggestive of more significant loss associated with sulfur degassing. Although other factors such as heat generation, hydrothermal flow, fault systems, and magma venting are key in the development of VMS deposits, this study shows that variations in subduction parameters can significantly affect metal concentrations in arc magmas that may host hydrothermal systems, and hence the amount of metals available to be scavenged into the deposits.</p>

Competing effects of spreading rate, crystal fractionation and source variability on Fe isotope systematics in mid-ocean ridge lavas

Two-thirds of the Earth is covered by mid-ocean ridge basalts, which form along a network of divergent plate margins. Basalts along these margins display a chemical diversity, which is consequent to a complex interplay of partial mantle melting in the upper mantle and magmatic differentiation processes in lower crustal levels. Igneous differentiation (crystal fractionation, partial melting) and source heterogeneity, in general, are key drivers creating variable chemistry in mid-ocean ridge basalts. This variability is reflected in iron isotope systematics (expressed as δ57Fe), showing a total range of 0.2 ‰ from δ57Fe = + 0.05 to + 0.25 ‰. Respective contributions of source heterogeneity and magma differentiation leading to this diversity, however, remain elusive. This study investigates the iron isotope systematics in basalts from the ultraslow spreading Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean and compares them to existing data from the fast spreading East Pacific Rise ridge. Results indicate that Gakkel lavas are driven to heavier iron isotope compositions through partial melting processes, whereas effects of igneous differentiation are minor. This is in stark contrast to fast spreading ridges showing reversed effects of near negligible partial melting effects followed by large isotope fractionation along the liquid line of descent. Gakkel lavas further reveal mantle heterogeneity that is superimposed on the igneous differentiation effects, showing that upper mantle Fe isotope heterogeneity can be transmitted into erupting basalts in the absence of homogenisation processes in sub-oceanic magma chambers.

Petrology and Nd-Sr isotopic composition of alkaline lamprophyres from the Early to Late Cretaceous Mundwara alkaline complex, NW India: Evidence of crystal fractionation, accumulation and corrosion in a complex magma chamber plumbing system

The Early to Late Cretaceous Mundwara alkaline complex (comprising the Musala, Mer and Toa plugs) displays a broad spectrum of alkaline rocks closely associated in space and time with the Deccan Large Igneous Province (DLIP) in NW India. Petrology and Nd-Sr isotopic data on two youngest and altogether compositionally different lamprophyre dykes of the Mundwara alkaline complex are presented in this paper to understand their petrogenesis and also to constrain the magmatic processes responsible for generation of the rock spectrum in the complex (pyroxenite, picrite ankaramite, carbonatite, shonkinite, olivine gabbro, feldspathoidal and foid-free syenite). The two lamprophyre dykes occurring in the Mer and the Musala hills are referred to as basaltic camptonite I and camptonite II, respectively. The basaltic camptonite-I is highly porphyritic and contains olivine, clinopyroxene and magnetite macrocrysts embedded within the groundmass of microphenocyrsts composed of clinopyroxene, phlogopite, magnetite and feldspar. Whereas camptonite-II, with more or less similar texture, contains amphibole, biotite, magnetite and clinopyroxene within the microphenocrystic groundmass of amphibole, biotite, apatite and feldspar. Pyroxenes are chemically zoned and display corrosion of the cores revealing that they are antecrysts developed during early stages of magma evolution and later on inherited by more evolved magmas. Mineral chemistry and trace element composition of the lamprophyres reveal that fractional crystallisation was a dominant process. Early segregation of olivine + Cr-rich clinopyroxene + Cr-spinel from a primary hydrous alkali basalt within a magmatic plumbing system is inferred which led to the generation of basaltic camptonitic magma (M1) forming the Mer hill lamprophyre. Subsequently, progressive fractionation of pyroxene and Fe-Ti oxides from the basaltic camptonitic (M1) magma generated camptonitic (M2) magma forming the Musala hill lamprophyre. Both lamprophyre dykes on the Sr-Nd isotopic array reflect plume type asthenospheric derivation which largely corresponds to the Réunion plume and other alkaline rocks of the Deccan LIP. Our study brings out a complex sequence of processes such as crystal fractionation, accumulation and corrosion in the magmatic plumbing system involved in the generation of the Mundwara alkaline complex.Supplementary material at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5277073

Crystal fractionation by crystal-driven convection

&lt;p&gt;In the last two decades, improved fine scale analysis in crystalline profiles has improved our understanding of igneous processes, while opening our sight to more complexities. As an example, plagioclase crystal profiles in Holyoke flood-basalt flow revealed that the crystals got exposured to different melt environments as the layer underwent fractional crystallization. Fractional crystallization is an essential process for determining the compositional evolution of magmatic systems. The process requires a reactive segregation process, where crystals precipitate from the melt and segregate from their residual melt. In this study, we are motivated by the subtleties in the crystalline record to model the segregation component of fractional crystallization, or crystal fractionation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We build a numerical model with individually resolved, denser-than-melt crystals in a convective flow. We test the low to intermediate crystallinity regime, where the physical processes leading to efficient fractionation are less clear than at high crystallinity. We simulate the physical segregation of crystals from their residual melt at the scale of individual crystals using a direct numerical method. By resolving each of the crystals, we do not require a priori parameterization of crystal-melt interactions. We use tracers in the melt to track the different melts around the crystals.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;We find that collective sinking of crystal-rich clusters dominate settling at low particle Reynolds numbers. The relatively rapid motion of this cluster strips away the residual melt around the cluster. Compared to individual settling, the resulting crystal fractionation is efficient but heterogeneous at the crystalline scale. Similar to the Holyoke flood-basalt plagioclase profiles, the crystals in our analysis show exposure to different melt environments as they drive crystal fractionation. Our results suggest that cluster driven fractional crystallization will vary in efficiency. At the system scale, this result would suggest a bell curve compositional abundance distribution in volcanic systems.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;