Explosive activity and generation mechanisms of pyroclastic flows at Arenal volcano, Costa Rica between 1987 and 2001

Explosive activity at Arenal and associated tephra fall that has occurred over the 14-year period from 1987–2001 is described. Explosions have been notably variable in both frequency and size. A marked decrease in both frequency and quantity of tephra fallout occurred in early 1998 until the end of 2001. Grainsize distributions of cumulative tephra samples collected once a month are typically bimodal. Aggregation causing premature fallout of fine ash and possibly fallout from ash plumes produced by pyroclastic flows are considered responsible for the bimodality of fallout. Scanning electron microscopy of the glass component of tephra from single explosions show predominantly blocky and blocky/fluidal clast types, interpreted as being the product of vulcanian type explosions. Fragmentation of a mainly rigid, degassed magma body, and a minor molten component is inferred for these explosions. Pyroclastic flows were produced either associated with the larger explosions by a mechanism of column collapse (1987–1990), or unrelated to explosions by partial collapse of the crater wall (1993, 1998, 2000, 2001). Pyroclastic flow activity has migrated from west to north during the period reported. Pyroclastic flow deposits are variable in the quantity of juvenile material and any associated surge component. Large juvenile blocks were partially molten on emplacement and many have a typical cauliform texture. Blocks with both juvenile and lithic textures indicate that at the summit magma was in intimate contact with the pre-existing edifice, rather than as a simple open crater or lava pool. Crater wall collapse may have been promoted by the reduction in explosive activity, which has increased the lava accumulation at the summit and in turn increased instability of the summit region. Thus although explosive activity has waned, if the lava output is maintained, the hazard of pyroclastic flows is likely to continue.Editorial responsibility: R. Cioni     

The geology of split butte — A maar of the south-central snake river plain,Idaho

Split Butte is a volcanic crater of Quaternary age consisting of a tephra ring which at one time retained a lava lake. The tephra is thinly bedded and is composed of partially palagonitized sideromelane clasts and subordinate lithic fragments. The beds typically dip radially away from the center of the crater, but locally dip toward the crater center. The tephra ring resulted from phreatomagmatic eruptions as a result of interaction of groundwater with rising basaltic magma, evidenced by glassy and granulated pyroclastic debris, the presence of abundant palagonite and other secondary minerals, numerous armored lapilli, and plastically deformed ash layers below ejecta blocks. Statistical analysis of the grain size distribution of the ash also indicates a phreatomagmatic origin of Split Butte tephra. In addition, the analysis reveals that the stratigraphically lowest tephra was deposited primarily by pyroclastic flow mechanisms while the upper tephra layers, comprising the bulk of the deposits, were deposited dominantly by airfall and pyroclastic surge. The lava lake and four en echelon basalt dikes were emplaced when phreatomagmatic activity at the vent ceased. Subsequent collapse caused a broad, shallow pit crater to form in the laval lake, and minor spattering occurred at one point along the pit crater scarp. Partial erosion of the tephra, deposition of aeolian sediments and encroachment of the Butte by later lava flows completed the development of Split Butte.     

Block‐and‐ash flow deposit of the Narcondam Volcano: Product of dacite–andesite dome collapse in the Burma–Java subduction complex

Narcondam Island in the Andaman Sea represents a dacite–andesite dome volcano in the volcanic chain of the Burma–Java subduction complex. The pyroclasts of andesitic composition are restricted to the periphery of the dome predominantly in the form of block‐and‐ash deposits and minor base surge deposits. Besides pyroclastic deposits, andesitic lava occurs dominantly at the basal part of the dome whereas dacitic lava occupies the central part of the dome. The pyroclasts are represented by non‐vesiculated to poorly vesiculated blocks of andesite, lapilli, and ash. The hot debris derived from dome collapse was deposited initially as massive to reversely‐graded beds with the grain support at the lower part and matrix support at the upper part. This sequence is overlain by repetitive beds of lapilli breccia to tuff breccia. These deposits are recognized as a basal avalanche rather than lahar deposit. This basal avalanche was punctuated by an ash‐cloud surge deposit representing a sequence of thinly bedded units of normal graded unit to parallel laminated beds.     

Ukinrek Maars, Alaska, II. Deposits and formation of the 1977 craters

The initial phase of the eruption forming Ukinrek Maars during March and April 1977 were explosions from the site of West Maar. These were mainly phreatomagmatic and initially transitional to strombolian. Activity at West Maar ceased after three days upon the initiation of the East Maar. The crater quickly grew by strong phreatomagmatic explosions. During the first phases of phreatomagmatic activity at East Maar, large exotic blocks derived from a subsurface till were ejected. Ballistic studies indicate muzzle velocities for these blocks of 80–90 m s⁻¹.Phreatomagmatic explosions ejected both juvenile and non-juvenile material which formed a low rim of ejecta (< 26 mhigh) around the crater and a localized, coarse, wellsorted (σ_φ = 1−1.5) juvenile and lithic fall deposit. Other fine ash beds, interstratified with the coarse beds, are more poorly sorted (σ_φ = 2−3) and are interpreted as fallout of wet, cohesive ash from probably milder phases of activity in the crater. Minor base surge activity damaged trees and deposited fine ash, including layers plastered on vertical surfaces. Viscous basalt lava appeared in the center of the East Maar crater almost immediately and a lava dome gradually grew in the crater despite phreatomagmatic eruptions adjacent to it.The development of these maars appears to be mainly controlled by gradual collapse of crater and conduit walls, and blasting-out of the slumped debris by phreatomagmatic explosions when rising magma contacted groundwater beneath the regional water table and a local perched aquifer.Ballistic analysis on the ejected blocks indicates a maximum muzzle velocity of 100–150 m s^-1, values similar to those obtained from other ballistic studies on maar ejecta.     

Base surge deposits,eruption history,and depositional processes of a wet phreatomagmatic volcano in Central Anatolia (Cora Maar)

Cora Maar is a Quaternary volcano located to the 20 km northwest of Mount Erciyes, the largest of the 19 polygenetic volcanic complexes of the Cappadocian Volcanic Province in central Anatolia. Cora Maar is a typical example of a maar-diatreme volcano with a nearly circular crater with a mean diameter of c.1.2 km, and a well-bedded base surge-dominated maar rim tephra sequence up to 40 m in thickness. Having a diameter/depth ratio (D/d) of 12, Cora is a relatively “mature” maar compared to recent maar craters in the world.Cora crater is excavated within the andesitic lava flows of Quaternary age. The tephra sequence is not indurated, and consists of juvenile clasts up to 70 cm, non-juvenile clasts up to 130 cm, accretionary lapilli up to 1.2 cm in diameter, and ash to lapilli-sized tephra. Base surge layers display well-developed antidune structures indicating the direction of the transport. Both progressive and regressive dune structures are present within the tephra sequence. Wavelength values increase with increasing wave height, and with large wavelength and height values. Cora tephra display similarities to Taal and Laacher See base surge deposits. Impact sags and small channel structures are also common. Lateral and vertical facies changes are observed for the dune bedded and planar bedsets.According to granulometric analyses, Cora Maar tephra samples display a bimodal distribution with a wide range of Md_φ values, characteristic for the surge deposits. Very poorly sorted, bimodal ash deposits generally vary from coarse tail to fine tail grading depending on the grain size distribution while very poorly sorted lapilli and block-rich deposits display a positive skewness due to fine tail grading.     

Geology of the Side Crater of the Erebus volcano,Antarctica

The summit cone of the Erebus volcano contains two craters. The Main crater is roughly circular (∼ 500 m diameter) and contains an active persistent phonolite lava lake ∼ 200 m below the summit rim. The Side Crater is adjacent to the southwestern rim of the Main Crater. It is a smaller spoon-shaped Crater (250–350 m diameter, 50–100 m deep) and is inactive. The floor of the Side Crater is covered by snow/ice, volcanic colluvium or weakly developed volcanic soil in geothermal areas (a.k.a. warm ground). But in several places the walls of the Side Crater provide extensive vertical exposure of rock which offers an insight into the recent eruptive history of Erebus. The deposits consist of lava flows with subordinate volcanoclastic lithologies. Four lithostratigraphic units are described: SC 1 is a compound lava with complex internal flow fabrics; SC 2 consists of interbedded vitric lavas, autoclastic and pyroclastic breccias; SC 3 is a thick sequence of thin lavas with minor autoclastic breccias; SC 4 is a pyroclastic fall deposit containing large scoriaceous lava bombs in a matrix composed primarily of juvenile lapilli-sized pyroclasts. Ash-sized pyroclasts from SC 4 consist of two morphologic types, spongy and blocky, indicating a mixed strombolian-phreatomagmatic origin. All of the deposits are phonolitic and contain anorthoclase feldspar.     

Basaltic pyroclastic flows of Fuji volcano, Japan: characteristics of the deposits and their origin

Fuji volcano is the largest active volcano in Japan, and consists of Ko-Fuji and Shin-Fuji volcanoes. Although basaltic in composition, small-volume pyroclastic flows have been repeatedly generated during the Younger stage of Shin-Fuji volcano. Deposits of those pyroclastic flows have been identified along multiple drainage valleys on the western flanks between 1,300 and 2,000 m a.s.l., and have been stratigraphically divided into the Shin-Fuji Younger pyroclastic flows (SYP) 1 to 4. Downstream debris flow deposits are found which contain abundant material derived from the pyroclastic flow deposits. The new¹⁴C ages for SYP1 to SYP4 are 3.2, 3.0, 2.9, and 2.5 ka, respectively, and correspond to a period where explosive summit eruptions generated many scoria fall deposits mostly toward the east. The SYP1 to SYP4 deposits consist of two facies: the massive facies is about 2 m thick and contains basaltic bombs of less than 50 cm in size, scoria lapilli, and fresh lithic basalt fragments supported in an ash matrix; the surge facies is represented by beds 1 to 15 cm thick, consisting mainly of ash with minor amount of fine lapilli. The bombs and scoria are 15 to 30% in volume within the massive facies. The ashes within the SYP deposits consist largely of comminuted basalt lithics and crystals that are derived from the Middle-stage lava flows exposed at the western flanks. SYP1 to SYP4 were only dispersed down the western flanks. The reason for this one-sided distribution is the asymmetric topography of the edifice; the western slopes of the volcano are the steepest (over 34 degrees). Most pyroclastic materials cannot rest stably on the slopes steeper than 33 degrees. Therefore, ejecta from the explosive summit eruptions that fell on the steep slopes tumbled down the slopes and were remobilized as high-temperature granular flows. These flows consisted of large pyroclastics and moved as granular avalanches along the valley bottom. Furthermore, the avalanching flows increased in volume by abrasion from the edifice and generated abundant ashes by the collision of clasts. The large amount of the fine material was presumably available within the transport system as the basal avalanches propagated below the angle of repose. Taking the typical kinetic friction coefficient of small pyroclastic flows, such flows could descend the western flanks where scattered houses are below 1,000 m a.s.l. A similar type of pyroclastic flow could result if explosive summit eruptions occur in the future.Editorial responsibility: R Cioni     

Nuées Ardentes of the 1968 Eruption of Mayon Volcano,Philippines

Mayon Volcano, southeastern Luzon, began a series of explosive eruptions at 0900 April 21, 1968, and by May 15 more than 100 explosions had occurred, at least 6 people had been killed, and roughly 100 square km had been covered by more than 5 cm of airfall ash, blocky ash flows, and a lava flow. All material crupted was porphyritic augite-hypersthene andesite. Explosions from the summit crater (elevation 2460 m) ejected large quantities of ash and incandescent blocks to a height exceeding 600 m and produced ash-laden clouds which rose to heights of 3 to 10 km. Backfall of the coarser material fed nuées ardentes which repeatedly swept down ravines on all sides of the volcanic cone. The velocity of one nuée ardente ranged from 9 to 63 m per sec. The largest nuées descended to the southwest and reached as far as 7 km from the summit. An aa lava flow also descended 3 1/2 km down this flank. The nuées ardentes deposited pyroclastic flows that contained large breadcrust-surfaced blocks averaging about 30 cm across, but occasionally reaching 25 m in greatest dimension. These blocks were still very hot in their interiors several days later. Surrounding the pyroclastic flows is a seared zone as much as 2 km wide, but averaging a few hundred meters, in which vegetation is charred and splintered, but over which only a thin layer of airfall ash was deposited.     

Repetitive mixing events and holocene pyroclastic activity at Pico de Orizaba and Popocatepetl (Mexico)

The Holocene volcanic activity which built up the present terminal cones of Pico de Orizaba and Popocatepetl in eastern Mexico, was characterized by repeated pyroclastic Saint-Vincent type eruptions. Radiocarbon data show that these paroxysmal events occurred at more or less regular intervals, and were followed by moderate activity producing ash and pumice falls and andesitic lava flows from the summit craters.Typical ash and scoria pyroclastic flows exhibit a heterogeneous composition given by the interaction of a dacitic component with a more basic andesitic one. Scoria bombs are characterized by banded to emulsified textures, mineralogical desequilibrium assemblages and linear chemical variations on element-element plots as exemplified by the Loma Grande flow at Pico.Periodic replenishments of the magmatic reservoir could be the major phenomenon that started mixing and consequently triggered the pyroclastic eruptions.     

Co-ignimbrite ash-fall deposits of the 1991 eruptions of Fugen-dake, Unzen Volcano, Japan

Fugen-dake, the main peak of Unzen Volcano, began a new eruption sequence on November 17, 1990. On May 20, 1991, a new lava dome appeared near the eastern edge of the Fugen-dake summit. Small-scale, 10⁴–10⁶ m³ in volume, Merapi-type block and ash flows were frequently generated from the growing lava dome during May–June, 1991. These pyroclastic flows were accompanied by co-ignimbrite ash plumes that deposited ash-fall deposits downwind of the volcano. Three examples of co-ignimbrite ash-fall deposits from Unzen pyroclastic flows are described. The volume of fall deposits was estimated to be about 30% by volume of the collapsed portions of the dome that formed pyroclastic flows. This proportion is smaller than that described for other larger co-ignimbrite ash-fall deposits from other volcanoes. Grain size distributions of the Unzen co-ignimbrite ash-fall deposits are bi-modal or tri-modal. Most ashes are finer than 4 phi and two modes were observed at around 4–7 phi and 9 phi. They are composed mainly of groundmass fragments. Fractions of another mode at around 2 phi are rich in crystals derived from dome lava. Some of the fine ash component fell as accretionary lapilli from the co-ignimbrite ash cloud indicating either moisture or electrostatic aggregation. We believe that the co-ignimbrite ash of Unzen block and ash flows were formed by the mechanical fracturing of the cooling lava blocks as they collapsed and moved down the slope. These ashes were entrained into the convective plumes generated off the tops of the moving flows.     

The 55- to 60-ka Te Whaiau Formation: a catastrophic,avalanche-induced,cohesive debris-flow deposit from Proto-Tongariro Volcano,New Zealand

Te Whaiau Formation is a massive volcaniclastic deposit interbedded within gravelly and sandy volcanogenic sediments of the northwestern Tongariro ring plain. The ca. 0.5-km³ deposit comprises a clay-rich, matrix-supported diamicton with lithological and physical properties that are typical of a cohesive debris-flow deposit. Clays identified in the matrix are derived from hydrothermally altered andesite lava and pyroclastic rocks. The distribution pattern of the deposit, and the nature of the clay matrix, point to a source area that was located in the vicinity of Mt. Tongariro's current summit (1967 m). Most of the proximal zone is buried under late Pleistocene lavas forming the northwestern flank of the massif. In contrast, the medial and distal zones are well exposed to the northwest in the Whanganui River catchment. Lithofacies exposed in these latter zones contain isolated volcaniclastic megaclasts and well-preserved, jointed blocks of andesite. Small hummocks, up to 5 m high, are present only in the distal margins of the deposit. Based on these observations, possible source areas and analogy with similar deposits elsewhere, we infer that Te Whaiau Formation was initiated as a fluid-saturated debris avalanche that transformed downstream into a single, cohesive debris flow. It is interpreted that the mass flow was initially confined to the northwestern flank of Tongariro before spreading laterally onto the lowlands to the northwest. The resulting heterolithological diamicton filled stream channels in the western sector of the Tongariro ring plain. At 15 km from source, the debris flow encountered an elevated terrain, which acted as a barrier to further spreading to the north. The stratigraphy of the cover beds and K/Ar data on an underlying lava indicate that Te Whaiau Formation was emplaced between 55 and 60 ka, a cool period characterized by intense volcaniclastic sedimentation around the Tongariro massif. Jigsaw-fit fractured volcanic bombs suggest that an explosive eruption through hydrothermally altered rock and pyroclastic deposits probably triggered the mass flow. The characteristics of the deposit indicate that a large portion of the proto-Tongariro edifice collapsed en masse to form the initial avalanche. Hence, we infer that the current morphology of Tongariro volcano is derived not only from glacial erosion, but also from gravitational failure. Prehistoric eruptions and current geothermal activity on the upper northern and western slopes of the Tongariro massif suggest that avalanche-induced debris flows must be considered a potential future volcanic hazard for the region.     

The historic magmatic-hydrothermal eruption of the Breccia di Commenda, Vulcano, Italy

The historic Breccia di Commenda (BC) explosive eruption of Vulcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy) opened with a phase that generated a gray fine ash layer dispersed to the northwest (phase 1). The eruption continued with a dilute pyroclastic density current (PDC) that was dispersed to the east, followed by the emplacement of radially distributed, topographically controlled PDC deposits (phase 2). The last phase of the eruption produced a sequence of accretionary lapilli and gray fine ash dispersed toward the southeast (phase 3). The most impressive feature of the BC is its high lithic/juvenile clast ratio and the yellow color of the deposits of phase 2. Lithic fragments are mainly hydrothermally altered rocks, in the silicic and advanced argillic facies. Juvenile fragments, ranging from 20?% to 40?% by volume, are mainly confined to the ash component of the deposits and comprise rhyolitic to trachyandesite, poorly to non-vesicular fragments. The fine ash fraction of the deposits is richer in S, Cu, Zn, Pb, and As than the BC juvenile lapilli and bombs, and also the juvenile components of other La Fossa units, suggesting that the BC formed in the presence of an anomalously high amount of S and metals. Sulfur and metals may have been carried as aerosols by chloride- and sulfate-bearing micro-crystals, derived from the condensation of magmatic gas in the eruptive cloud. The high content of hydrothermally altered lithic clasts in the deposits suggests that explosions involved the fluid-saturated hydrothermally altered rocks residing in the conduit zone. However, the presence of a juvenile component in the deposits supports the idea that this explosion may have been triggered by the ascent of new magma. We categorize this eruption as magmatic-hydrothermal to emphasize that in this type of phreatomagmatic eruption the external water was an active hydrothermal system. Rock magnetic temperatures of non-altered lava lithic fragments indicate a uniform deposit temperature for the PDC deposits of between 200 and 260?°C, with a maximum at 280?°C. These homogeneous, relatively low temperatures are consistent with the idea that the phase 2 explosions involved the expansion of abundant steam from the flashing of the hydrothermal system. In addition, recent paleomagnetic dating of the BC provides an age of between 1000 and 1200?AD, younger than that reported in the previously published data, suggesting that previous interpretations and the recent history of La Fossa and Mt. Pilato require re-evaluation.     

Internal structure and occurrence of accretionary lapilli — a case study at Laacher See Volcano

Accretionary lapilli are common in fine-grained pyroclastic flow and surge deposits and related co-ignimbrite/co-surge ash layers of Laacher See volcano. Two morphologically different types are distin-guished: (1) Rim-type lapilli are composed of a coarse-grained core surrounded by a fine-grained rim. Rims are internally graded or made up of several layers of alternating fine and very-fine grained ash. (2) Core-type lapilli lack fine-grained rims. Field relationships, internal, and grain-size characteristics are specific to accretionary lapilli from different types of tephra deposits. Accretionary lapilli may therefore be a helpful tool to infer the origin of tephra of different origin. In co-ignimbrite ashfall, accretionary lapilli are generally concentrated at the base, whereas pyroclastic flow and surge deposits contain lapilli in the upper parts of individual, thin-bedded layers. Rim-type lapilli are found in pyroclastic flow and surge deposits up to 4 km from the source. Core-type lapilli occur at greater distances or are associated with vesiculated tuffs where they are within 1 km from the vent. Accretionary lapilli from co-ignimbrite/co-surge ash show open framework textures and edge-to-face contacts of individual ash particles. Vesicularity is generally low but the overall porosity of 40% to 50% results in an average density of 1200 kg/m³. Accretionary lapilli in pyroclastic flow and surge deposits are more densely packed and platy particles are often in face-to-face contacts. Vesicularity of those from pyroclastic flow deposits is significantly higher; the overall porosity is about 30% to 40% and the average density 1600 kg/m³. Grain-size analyses show that the accretionary lapilli in co-ignimbrite/co-surge ashfall deposits are the most fine-grained with a median (Md) of 20 to 30 m and a maximum grain size of 250 to 350 m. Accretionary lapilli from pyroclastic flow deposits have intermediate Md-values of 30 to 50 m and a maximum grain size of 350 to 500 m. Those of surge deposits are the coarsest grained with Md-values of 30 to >63 m and a maximum grain size up to 2 mm.     

The San Venanzo maar and tuff ring,Umbria, Italy: eruptive behaviour of a carbonatite-melilitite volcano

The late Pleistocene San Venanzo maar and nearby Pian di Celle tuff ring in the San Venanzo area of Umbria, central Italy, appear to represent different aspects of an eruptive cycle accompanied by diatreme formation. Approximately 6x10⁶ m³ of mostly lapillisized, juvenile ejecta with lesser amounts of lithics and 1x10⁶ m³ of lava were erupted. The stratigraphy indicates intense explosive activity followed by lava flows and subvolcanic intrusions. The pyroclastic material includes lithic breccia derived from vent and diatreme wall erosion, roughly stratified lapilli tuff deposited by concentrated pyroclastic surge, chaotic scoriaceous pyroclastic flow and inverse graded grain-flow deposits. The key feature of the pyroclastics is the presence of concentric-shelled lapilli generated by accretion around the lithics during magma ascent in the diatreme conduits. The rock types range from kalsilite leucite olivine melilitite lavas and subvolcanic intrusions to carbonatite, phonolite and calcitic melilitite pyroclasts. Juvenile ejecta contain essential calcite whose composition and texture indicate a magmatic origin. Pyroclastic carbonatite activity is also indicated by the presence of carbonatite ash beds. The San Venanzo maar-forming event is believed to have been trigered by fluid-rich carbonatite-phonolite magma. The eruptive centre the moved to the Pian di Celle tuff ring, where the eruption of degassed olivine melilititic magma and late intrusions ended magmatic activity in the area. In both volcanoes the absence of phreatomagmatic features together with the presence of large amounts of primary calcite suggests carbonatite segregation and violent exsolution of CO₂ which, flowing through the diatremes, produced the peculiar intrusive pyroclastic facies and triggered explosions.     

Geological constraints on the 2003–2005 ash emissions from the Nakadake crater lake,Aso Volcano,Japan

The active crater of Nakadake at Aso Volcano, southwestern Japan, has been occupied by a lake during its dormant periods. Multiple ash emissions were observed from the crater lake between July 2003 and August 2005. The largest events occurred on 10 July 2003 and 14 January 2004. On 10 July 2003, ash (41 tons) was dispersed throughout an area extending 14 km east-northeast of the vent, and on 14 January 2004 ash (32 tons) extended 8 km to the east-southeast. Thereafter, small ash emissions were frequent at the crater lake, in which the water level fell considerably from April to August 2005. During this period major ash emitting events, producing mostly white aggregated ash, occurred on June 10–12, June 21 (4.2 tons) and July 25 (1.2 tons). Ash emissions at the Nakadake crater in 2003–2005 were classified into three types: gentle release of white aggregated ash from fumaroles inside the crater lake (e.g. daytime of 14 April, 10–12 June and 25 July 2005); emission of black ash from an almost dried-up vent (21 June 2005); and short-time (ca. 20 s) small-explosion-triggered gas-and-ash emission through the crater lake (10 July 2003, 14 January 2004 and 14 April 20h41m 2005). All products from these ash emissions consisted of fine-grained (< 1 mm) glass shards, crystals and lithic fragments, and contained neither lapilli nor blocks. Although the glass shards show varying degrees of crystallization and alteration, clear glass shards, which appear fresh, are probably juvenile materials. These observations suggest that the 2003–2005 ash emissions from the crater lake of Nakadake Volcano are related to newly ascending magma.     

The physical volcanology of the 1600 eruption of Huaynaputina, southern Peru

Volcán Huaynaputina is a group of four vents located at 16°36'S, 70°51'W in southern Peru that produced one of the largest eruptions of historical times when ~11 km³ of magma was erupted during the period 19 February to 6 March 1600. The main eruptive vents are located at 4200 m within an erosion-modified amphitheater of a significantly older stratovolcano. The eruption proceeded in three stages. Stage I was an ~20-h sustained plinian eruption on 19-20 February that produced an extensive dacite pumice fall deposit (magma volume ~2.6 km³). Throughout medial-distal and distal parts of the dispersal area, a fine-grained plinian ashfall unit overlies the pumice fall deposit. This very widespread ash (magma volume ~6.2 km³) has been recognized in Antarctic ice cores. A short period of quiescence allowed local erosion of the uppermost stage-I deposits and was followed by renewed but intermittent explosive activity between 22 and 26 February (stage II). This activity resulted in intercalated pyroclastic flow and pumice fall deposits (~1 km³). The flow deposits are valley confined, whereas associated co-ignimbrite ash fall is found overlying the plinian ash deposit. Following another period of quiescence, vulcanian-type explosions of stage III commenced on 28 February and produced crudely bedded ash, lapilli, and bombs of dense dacite (~1 km³). Activity ceased on 6 March. Compositions erupted are predominantly high-K dacites with a phenocryst assemblage of plagioclase>hornblende>biotite>Fe-Ti oxides-apatite. Major elements are broadly similar in all three stages, but there are a few important differences. Stage-I pumice has less evolved glass compositions (~73% SiO₂), lower crystal contents (17-20%), lower density (1.0-1.3 g/cm³), and phase equilibria suggest higher temperature and volatile contents. Stage-II and stage-III juvenile clasts have more evolved glass (~76% SiO₂) compositions, higher crystal contents (25-35%), higher densities (up to 2.2 g/cm³), and lower temperature and volatile contents. All juvenile clasts show mineralogical evidence for thermal disequilibrium. Inflections on a plot of log thickness vs area^1/2 for the fall deposits suggest that the pumice fall and the plinian ash fall were dispersed under different conditions and may have been derived from different parts of the eruption column system. The ash appears to have been dispersed mainly from the uppermost parts of the umbrella cloud by upper-level winds, whereas the pumice fall may have been derived from the lower parts of the umbrella cloud and vertical part of the eruption column and transported by a lower-altitude wind field. Thickness half distances and clast half distances for the pumice fall deposit suggests a column neutral buoyancy height of 24-32 km and a total column height of 34-46 km. The estimated mass discharge rate for the ~20-h-long stage-I eruption is 2.4᎒⁸ kg/s and the volumetric discharge rate is ~3.6᎒⁵ m³/s. The pumice fall deposit has a dispersal index (Hildreth and Drake 1992) of 4.4, and its index of fragmentation is at least 89%, reflecting the dominant volume of fines produced. Of the 11 km³ total volume of dacite magma erupted in 1600, approximately 85% was evacuated during stage 1. The three main vents range in size from ~70 to ~400 m. Alignment of these vents and a late-stage dyke parallel to the NNW-SSE trend defined by older volcanics suggest that the eruption initiated along a fissure that developed along pre-existing weaknesses. During stage I this fissure evolved into a large flared vent, vent 2, with a diameter of approximately 400 m. This vent was active throughout stage II, at the end of which a dome was emplaced within it. During stage III this dome was eviscerated forming the youngest vent in the group, vent 3. A minor extra-amphitheater vent was produced during the final event of the eruptive sequence. Recharge may have induced magma to rise away from a deep zone of magma generation and storage. Subsequently, vesiculation in the rising magma batch, possibly enhanced by interaction with an ancient hydrothermal system, triggered and fueled the sustained Plinian eruption of stage I. A lower volatile content in the stage-II and stage-III magma led to transitional column behavior and pyroclastic flow generation in stage II. Continued magma uprise led to emplacement of a dome which was subsequently destroyed during stage III. No caldera collapse occurred because no shallow magma chamber developed beneath this volcano.     

Generation of pyroclastic flows and surges by hot-rock avalanches from the dome of Mount St. Helens volcano,USA

Several hot-rock avalanches have occurred during the growth of the composite dome of Mount St. Helens, Washington between 1980 and 1987. One of these occurred on 9 May 1986 and produced a fan-shaped avalanche deposit of juvenile dacite debris together with a more extensive pyroclastic-flow deposit. Laterally thinning deposits and abrasion and baking of wooden and plastic objects show that a hot ash-cloud surge swept beyond the limits of the pyroclastic flow. Plumes that rose 2–3 km above the dome and vitric ash that fell downwind of the volcano were also effects of this event, but no explosion occurred. All the facies observed originated from a single avalanche. Erosion and melting of craterfloor snow by the hot debris caused debris flows in the crater, and a small flood that carried juvenile and other clasts north of the crater. A second, broadly similar event occured in October 1986. Larger events of this nature could present a significant volcanic hazard.     

Incursion of a large-volume,spatter-bearing pyroclastic density current into a caldera lake: Pavey Ark ignimbrite,Scafell caldera,England

The Scafell caldera-lake volcaniclastic succession is exceptionally well exposed. At the eastern margin of the caldera, a large andesitic explosive eruption (>5 km³) generated a high-mass-flux pyroclastic density current that flowed into the caldera lake for several hours and deposited the extensive Pavey Ark ignimbrite. The ignimbrite comprises a thick (≤125 m), proximal, spatter- and scoria-rich breccia that grades laterally and upwards into massive lapilli-tuff, which, in turn, is gradationally overlain by massive and normal-graded tuff showing evidence of soft-state disruption. The subaqueous pyroclastic current carried juvenile clasts ranging from fine ash to metre-scale blocks and from dense andesite through variably vesicular scoria to pumice (<10³ kg m⁻³). Extreme ignimbrite lithofacies diversity resulted via particle segregation and selective deposition from the current. The lacustrine proximal ignimbrite breccia mainly comprises clast- to matrix-supported blocks and lapilli of vesicular andesite, but includes several layers rich in spatter (≤1.7 m diameter) that was emplaced in a ductile, hot state. In proximal locations, rapid deposition of the large and dense clasts caused displacement of interstitial fluid with elutriation of low-density lapilli and ash upwards, so that these particles were retained in the current and thus overpassed to medial and distal reaches. Medially, the lithofacies architecture records partial blocking, channelling and reflection of the depletive current by substantial basin-floor topography that included a lava dome and developing fault scarps. Diffuse layers reflect surging of the sustained current, and the overall normal grading reflects gradually waning flow with, finally, a transition to suspension sedimentation from an ash-choked water column. Fine to extremely fine tuff overlying the ignimbrite forms ∼25% of the whole and is the water-settled equivalent of co-ignimbrite ash; its great thickness (≤55 m) formed because the suspended ash was trapped within an enclosed basin and could not drift away. The ignimbrite architecture records widespread caldera subsidence during the eruption, involving volcanotectonic faulting of the lake floor. The eruption was partly driven by explosive disruption of a groundwater-hydrothermal system adjacent to the magma reservoir.     

Generation of block and ash flows during the 1990–1995 eruption of Unzen Volcano, Japan

Processes generating block and ash flows by gravitational dome collapse (Merapi-type pyroclastic flow) were observed in detail during the 1990–1995 eruption of Unzen volcano, Japan. Two different types were identified by analysis of video records and observations during helicopter flights. Most of the block and ash flows erupted during the 1991–1993 exogenous dome growth stage initially involved crack propagation due to cooling and flowage of the dome lava lobes. The mass around the crack became unstable, locally decreasing in tensile strength. Finally, a slab separated from the lobe front, fragmented progressively from the base to the top within a few seconds, and became a block and ash flow. Rock falls immediately followed, in response to local instability of the lobe front. Clasts in these rock falls fragmented and merged with the preceding flow. In contrast, block and ash flows during the endogenous dome growth stage in 1994 were generated due to local bulge of the dome. Unstable lava blocks collapsed and subsequently fragmented to produce block and ash flows.     

The 1963–1964 eruption of Agung volcano (Bali, Indonesia)

The February 1963 to January 1964 eruption of Gunung Agung, Indonesia’s largest and most devastating eruption of the twentieth century, was a multi-phase explosive and effusive event that produced both basaltic andesite tephra and andesite lava. A rather unusual eruption sequence with an early lava flow followed by two explosive phases, and the presence of two related but distinctly different magma types, is best explained by successive magma injections and mixing in the conduit or high level magma chamber. The 7.5-km-long blocky-surfaced andesite lava flow of ～0.1?km³ volume was emplaced in the first 26?days of activity beginning on 19 February. On 17 March 1963, a major moderate intensity (～4?×?10⁷?kg?s^?1) explosive phase occurred with an ～3.5-h-long climax. This phase produced an eruption column estimated to have reached heights of 19 to 26?km above sea level and deposited a scoria lapilli to fine ash fall unit up to ～0.2?km³ (dense rock equivalent—DRE) in volume, with Plinian dispersal characteristics, and small but devastating scoria-and-ash flow deposits. On 16 May, a second intense 4-h-long explosive phase (2.3?×?10⁷?kg?s^?1) occurred that produced an ～20-km-high eruption column and deposited up to ～0.1?km³ (DRE) volume of similar ash fall and pyroclastic flow deposits, the latter of which were more widespread than in the March phase. The two magma types, porphyritic basaltic andesite and andesite, are found as distinct juvenile scoria populations. This indicates magma mixing prior to the onset of the 1963 eruption, and successive injections of the more mafic magma may have modulated the pulsatory style of the eruption sequence. Even though a total of only ～0.4?km³ (DRE volume) of lava, scoria and ash fall, and scoria-and-ash pyroclastic flow deposits were produced by the 1963 eruption, there was considerable local damage caused mainly by a combination of pyroclastic flows and lahars that formed from the flow deposits in the saturated drainages around Agung. Minor explosive activity and lahar generation by rainfall persisted into early 1964. The climactic events of 17 March and 16 May 1963 managed to inject ash and sulfur-rich gases into the tropical stratosphere.