Petrological features of boseti mountains,a complex volcanic system in the axial portion of the main Ethiopian rift

A petrographical and chemical research carried out mainly for the rocks belonging to the 2nd cycle of volcanic activity of Boseti Mts., shows the predominance of the salic over the mafic and the intermediate products. The magmatic evolution, which chiefly took place in a thermodynamic environment with initial low \(P_{H_2 O} \) and \(f_{O_2 } \) , has brought about subaluminiferous mugearitic types, also with trachytic affinity. Among peralkali-rhyolites, an anorthoclase fractionation can explain both their chemical variation and the production of pantelleritic liquids.     

Equilibrium calculations in volcanic gaseous systems

Equilibria calculations of high-temperature volcanic gases from lava lakes are carried out on the basis of best volcanic gas samples. The equilibrium gas composition at temperatures from 800° to 1400°K and pressures up to 25 kilobars (in ideal gas system) was calculated using the free energy minimization model as well as the Newton-Raphson methods. It is shown that the juvenile «magmatic gas » of basaltic magma consists of three components: H₂O, SO₂, CO₂; the water vapor being about 60%. The increase of temperature under constant pressure results in the increase of the SO₂ concentration and in the simultaneous decrease of H₂S. Under the same conditions the ratios CO/CO₂ and H₂/H₂O are found to increase. Methane cannot be a component of «magmatic gas» corresponding to the elemental composition of basaltic lava gases. The calculated values of \(P_{O_2 } \) are in good agreement with the experimental data obtained from direct measurements of \(P_{O_2 } \) in lava lakes and experiments with basaltic melts.     

State of stress in the lithosphere: Inferences from the flow laws of olivine

The experimental flow data for rocks and minerals are reviewed and found to fit a law of the form $$\dot \varepsilon = A'\left[ {sinh (\alpha \sigma )} \right]^n \exp \left[ {{{ - (E * + PV * )} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{ - (E * + PV * )} {RT}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {RT}}} \right]$$ where \(\dot \varepsilon \) This law reduces to the familiar power-law stress dependency at low stress and to an exponential stress dependency at high stress. Using the material flow law parameters for olivine, stress profiles with depth and strain rate are computed for a representative range of temperature distributions in the lithosphere. The results show that the upper 15 to 25 km of the oceanic lithosphere must behave elastically or fail by fracture and that the remainder deforms by exponential law flow at intermediate depths and by power-law flow in the rest. A model computation of the gravitational sliding of a lithospheric plate using olivine rheology exhibits a very sharp decoupling zone which is a consequence of the combined effects of increasing stress and temperature on the flow law, which is a very sensitive function of both.     

Age and associated stress field of middle Miocene back-arc basalt magmatism in Northeast Japan

A large volume of middle Miocene basaltic rocks is widely distributed across the back-arc region of Northeast Japan, including around the Dewa Mountains. Petrological research has shown that basaltic rocks of the Aosawa Formation around the Dewa Mountains were generated as a result of the opening of the Sea of Japan. To determine the precise ages of the middle Miocene basaltic magmatism, we conducted U–Pb and fission-track (FT) dating of a rhyolite lava that constitutes the uppermost part of the Aosawa Formation. In addition, we estimated the paleostress field of the volcanism using data from a basaltic dike swarm in the same formation. The rhyolite lava yields a U–Pb age of 10.73 ±0.22 Ma (2σ) and a FT age of 10.6 ±1.6 Ma (2σ), and the paleostress analysis suggests a normal-faulting stress regime with a NW–SE-trending σ₃-axis, a relatively high stress ratio, and a relatively high magma pressure. Our results show that the late Aosawa magmatism occurred under NW–SE extensional stress and ended at ~ 11 Ma.     

Ignimbrite sequence on Gran Canaria

The Miocene sequence of felsic extrusive rocks of about 1000 m total thickness on Gran Canaria is divided into three units:

1. A lower unit of trachytic rhyolites (lavas, composite flows, ignimbrites) characterized by a phenocryst assemblage of anorthoclase (Or_15–20, wt%), clinopyroxene, hypersthene (amphibole substituted for both in ignimbrites), and Fe/Ti-oxides. The commonest groundmass minerals are anorthoclase and alkali-amphibole, with minor quartz and aegirine.
2. A middle unit of comenditic and pantelleritic ignimbrites characterized by anorthoclase (Or_20–32) and amphibole. Phenocryst minerals restricted to individual flows are Fe/Ti-oxides (several comendites), clinopyroxene, biotite, and sphene. The commonest groundmass minerals are anorthoclase and Tiaegirine, with lesser katophorite, arfvedsonite and quartz.
3. An upper unit of trachvtic and phonolitic ignimbites and lava flows (normative ne rarety exceeding 10%) with nepheline phonolite lava flows becoming increasingly abundant upwards. The ignimbrites have mostly anorthoclase (Or_30-04), and biotite, with rarer Fe/Ti-oxides, hornblende, and clinopyroxene. The commonest groundmass minerals are anorthoclase, aegirine, and alkali-amphiboles, and in some flows nepheline.

The change from Na-rich to K-rich anorthoclase upwards in the sequence supports the conclusion, based on over 50 new stratigraphically controlled chemical analyses that the Na₂O/K₂O-ratio decreases within the sequence. possibly as a result of crystal iractionation processes and this effect is independent of probable loss of Na on post-eruptive crystallization. While hydroxyl-bearing phenocryst minerals are absent from all rocks called lava in the field, they are ubiquitous in the ignimbrites, indicating the importance of P_u2o in the generation of suspension-type cruptions. Compositional gradients must have been particularly pronounced in the small magma chambers that existed beneath Gran Canaria, resulting in a wide range of compositionally zoned or mixed deposits.     

Karroo basalts of the Tuli Syncline,Rhodesia

Karroo (Triassic-Jurassic) sediments and lavas occupy a N.N.E.-trending trough known as the Tuli Syncline 230 km in length by 45 km wide along the southern margin of Rhodesia. The structure is fault bounded, especially on the north, and comprises a sequence of gently inward dipping lava flows cut by numerous E-W and N.N.E. striking dolerite dykes. The igneous rocks have been subdivided on the basis of mineralogy and chemistry into a stratigraphic sequence of limburgites near the base, olivine basalts and upper augite-plagio-clase-phyric basalts. In addition, rare shoshonite and absarokite types occur. Twentyfour new silicate analyses are comparable to those from rocks in the neighbouring Nuanetsi Province of Rhodesia, and show strong affinities to the northern province Karroo basalts of southern Africa as defined by Cox,McDonald andHornung (1967).     

Some aspects of volcanic rocks of the valley of Mexico

Three periods of volcanic activity connected with tectonic events form the geological history of the Valley of Mexico (Mooser 1963, 1969). An igneous rock suite from rhyodacites to andesites (but lacking rhyolites and basalts) can be observed in each period. During the Tertiary epochs — in the Oligo-Miocene and Upper Miocene-Pliocene — we have a more dacitic volcanism, in the Quaternary epoch a more andesitic volcanism. This result was verified by calculating the average of all available and stratigraphically datable chemical analyses byGunn &Mooser (1971) andNegendank (1972). Using the average chemical composition of the Oligo-Miocene, Upper Miocene-Pliocene and Quaternary products the equivalent igneous rocks were computed using theRittmann-norms in theStreckeisen-Q-A-P-F double triangle with the following result (names in parenthesis are those using the classification ofMiddlemost (1973): Quaternary : quartz-latite-andesite (andesite) Upper Miocene-Pliocene : leuco-quartz-latite-andesite (high lime dacite) Oligo-Miocene : leuco-quartz-latite-andesite (high lime dacite) The equal average composition of the two groups of Tertiary volcanic rocks seems to support the theory of a uniform primary andesite magma apart from which of the two possible theories of petrogenesis one favors. The calculated average trace element abundances show high Cr- and Ni-values which suggests that mantle material was involved if we consider the Tertiary products as partial melting products of the lower crust. A more elegant hypothesis seems to be the model ofGunn &Mooser (1971), who consider these volcanic rocks as partial melting products of oceanic tholeiites or their high pressure derivatives in the sense ofRaleigh &Lee (1969).     

Long-term earthquake prediction in the Aegean area based on a time and magnitude predictable model

The Aegean and surrounding area (34°N–43°N, 18°E–30°E) is separated into 76 shallow and intermediate depth seismogenic sources. For 74 of these sources intervent times for strong mainshocks have been determined by the use of instrumental and historical data. These times have been used to determine the following empirical relations: $$\begin{gathered} \log T_t = 0.24M_{\min } + 0.25M_p - 0.36\log \dot M_0 + 7.36 \hfill \\ M_f = 1.04M_{\min } - 0.31M_p + 0.28\log \dot M_0 - 4.85 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ whereT ₁ is the interevent time, measured in years,M _min the surface wave magnitude of the smallest mainshock considered,M _p the magnitude of the preceding mainshock,M _f the magnitude of the following mainshock, \(\dot M_0 \) the moment rate in each source per year. A multiple correlation coefficient equal to 0.74 and a standard deviation equal to 0.18 for the first of these relations were calculated. The corresponding quantities for the second of these relations are 0.91 and 0.22. On the basis of the first of these relations and taking into consideration the time of occurence and the magnitude of the last mainshock, the probabilities for the occurrence of mainshocks in each seismogenic source of this region during the decade 1993–2002 are determined. The second of these relations has been used to estimate the magnitude of the expected mainshock.     

Rheology of arc dacite lavas: experimental determination at low strain rates

Andesitic–dacitic volcanoes exhibit a large variety of eruption styles, including explosive eruptions, endogenous and exogenous dome growth, and kilometer-long lava flows. The rheology of these lavas can be investigated through field observations of flow and dome morphology, but this approach integrates the properties of lava over a wide range of temperatures. Another approach is through laboratory experiments; however, previous studies have used higher shear stresses and strain rates than are appropriate to lava flows. We measured the apparent viscosity of several lavas from Santiaguito and Bezymianny volcanoes by uniaxial compression, between 1,109 and 1,315?K, at low shear stress (0.085 to 0.42?MPa), low strain rate (between 1.1?×?10^?8 and 1.9?×?10^?5?s^?1), and up to 43.7 % total deformation. The results show a strong variability of the apparent viscosity between different samples, which can be ascribed to differences in initial porosity and crystallinity. Deformation occurs primarily by compaction, with some cracking and/or vesicle coalescence. Our experiments yield apparent viscosities more than 1 order of magnitude lower than predicted by models based on experiments at higher strain rates. At lava flow conditions, no evidence of a yield strength is observed, and the apparent viscosity is best approached by a strain rate- and temperature-dependent power law equation. The best fit for Santiaguito lava, for temperatures between 1,164 and 1,226?K and strain rates lower than 1.8?×?10^?4?s^?1, is $ \log {\eta_{\text{app}}} = - 0.738 + 9.24 \times {10^3}{/}T(K) - 0.654 \cdot \log \dot{\varepsilon } $ where η _app is apparent viscosity and $ \dot{\varepsilon } $ is strain rate. This equation also reproduced 45 data for a sample from Bezymianny with a root mean square deviation of 0.19 log unit Pa?s. Applying the rheological model to lava flow conditions at Santiaguito yields calculated apparent viscosities that are in reasonable agreement with field observations and suggests that internal shear heating may be significant ongoing heat source within these flows, enabling highly viscous lava to travel long distances.     

Fragility curves for risk-targeted seismic design maps

Seismic design using maps based on “risk-targeting” would lead to an annual probability of attaining or exceeding a certain damage state that is uniform over an entire territory. These maps are based on convolving seismic hazard curves from a standard probabilistic analysis with the derivative of fragility curves expressing the chance for a code-designed structure to attain or exceed a certain damage state given a level of input motion, e.g. peak ground acceleration (PGA). There are few published fragility curves for structures respecting the Eurocodes (ECs, principally EC8 for seismic design) that can be used for the development of risk-targeted design maps for Europe. In this article a set of fragility curves for a regular three-storey reinforced-concrete building designed using EC2 and EC8 for medium ductility and increasing levels of design acceleration \((\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g})\) is developed. These curves show that structures designed using EC8 against PGAs up to about 1 m/s \(^{2}\) have similar fragilities to those that respect only EC2 (although this conclusion may not hold for irregular buildings, other geometries or materials). From these curves, the probability of yielding for a structure subjected to a PGA equal to \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}\) varies between 0.14 ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=0.7\) m/s \(^{2})\) and 0.85 ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=3\) m/s \(^{2})\) whereas the probability of collapse for a structure subjected to a PGA equal to \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}\) varies between 1.7 \(\times 10^{-7}\) ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=0.7\) m/s \(^{2})\) and 1.0 \(\times 10^{-5}\) ( \(\hbox {a}_\mathrm{g}=3\) m/s \(^{2})\) .     

Petrology of the hilina formation,Kilauea volcano,Hawaii

The Hilina Formation comprises the oldest sequence of lava flows and tuffs exposed on Kilauea Volcano. These rocks are only exposed in kipukas in younger Puna Formation lavas along cliffs on the south flank of Kilauea Volcano. Locally, tuffs and flows of the Pahala Formation separate the underlying Hilina Formation rocks rom the overlying Puna Formation rocks. Charcoal collected from the base of the Pahala Formation yielded a C¹⁴ age of 22.800±340 years B.P. which defines a minimum age for the Hilina Formation. Hilina Formation lavas crop out over a wide region and probably originated from the summit area and from both rift zones. The Hilina Formation contains both olivine-controlled and differentiated lavas (using the terminology ofWright, 1971). The olivine-controlled lavas of the Hilina Formation are distinguishable mineralogically and geochemically from younger olivine-controlled Kilauea lavas. The younger lavas generally contain discrete low-calcium pyroxene grains. greater glass contents, higher K₂O/P₂O₅ ratios and lower total iron contents. Similar geochemical trends prevail for Manuna Loa lavas, and may typify the early lavas of Hawaiian shield volcanoes. Despite these similarities, the Hilina Formation (and all Kilauea) lavas have higher TiO₂ and CaO, and lower SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ contents than Mauna Loa Lavas. These differences have existed for over 30,000 years. Therefore, it is unlikely that the older lavas of Kilauea are compositionally similar to recent Mauna Loa lavas as was previously suggested. K₂O, TiO₂, Na₂ and Zr contents of lavas from a stratigraphic sequence of Hilina Formation lavas are variable. These variations may be utilized to subdivide the sequence into geochemical groups. These groups are not magma batches. Rather, they represent lavas from batches whose compositions may have been modified by crystal fractionation and magma mixing.     

Nomenclature and petrochemistry of the peralkaline oversaturated extrusive rocks

Four-hundred and twenty-one analyses of quartz-normative, peralkaline, extrusive rocks have been collected from the literature and from unpublished sources and are used to examine chemical variation in this group of rocks. Comparisons are particularly made between the full body of data and the variations recorded in the non-hydrated obsidians alone byMacdonald andBailey (1973). It is argued that the compositions of the magmas which formed these obsidians and those which subsequently crystallised were similar as regards the major oxides SiO₂, Al₂O₃, FeO + Fe₂O₃, Na₂O and K₂O. Marked variations in the abundances of the minor oxides CaO and TiO₂ are shown to be a result of geographical location. Small but significant differences in the distribution of Al and Fe as a function of normative quartz can be recognised between various pantelleritic suites. A new classificatory scheme is proposed, based on the iron (as FeO) and Al₂O₃ contents. This is simpler than previously employed normative classifications, is more applicable to crystalline rocks, and, happily, in 95 % of cases gives the same rock name as the normative system.     

SHRIMP ziron U-Pb geochronology of early Mesozoic felsic igneous rocks from the southern Lancangjiang and its tectonic implications

The SHRIMP zircon U-Pb geochronology of three typical samples, including two monzonitic granites from the Lincang batholith and a rhyolite from the Manghuai Formation are presented in the southern Lancangjiang, western Yunnan Province. The analyses of zircons for the biotite monzonitic granites from the northern (02DX-137) and southern (20JH-10) Lincang batholith show the single and tight clusters on the concordia, and yield the weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 229.4 ± 3.0 Ma and 230.4 ± 3.6 Ma, respectively, representing the crystallized ages of these granites. The zircons for the rhyolitic sample (02DX-95) from the Manghuai Formation give a weighted mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U age of 231.0 ± 5.0 Ma. These data suggest that the igneous rocks from the Lincang granitic batholith and Manghuai Formation have a similar crystallized age. In combination with other data, it is inferred that both were generated at a narrow age span (∼230 Ma) and were originated from the postcollisional tectonic regime. An early Proterozoic ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U apparent age of 1977±44 Ma is additionally obtained from one zircon from the biotite monzonitic granite (southern Lincang batholith), indicative of development of the early Proterozoic Yangtze basement in the region. These precisely geochronological data provide important constraints on better understanding the Paleozoic tectonic evolution of the Tethys, western Yunnan Province.     

Potassium-argon dating of igneous activity in the central Chilean Andes — latitude 33°S

Potassium-argon dating of volcanic and plutonic rocks in the Andean region of central Chile has revealed previously unrecognized episodes of igneous activity during Cretaceous and Cenozoic time. These results indicate the need to re-evaluate the classic stratigraphic subdivisions that have evolved on lithologic rather than time-stratigraphic criteria.Four radiometric age groups have been identified in the coast range volcanic belt:

1. (1) Las Chilcas Formation — Early Cretaceous continental volcanic strata (120-110 m.y.).

2. (2) Lo Valle Formation — Late Cretaceous continental volcanic strata (78-65 m.y.).

3. (3) Late Oligocene extrusive volcanics (31-28 m.y.).

4. (4) Early Miocene intrusive volcanics (20.6–19.5 m.y.).

Two radiometric age groups have also been identified in the adjacent Andean Cordillera:

1. (1) Farellones Formation — continental volcanic strata (18.5–17.3 m.y.).

2. (2) Early Pliocene extrusive volcanics (5-4 m.y.).

An older group of continental volcanic strata in the Andes represented by the Abanico Formation remains undated but is intruded by plutons dated at 19.5 and 24 m.y.Available chronologic evidence indicates that volcanic activity moved eastward from the coast range volcanic belt to the Andean Cordillera between 20 and 18 m.y. ago and remained there to the present time.     

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF VOLCANIC ROCKS STRUCTURE AND LITHOFACIES OF DALIUCHONG VOLCANO IN THE TENGCHONG VOLCANIC FIELD,YUNNAN PROVINCE

A set of grey-purple layered volcanic rocks are found widely distributed from the mountain flank to the main peak of Daliuchong volcano, but it's difficult to identify whether they are volcaniclastic rock or lava rock just by field investigation and the crystal structure observation under microscope. The study of matrix microstructure of the volcanic rocks can help to identify the volcanic facies. We recognize the eruptive facies rocks through observation of the matrix microstructure and pore shape with comparison to those of the volcanic vent facies, extrusive facies and effusive facies rocks under microscope, thus the mentioned layered volcanic rocks could be named as dacitic crystal fragment tuff. Combining the joint work of field investigation, systematic sampling, chemical analyzing and microscopic observation, we summary the Daliuchong volcanic facies as follows:1. The effusive facies lava constitutes the base of Daliuchong volcano and was produced by early eruption.2. The explosive facies is composed of dacite crystal fragment welded tuff and volcanic breccia and mainly distributes on the W, S and NE flank of the volcanic cone.3. The volcanic conduit with its diameter more than one hundred meters is located about 100 meters south of the main peak of the Daliuchong volcano.4. The extrusive facies rock is only exposed near the peak of Daliuchong volcano.Therefore, the volcanism of Daliuchong volcano can be speculated as:Large-scale lava overflowing occurred in the early eruption period; then explosive eruptions happened; at last, the volcanisms ceased marked with magma extrusion as lava dome and plug.     

Structural material complexes in the Late Cenozoic Udokan lava plateau: Patterns of distribution and rock associations

We provide a new scheme to classify Late Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the Udokan lava plateau based on isotope datings of rocks derived during the last 15 years. The scheme distinguishes five structural-material complexes (SMCs): Middle Miocene, Late Miocene, Early/Middle Pliocene, Late Pliocene, and Quaternary. Each SMC has its ejecta of central-type eruptions and subvolcanic emplacement episodes that classify themselves into individual rock complexes, while the ejecta of mass fissure effusions from three SMCs (the Late Miocene, the Early/Middle Pliocene, and the Late Pliocene) can be lumped into three stratigraphic series. Each series includes three suites, with the middle position (in the series section) being occupied by suites composed of basaltic melt differentiates.     

The volcanic eruption on Tristan da Cunha in 1961

On 10th October 1961, after two months of localized earth tremors, a dome of lava was extruded, about 300 yards east of the island settlement, on the northern coast of Tristan da Cunha. The dome grew rapidly to about 300 feet above its surroundings, and its seaward margin slowly moved outwards. Between 20th and 27th October the seaward side of the dome collapsed or was carried away, and mobile lava was emitted. This formed two series of lobes, extending into the sea along a front of about 1300 yards. This activity had ceased by the end of January 1962. In February, a dome up to 130 yards wide and 320 yards long, was pushed up 100 feet above the lava field, extending along the line of the lava stream from the central vent. By mid-March, this activity had ceased, and the only subsequent activity has been the continuation of fumarolic vents in the lava field. The trachyandesitic lava was of almost identical composition at each stage of the eruption, and closely resembled that from a previous eruption about 300 years ago at the other end of the island. The island has many well-preserved volcanic cones and scoria mounds. Such features as explosion craters, lava levees and lava channels also occur. The rocks of the Tristan da Cunha group range from ankaramites through basalts and trachybasalts to trachyandesites and trachytes. Leucite-bearing rocks are frequent and all the rocks have relatively-high contents ofK, Ba, Sr andNb. The origin of such a group of potassic rocks in a mid-oceanic environment is of considerable petrological interest. The 1961 eruption and the general geology of the Tristan da Cunha group was studied by members of the Royal Society Expedition to Tristan da Cunha. Their findings will be published in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (P. E. Baker, I. G. Gass, P. G. Harris andR. W. Le Maitre).