Thermoluminescence dating of the eruption at Mt Schank,South Australia

Mount Schank, a young volcano in southeastern South Australia, has been dated by thermoluminescence. The dated material was quartz from a former beach dune overlain by the lava flow. Disequilibrium in the uranium decay series required a detailed analysis of the isotopic concentrations in the sand. The samples dated yielded an average age of 4930 ± 540 years BP which is consistent with palaeomagnetic measurements. Combined thermoluminescence, palaeomagnetic and radiocarbon evidence leave unresolved the relative chronologies of Mt Schank and nearby Mt Gambier.     

Victoria erupts: the Newer Volcanics Province of south‐eastern Australia

The Newer Volcanics Province of south‐eastern Australia is often overlooked, though it comprises a multitude of volcanic features worthy of exploration. The province contains > 416 eruption centres varying in nature from simple to complex, ranging from lava shields and scoria cones to some of the largest maar volcanoes in the world. Explorable caves and lava tubes showcase well‐preserved lava flow features, while the province is a fossickers dream, containing abundant mantle xenolith and megacryst collecting localities. As the most recent eruption was ～5000 bp at Mt. Gambier, the Newer Volcanics is considered an active province, and may yet provide Australia with more eruptions, adding to the glorious volcanic features of the wonderful landscape.     

Volcanic hazards to airports

Volcanic activity has caused significant hazards to numerous airports worldwide, with local to far-ranging effects on travelers and commerce. Analysis of a new compilation of incidents of airports impacted by volcanic activity from 1944 through 2006 reveals that, at a minimum, 101 airports in 28 countries were affected on 171 occasions by eruptions at 46 volcanoes. Since 1980, five airports per year on average have been affected by volcanic activity, which indicates that volcanic hazards to airports are not rare on a worldwide basis. The main hazard to airports is ashfall, with accumulations of only a few millimeters sufficient to force temporary closures of some airports. A substantial portion of incidents has been caused by ash in airspace in the vicinity of airports, without accumulation of ash on the ground. On a few occasions, airports have been impacted by hazards other than ash (pyroclastic flow, lava flow, gas emission, and phreatic explosion). Several airports have been affected repeatedly by volcanic hazards. Four airports have been affected the most often and likely will continue to be among the most vulnerable owing to continued nearby volcanic activity: Fontanarossa International Airport in Catania, Italy; Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska, USA; Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito, Ecuador; and Tokua Airport in Kokopo, Papua New Guinea. The USA has the most airports affected by volcanic activity (17) on the most occasions (33) and hosts the second highest number of volcanoes that have caused the disruptions (5, after Indonesia with 7). One-fifth of the affected airports are within 30 km of the source volcanoes, approximately half are located within 150 km of the source volcanoes, and about three-quarters are within 300 km; nearly one-fifth are located more than 500 km away from the source volcanoes. The volcanoes that have caused the most impacts are Soufriere Hills on the island of Montserrat in the British West Indies, Tungurahua in Ecuador, Mt. Etna in Italy, Rabaul caldera in Papua New Guinea, Mt. Spurr and Mt. St. Helens in the USA, Ruapehu in New Zealand, Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines, and Anatahan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (part of the USA). Ten countries—USA, Indonesia, Ecuador, Papua New Guinea, Italy, New Zealand, Philippines, Mexico, Japan, and United Kingdom—have the highest volcanic hazard and/or vulnerability measures for airports. The adverse impacts of volcanic eruptions on airports can be mitigated by preparedness and forewarning. Methods that have been used to forewarn airports of volcanic activity include real-time detection of explosive volcanic activity, forecasts of ash dispersion and deposition, and detection of approaching ash clouds using ground-based Doppler radar. Given the demonstrated vulnerability of airports to disruption from volcanic activity, at-risk airports should develop operational plans for ashfall events, and volcano-monitoring agencies should provide timely forewarning of imminent volcanic-ash hazards directly to airport operators.     

New insights into the magmatic plumbing system of the South Australian Quaternary Basalt province from 3D seismic and geochemical data

Recent seismic reflection studies of large-volume, anorogenic basaltic provinces at passive continental margins have challenged the traditional viewpoint that erupted magmas predominantly ascend through the lithosphere via dykes that exploit high-angle faults. However, such seismic-based methods are yet to be applied to identify the magmatic plumbing systems of low-volume basaltic provinces, such as the Cretaceous–Cenozoic Newer Volcanic Province (NVP) in southeastern Australia (total volume <20 000 km³). The South Australian Quaternary Basalt (SAQB) represents the most recent phase of activity both within the NVP and on the Australian continent. This province is located within the Otway Basin, and a large amount of seismic data from gas exploration is available for this region. Consequently, the SAQB represents a superb natural laboratory in which geochemical and seismic data can be combined in order to study the magmatic plumbing system of a low-volume continental basalt province and discriminate between the competing hypotheses for magma transport through the Earth's crust. Geochemical analyses and thermodynamic modelling suggests that the magma that fed the SAQB was generated by adiabatic decompressional melting of a secondary mantle plume. These models imply that melt segregation took place at successively lower pressures from about ～4000 to 3000 MPa during the ca 1 Ma SAQB eruptive history that culminated in the Northern Group, Mt Schank and Mt Gambier eruptions. During ascent, the magma underwent 34–41% fractional crystallisation and cooled ～200 °C, while residing in the crust for a time period on the order of days to weeks. Interpretation of a 3D seismic survey that overlaps with the northeastern part of the SAQB reveals a saucer-shaped sill with an unusual morphology, exhibiting a series of vertical concentric steps towards its outer rim. This sill appears to be fed by magma that intruded along steep normal faults from a feeder dyke that is hosted by the regional, NW–SE-trending Hungerford-Kalangadoo Fault. Our results suggest that the melt that fed the SAQB rose through the crust via dykes and high-angle normal faults, with less evidence for significant horizontal transport of magma than observed in large-volume basaltic provinces in sedimentary basins at rifted continental margins, possibly highlighting a correlation between the extent, volume and magma supply rate within a basaltic province and the nature of magma ascent.     

Seismicity of the southeast of South Australia

Although the largest earthquake since European settlement in South Australia occurred near Beachport in the Southeast in 1897, the recorded activity since then, even with the establishment of the University of Adelaide Seismograph Network and the Bureau of Mineral Resources station at Bellfield in the Victorian Grampians, has been small.

Most of the known epicentres lie within the boundary of the Lower Cretaceous sediments marking the edge of the Otway Basin and there is some correlation with the belt of recent volcanism in the Mt Gambier‐Mt Burr region.     

山东蓬莱等地第四纪玄武岩的热发光年龄

山东蓬莱、栖霞、沂水、临朐等地分布大片新生代玄武岩。过去主要根据其下伏松散沉积层的时代,与临朐中新统山旺组对比,划分为中新世下玄武岩和上新世上玄武岩。     

Stratigraphic framework for the Leichhardt and Calvert Superbasins: Review and correlations of the pre‐ 1700 Ma successions between Mt Isa and McArthur River

New stratigraphic, geochemical and palaeomagnetic data from the Peters Creek Volcanics are used to revise the correlations of part of the Palaeoproterozoic of northern Australia. The revised geological history for these cover rocks of the Murphy Inlier is extrapolated into the 1800–1700 Ma successions of the McArthur Basin and Mt Isa regions. New stratigraphic subdivisions and relationships are contrasted with the established lithostratigraphic schemes and also with conflicting published tectono‐stratigraphic interpretations. For the first time, a plethora of stratigraphic units can be rationalised into two major superbasins, the Leichhardt and Calvert Superbasins, and into eight pseudo‐chronostratigraphic basin phases (Associations A‐H). There are few absolute age constraints, but lateral correlations of the units in these eight basin phases are proposed. Results from the overlying Isa Superbasin (<1670 Ma) suggest that these eight associations probably represent second‐order supersequences. Mixed non‐marine and marine coarse clastics, deposited between about 1790 and 1780 Ma dominate Associations A and B. In the Mt Isa region these were deposited in an initial rift then a thermal relaxation or sag phase. To the northwest, however, the succession is dominated by rift facies. Association C is a widespread flood basalt and immature clastic suite that was deposited in clearly defined, north‐trending half‐grabens in the Mt Isa region. Along the southern edge of the Murphy Inlier, however, geophysically defined half‐grabens, filled with magnetic rocks (basalt), trend orthogonal to those at Mt Isa. North of the inlier Association C is much thinner, and little can be deduced about its palaeogeography. Association D is only present in the Mt Isa region as the Myally Subgroup. Differing views on its tectonic setting and environments of deposition, as presented in recent papers, are reviewed. Association E, deposited around 1755 Ma, is a regional sag phase with mixed clastic‐carbonate, shallow‐marine lithofacies in all areas. There is a major gap in the rock record between about 1750 and 1735 Ma which is probably related to widespread basin inversion. The Mid‐Tawallah Compressional Event (McArthur River area) and the Wonga Extension Event (Eastern Succession, Mt Isa) are both about this age. The overlying Association F is a thin, laterally uniform, upward‐fining succession that commences with shallow‐marine clastics and evolves through deeper marine clastics and ends in evaporitic facies. There are broad similarities between Associations F and E so interpretation as a third regional sag is favoured. The absence of Association F at Mt Isa may indicate that basin inversion was longer lived in the southeast. The youngest associations, G and H, are complex interstratified mixtures of felsic‐mafic igneous rocks and immature clastics. U–;Pb zircon SHRIMP ages appear to cluster around 1725 Ma and 1710 Ma, but they may all be part of one thermal event. These eight associations may represent the tectono‐magmatic response of the lithosphere during and after the Strangways Orogeny (1780–1730 Ma).     

内蒙达里诺尔火山群晚第四纪火山地质特征与岩浆裂隙通道研究

达里诺尔火山群位于中亚造山带中部以及大兴安岭-太行山重力梯度带中部的西侧。该区拥有上百座第四纪火山,其中不乏全新世仍有过喷发的年轻火山。本文选取以鸽子山、锡塔特乌拉等形成时代最晚,推测形成于中更新世晚期至全新世的晚第四纪火山作为研究对象,从火山锥形貌和定向排列两方面推断岩浆补给裂隙通道的几何特征。结果发现,这些火山具有较为一致的NE和NEE两个方向的裂隙通道。这些方向与区域构造最大主压应力方向相近。本文提出在NE向区域主压应力作用下,在研究区域发生NEE走向的左行剪压走滑。在这个走滑带上,瑞德尔断裂提供岩浆补给裂隙通道。而局部连通瑞德尔断裂的断裂提供了NEE向通道。     

Stratigraphy,structure and tectonics of Lower Ordovician and Devonian strata of the central part of the Wonominta Block,western New South Wales

K‐Ar age determinations on granites from Central Queensland support the conclusions of field mapping, that the intrusives of the Anakie High are generally older than the rocks of the Drummond Basin. Results on granites from the Bowen‐Collinsville region indicate that they pre‐date most of the Bowen Basin sediments. Four ages are reported for basement rock from bore‐cores in the Great Artesian Basin. They confirm Precambrian basement to the south of the Mt. Isa‐Cloncurry area, and suggest possible Precambrian in the Long‐reach Spur. Two samples from the Nebine Ridge give Lower Carboniferous results. A previous report of Permian basement in the Surat Basin has been shown to be incorrect.     

大同火山烘烤层的光释光年龄

对山西省大同市东水头村和于家寨两个点的第四纪火山玄武岩下伏烘烤层样品,进行了细颗粒石英光释光(OSL)测年研究。初步结果显示,对于大同火山烘烤层样品,应用简单多片OSL法能够获得有价值的火山活动年龄估计。光释光测年结果表明山西大同地区第四纪至少存在两期火山活动,一期发生的最小年龄为17万年,另一期发生在距今8.5万年左右。     

Lateral flow of African mantle below the nearby Tyrrhenian plate: geochemical evidence

The Quaternary magmatism of the Southern Tyrrhenian basin represents a rare example of an active volcanic arc system where ocean island basalt (OIB) and island arc basalt (IAB) magmas coexist. Although there is general agreement on the importance of the Ionian oceanic lithosphere subduction in the genesis of the IAB magmatism, the tectono‐magmatic processes producing the coexisting OIB magmas are still poorly understood. Here we show that the geochemistry of the Quaternary Southern Tyrrhenian OIB‐type magmatism (i.e. Ustica island and Prometeo, a previously unknown submarine lava field) is very similar to that of OIB‐type volcanoes situated on the nearby African plate (i.e. Etna and Hyblean Plateau). Among the possible geodynamic scenarios proposed to explain the coexistence of OIB and IAB magmas in arc settings, we consider the development of a tear at the edge of the Ionian plate as the more likely mechanism to favour the flow of African asthenospheric mantle below the Tyrrhenian plate.     

ESR dating of quaternary tephra from Mt. Osore-zan using Al and Ti centres in quartz

Quaternary tephra of Mt. Osore-zan was dated by electron spin resonance. Quartz grains were separated from the tephra and ESR signals of Al and Ti centres were measured at 77 K. The signals of Al and Ti centres which have a complicated hyperfine structure were simplified by using wider field modulations width (5 gauss) than usually used (0.5–1 gauss). The influence of 5 gauss modulation width on the measurement of the signal intensity of Al and Ti centres was investigated. The intensity of the signal increases linearly with gamma irradiation and total doses obtained were 178 to 273 Gy and ESR ages were 0.19 to 0.32 Ma. These ages agree with the estimated age of about 0.3 Ma from the correlation of volcanic ash and terrace level.     

Geochemistry of the Mt Wright Volcanics from the Wonominta Block,northwestern New South Wales

The Mt Wright Volcanics are located in the Wonominta Block of northwestern New South Wales. Detailed regional mapping has shown that the block is a composite tectonic unit and that the metavolcanic rocks described as the Mt Wright Volcanics may have been emplaced at different time from Late Proterozoic (northern section: Packsaddle, Nundora) to Early Cambrian (southern section: Mt Wright). Geochemical investigations, including major and trace elements, as well as analyses of relic clinopyroxene, show that the rocks have affinities with alkali basalt with light‐rare‐earth‐element‐enriched compositions. An intra‐plate extensional environment (such as rift‐ and/or plume‐related) is considered most likely for the formation of the rocks. Though metamorphosed to various degrees, the rocks apparently retain much of their primary Sr isotopic character (initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr about 0.7032) and, apart from their age, resemble the Tertiary intraplate volcanism in eastern Australia. The Nd isotope analyses yield remarkably similar results between the two sections of the Mt Wright Volcanics, with ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd between 0.51260 to 0.51271 and _εNd(T) 4.7 ±0.4 (calculated to 525 Ma). A kaersutite‐bearing xenolith found in the northern section of the volcanic sequence has a Nd isotope composition more depleted than its hosts with _εNd(T) of 7.7. The isotope results suggest that the Mt Wright Volcanics were derived from a depleted mantle source without significant crustal contribution. It is proposed that the Mt Wright Volcanics possibly represent the products of a rifting event that led to the breakup of the Proterozoic supercontinent during Early Cambrian in eastern Australia.     

大同火山群地质及岩石学特征

大同火山群以盆地为对称轴分布,中更新世晚期火山位于盆地的轴部,中更新世早期火山位于盆地两侧。计算的延伸和断裂速率分别为0.43cm/a和0.22cm/a。大同火山群主要属于碱性橄榄玄武岩系列,中更新世早期火山的一部分属于拉斑系列,夏威夷岩是大同火山岩的一个主要类型.中更新世早期火山岩的氧化物变异趋势可能是受高压下Ol+Opx的分离作用控制.中更新世晚期火山岩氧化物变异趋势暗示了是受岩浆混合作用的控制。     

Tertiary evolution of the coastal lowlands and the Clyde River palaeovalley in southeast New South Wales

Fluvial sediments, here assigned to the Bergalia Formation, adjacent to the middle reaches of the Clyde River near Batemans Bay on the New South Wales south coast were deposited prior to a basalt valley flow with K–Ar ages averaging 27.7 ± 0.3 Ma. Similar Bergalia Formation sediments are preserved near Mogo, south of Batemans Bay, and suggest that the Clyde River flowed south through the Mogo area prior to diversion to the east. The diversion resulted from local‐scale neotectonic movements or sea‐level changes after the mid‐Oligocene. The previously undescribed deposits at these two locations provide evidence that relief comparable to or greater than the present existed in the Clyde River valley by this time. The basalt and sediments in the Clyde River valley indicate that the coastal lowlands in southeast New South Wales were developed prior to the mid‐Tertiary period.     

伊通火山群地区“白土山组”地层研究新进展

近十几年来 ,随着同位素地质年代学的发展 ,伊通火山群地区新生代地层断代问题的研究取得了突破性的进展 ,对重新厘定过去东北泛称下更新统“白土山组”地层的年代找到了突破口。通过火山岩年龄的测定、火山岩与“白土山组”接触关系及孢粉组合的研究 ,确认伊通火山岩群地区的“白土山组”的地质时代为新近纪中新世 ,与松辽平原中心的“白土山组”时代不同。     

Basalts and silcretes on the coast near Ulladulla,southern New South Wales

Silcretes on the N.S.W. coast near Ulladulla have long been attributed to. a sub‐basaltic origin, but field evidence is at odds with all variations of the sub‐basaltic hypothesis, and one site shows good evidence that the basalt post‐dates the silcrete. K‐Ar ages averaging 29.7 ± 0.5 Ma from the basalts provide a minimum age for silcrete development in this area. Furthermore, the K‐Ar dates, together with evidence for an erosional rather than tectonic origin of the coastal lowland, demonstrate that the adjacent tablelands reached their present elevation prior to the mid‐Oligocene.     

Geochemical discrimination of tectonic setting for Devonian basalts of the Yarrol Province of the New England Orogen,central coastal Queensland: An empirical approach *

Fault blocks and inliers of uppermost Silurian to Middle Devonian strata in the Yarrol Province of central coastal Queensland have been interpreted either as island-arc deposits or as a continental-margin sequence. They can be grouped into four assemblages with different age ranges, stratigraphic successions, geophysical signatures, basalt geochemistry, and coral faunas. Basalt compositions from the Middle Devonian Capella Creek Group at Mt Morgan are remarkably similar to analyses from the modern Kermadec Arc, and are most consistent with an intra-oceanic arc associated with a backarc basin. They cannot be matched with basalts from any modern continental arc, including those with a thin crust (Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes) or those built on recently accreted juvenile oceanic terranes (Eastern Volcanic Front of Kamchatka). Analyses from the other assemblages also suggest island-arc settings, although some backarc basin basalt compositions could be present. Arguments for a continental-margin setting based on structure, provenance, and palaeogeography are not conclusive, and none excludes an oceanic setting for the uppermost Silurian to Middle Devonian rocks. The Mt Morgan gold–copper orebody is associated with a felsic volcanic centre like those of the modern Izu–Bonin Arc, and may have formed within a submarine caldera. The data are most consistent with formation of the Capella Creek Group as an intra-oceanic arc related to an east-dipping subduction zone, with outboard assemblages to the east representing remnant arc or backarc basin sequences. Collision of these exotic terranes with the continent probably coincided with the Middle–Upper Devonian unconformity at Mt Morgan. An Upper Devonian overlap sequence indicates that all four assemblages had reached essentially their present relative positions early in Late Devonian time. Apart from a small number of samples with compositions typical of spreading backarc basins, Upper Devonian basalts and basaltic andesites of the Lochenbar and Mt Hoopbound Formations and the Three Moon Conglomerate are most like tholeiitic or transitional suites from evolved oceanic arcs such as the Lesser Antilles, Marianas, Vanuatu, and the Aleutians. However, they also match some samples from the Eastern Volcanic Front of Kamchatka. Their rare-earth and high field strength element patterns are also remarkably similar to Upper Devonian island arc tholeiites in the ophiolitic Marlborough terrane, supporting a subduction-related origin and a lack of involvement of continental crust in their genesis. Modern basalts from rifted backarc basins do not match the Yarrol Province rocks as well as those from evolved oceanic arcs, and commonly have consistently higher MgO contents at equivalent levels of rare-earth and high field strength elements. One of the most significant points for any tectonic model is that the Upper Devonian basalts become more arc-like from east to west, with all samples that can be matched most readily with backarc basin basalts located along the eastern edge of the outcrop belt. It is difficult to account for all geochemical variations in the Upper Devonian basalts of the Yarrol Province by any simplistic tectonic model using either a west-dipping or an east-dipping subduction zone. On a regional scale, the Upper Devonian rocks represent a transitional phase in the change from an intra-oceanic setting, epitomised by the Middle Devonian Capella Creek Group, to a continental margin setting in the northern New England Orogen in the Carboniferous, but the tectonic evolution must have been more complex than any of the models published to date. Certainly there are many similarities to the southern New England Orogen, where basalt geochemistry indicates rifting of an intra-oceanic arc in Middle to Late Devonian time.     

The Vulnerability of Canada to Volcanic Hazards

Western Canada lies in a zone of active tectonics and volcanism, but thedispersed population has witnessed few eruptions due to the remoteness of the volcanoes and their low level ofactivity. This has created a false perception that Canada's volcanoes are extinct.There are more than 200 potentially-active volcanoes in Canada, 49of which have erupted in the past 10,000 years. They occur in five belts, with origins related totectonic environment. The minimum annual probability of a Canadian volcanic eruption is approximately 1/200;for an effusive (lava) eruption the probability is about 1/220, and for a significant explosive eruptionit is about 1/3333. In-progress studies show that there have been earthquakes associated with at least 9 ofthe youngest Canadian volcanoes since 1975. A scenario of an eruption of Mt. Cayley (50.1°N,123.3°W) shows how western Canada is vulnerable to an eruption. The scenario is basedon past activity in the Garibaldi volcanic belt and involves both explosive and effusive activity.The scenario impact is largely a result of the concentration of vulnerable infrastructure in valleys.Canadian volcanoes are monitored only by a regional seismic network,that is capable of detecting a M > 2 event in all potentially-active areas.This level of monitoring is probably sufficient to alert scientistsat or near eruption onset, but probably insufficient to allow a timelyforecast of activity. Similarly the level of geological knowledge about the volcanoes is insufficient to createhazard maps. This will improve slightly in 2002 when additional monitoring is implemented in theGaribaldi volcanic belt. The eruption probabilities, possible impacts, monitoring limitations and knowledgegaps suggest that there is a need to increment the volcanic risk mitigation efforts.     

K‐Ar ages of Cainozoic volcanic suites,Bowen‐St Lawrence Hinterland,North Queensland (with some implications for petrologic models)

Thirty K‐Ar dates on Cainozoic volcanic rocks lying at the north end of the Bowen Basin suggest that several episodes of volcanism took place at major structural weaknesses. The oldest volcanism (ca 54 m.y.) was located outside the basin structure. The main volcanism (Nebo and East Clermont Provinces) extended from early Oligocene (34–35 m.y.) to mid‐Cainozoic time (21–22 m.y.?). Isolated Pliocene activity is tentatively suggested by dates on Mt St Martin (ca 3 m.y.).

Dating of the Nebo central volcano (31–33 m.y.) supports the model of Wellman &; McDougall, with volcanic activity related to migration of Australia northwards over a mantle magma source. Consideration of the Nebo dates with those of other central volcanoes in north Queensland, suggests that central felsic activity was surrounded by broad zones of peripheral eruptives, petrologically zoned from outer undersaturated basalts to inner saturated basalts. These zones (super provinces) delineate the size and profile of underlying magma sources and appear to trend back in time and space to sea‐floor spreading episodes in the Coral Sea—southeastern Papua region (55 m.y.).

The basalt dates also assist in fixing periods of lateritization (mid‐Oligocene) and in determining approximate minimum erosion rates in the northern Bowen Basin since the Eocene (3–5m/m.y.).