Pyroclastic volcanism in Papaghni sub-basin,Andhra Pradesh: Significant Paleoproterozoic tectonomagmatic event in SW part of the Cuddapah basin,Eastern Dharwar craton

Detailed field and petrological studies in Vanambayi-Lingala-Lopatnutala section and old Kadiri Ghat-Pulivendela section in SW part of the Proterozoic Cuddapah basin of Eastern Dharwar craton brought to light the occurrence of hitherto unreported two significant phases of pyroclastic volcanic activity associated with the Vempalle Formation in Papaghni sub-basin. Occurrence of a significant pyroclastic agglomerate at the contact zone of Vempalle dolomite of Papaghni Group and Pulivendela quartzite of Chitravathi Group represents a significant event of the mafic phase of pyroclastic volcanic activity, while the finely laminated felsic tuff within the intercalated reddish siltstone, chert and dolomite sequence in the lower part of Vempalle Formation represents the felsic phase of pyroclastic activity. Studies indicate that the pyroclastic agglomerate zone in Vanambayi-Lingala-Lopatnutala section is a classical example of pyroclastic volcanism wherein the highly vesicular rock with rounded basalt clasts often exhibit embayed contact of welded nature with the matrix. The pyroclastic zone reported in the present paper particularly at the interface of Vempalle Formation and Pulivendela quartzite in Vanambayi-Lingala-Lopatnutala section represents a significant tectono-magmatic event of explosive volcanic activity that is contemporaneous with the culmination of the carbonate precipitation of Vempalle dolomite and marks the termination of sedimentation in Papaghni Group in southwestern part of Cuddapah basin during Paleoproterozoic times.     

Tectonostratigraphic evolution of Cenozoic marginal basin and continental margin successions in the Bone Mountains,Southwest Sulawesi,Indonesia

The Bone Mountains, located in Southwest Sulawesi along the SE margin of Sundaland, are composed of Oligocene to possibly lower Miocene marginal basin successions (Bone Group) that are juxtaposed against continental margin assemblages of Eocene–Miocene age (Salokalupang Group). Three distinct units make up the latter: (i) Middle–Upper Eocene volcaniclastic sediments with volcanic and limestone intercalations in the upper part (Matajang Formation), reflecting a period of arc volcanism and carbonate development along the Sundaland margin; (ii) a well-bedded series of Oligocene calc-arenites (Karopa Formation), deposited in a passive margin environment following cessation of volcanic activity, and (iii) a series of Lower–Middle Miocene sedimentary rocks, in part turbiditic, which interfinger in the upper part with volcaniclastic and volcanic rocks of potassic affinity (Baco Formation), formed in an extensional regime without subduction.The Bone Group consists of MORB-like volcanics, showing weak to moderate subduction signatures (Kalamiseng Formation), and a series of interbedded hemipelagic mudstones and volcanics (Deko Formation). The Deko volcanics are in part subduction-related and in part formed from melting of a basaltic precursor in the overriding crust. We postulate that the Bone Group rocks formed in a transtensional marginal basin bordered by a transform passive margin to the west (Sundaland) and by a newly initiated westerly-dipping subduction zone on its eastern side.Around 14–13 Ma an extensional tectonic event began in SW Sulawesi, characterized by widespread block-faulting and the onset of potassic volcanism. It reached its peak about 1 Ma year later with the juxtaposition of the Bone Group against the Salokalupang Group along a major strike-slip fault (Walanae Fault Zone). The latter group was sliced up in variously-sized fragments, tilted and locally folded. Potassic volcanism continued up to the end of the Pliocene, and locally into the Quaternary.     

Sedimentology of the Middle Marker (3.4 Ga), Onverwacht Group,Transvaal, South Africa

The Middle Marker is a thin (3–6 m) sedimentary unit at the base of the Hooggenoeg Formation in the 3.4 Ga old Onverwacht Group, Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa. The original sediments consisted largely of current-deposited volcaniclastic detritus now represented by green to buff-colored silicified volcaniclastic rock and fine-grained gray chert. Black chert, possibly formed by the silicification of a non-volcaniclastic precursor, makes up a significant part of the unit. The Middle Marker is underlain and overlain by mafic and commonly pillowed volcanic flowrock. Although the original sediment has been replaced by and/or recrystallized to a microquartz, chlorite, sericite, carbonate and iron oxide mosaic under lower greenschist-grade metamorphism, sedimentary textures and structures are remarkably well preserved. Textural pseudomorphs indicate the primary volcaniclastic sediment consisted of a mixture of crystal, vitric and lithic debris. Middle Marker sediments were deposited as a prograding, cone-flanking volcaniclastic sedimentary platform in a relatively-shallow and locally current/wave-influenced subaqueous sedimentary environment. Available paleocurrent data indicate a largely bimodal, orthogonal distribution pattern which is quite similar to both ancient and modern shallow marine/shelf systems. Diagnostic evidence for tidal activity is lacking. As felsic volcanic activity waned, an extensive airfall blanket of fine-grained volcanic ash and dust was deposited in a low-energy subaqueous environment. The sedimentary cycle was terminated with a renewal of submarine mafic volcanism. Middle Marker volcaniclastic sediments accumulated in an anorogenic basin removed or isolated from the influence of continental igneous and metamorphic terranes. Although compositionally dominated by a volcanic source, Middle Marker sediments owe their final texture and sedimentary structures to subaqueous sedimentary rather than volcanogenic processes.     

西天山阿吾拉勒地区下二叠统乌郎组火山岩地球化学特征及构造环境

西天山阿吾拉勒地区下二叠统乌郎组火山岩为一套陆相火山岩,主要由基性火山岩和酸性火山岩组成,中性火山熔岩较少,表现出双峰式火山岩特征.研究表明,下二叠统乌郎组经碰撞后松弛拉张,伊犁地块拉伸出现陆内火山裂谷环境,该组地层广泛夹持火山岩及火山碎屑岩,表明早中二叠世地壳活动频繁,局部地段地壳拉伸,产生同沉积断层,该断陷盆地经历发生、发展和消亡全过程.     

新命名地层单位──三塘湖组

经首次全国地层多重划分对比研究，在东准噶尔地层小区建议使用新命名地层单位──三塘湖组，用以代表一套以陆相中酸性火山熔岩及火山碎屑岩为主的火山岩系（局部有基性火山岩）．时限大致为早二叠世．文中介绍了三塘湖组的定义、划分沿革。层型剖面及分布变化。     

碎屑岩与火山岩混积岩系层序地层学研究初探——以准噶尔盆地西北缘佳木河组为例

准噶尔盆地西北缘前陆冲断带是剖析西准噶尔地区盆山耦合关系、沉积体系发育的关键地段。该区二叠系佳木河组为火山岩、火山碎屑岩、碎屑岩组成的混积地层。火山岩与碎屑岩组成的地层单元有广义上的成因联系,因为它们都属于史密斯地层,并均具有旋回特征。针对不同的岩性区:碎屑岩岩性区、火山岩与碎屑岩共存区、纯火山岩区,找出由于构造火山活动、相对湖平面变化等因素形成的可作为层序界面的不整合面。碎屑岩岩性区不整合面在地震剖面上主要表现为削蚀、底超、双向下超、顶超、下切谷等;共存区为同时发育火山岩与碎屑岩的削蚀带,不整合面类型较复杂;纯火山岩区表现为相对湖平面下降形成的削蚀不整合面。故可以通过地震、钻测井资料识别各类不整合面,并依据火山喷发方式、火山旋回、沉积旋回,按照不同对比原则进行经典层序地层学划分。     

The Redan Geophysical Zone: Part of the Willyama Supergroup? Broken Hill,Australia

The Redan Geophysical Zone forms a regional magnetic high in contrast to the regional magnetic low defined by the main part of the Broken Hill Block. The magnetic rocks are interpreted to dip below the remainder of the Broken Hill Block and there has been speculation that they are significantly older than the Early Proterozoic Willyama Supergroup.

Evaluation of lithological mapping and aeromagnetic data permitted interpretation of a stratigraphic sequence within the Redan Geophysical Zone, consisting of three new formations: the Redan Gneiss, Ednas Gneiss and Mulculca Formation, plus the Lady Brassey Formation, part of the Thackaringa Group. The rocks are considered to belong to the lower part of the Willyama Supergroup and are not an older basement.

Although the Redan Geophysical Zone contains some rock types not found elsewhere in the Broken Hill Block, there are some lithological similarities with the lower part of the Willyama Supergroup: an abundance of albite‐rich rocks, the presence of quartz‐magnetite rocks with Cu and trace Co, and abundant amphibolite/ basic granulite in the Lady Brassey Formation.

The boundary between the Redan Geophysical Zone and the remainder of the Broken Hill Block appears to be conformable, with no evidence of major faulting. Similarly no evidence of unconformities or major displacement of stratigraphic boundaries has been found within the Redan Geophysical Zone. Structural history, fold style and orientation, and metamorphic grade within the Redan Geophysical Zone are similar to adjacent areas of the Broken Hill Block.

It is concluded that the Broken Hill Block contains no outcropping equivalent of the first cycle of sedimentary/ igneous rocks recognized in the Early Proterozoic of northern Australia.

Albite‐quartz‐hornblende‐magnetite rocks unique to the Redan Geophysical Zone most likely comprised detritus derived directly from an intermediate volcanic suite. Some were altered considerably, while other rocks retained the dacite/andesite composition, except for the addition of Na, an increase in the oxidation state, and partial leaching of some of the more mobile elements. These modifications could have taken place in shallow alkaline evaporitic lakes.

The Redan Geophysical Zone contains some of the elements of a foreland basin adjacent to a continental volcanic arc: a thick stratigraphic sequence, oxidizing evaporitic conditions, and intermediate volcanic detritus. The change from intermediate‐acid volcanism in the earliest formations, to bimodal acid/basic volcanism in the Thackaringa and Broken Hill Groups could correspond with a change from initial continental arc volcanism into bimodal rift volcanism. The case for the arc volcanism is weakened, however, by the relative scarcity of rocks with andesitic compositions and the lack of basaltic andesite compositions. The alternative is that the intermediate to acid volcanism represents only a variation on the later bimodal rift volcanism.     

火山地层中的沉积层特征及其地层对比意义:以松辽盆地营城组为例

火山地层常具穿时和倒转现象,并且缺少化石资料,致使其地层序列划分和对比困难.营城组火山地层序列是松辽盆地火山岩油气勘探的基础和关键,火山岩中的厚层沉积夹层（营城组二段）在火山地层序列划分中可作为标志层,是营城组进一步分段的关键层位.从盆缘露头剖面入手,根据实测剖面、钻井、测井、地震、同位素年龄等资料,证实徐家围子断陷存在营二段地层,通过地层对比,总结其地层发育时限、岩性及序列特征、地层分布规律及其成因、地球物理识别标志,并将其作为标志层对火山地层进行准确划分和对比.结果显示:营二段形成于早白垩世Albian期（110~108 Ma）,沉积时限2~3 Ma;以富含凝灰质夹煤层为主要特征,其碎屑粒度自下至上呈现"粗-细-粗"的全韵律;断陷内营二段地层厚度变化大,平面上存在着两类沉积中心:（1）与营一段火山岩最大厚度中心重叠的火山期后热沉降中心;（2）继承性古地貌凹陷.不同成因地层其地球物理识别特征不同.以营二段为标志层可将徐家围子断陷营城组分为3段,其中一段和三段均以火山岩为主.而原分层中的营四段实属盆地不同充填期的两套地层:下部细粒砂泥岩段应为断陷期的营二段,上部粗粒砂砾岩段应为拗陷期的登娄库组一段.该方法可为其他地区火山地层划分与对比提供借鉴.      

龙脖河铜矿区(北段)岩浆岩及矿化

龙脖河铜矿产于中三叠统个旧组灰岩及其下伏地层中下三叠统火山岩建造中。矿床的形成与以红河断裂和阿龙古断裂为界的深海红河裂陷槽海相火山活动及后期的热液蚀变关系密切，矿化受地层、火山活动构造控制。富钠细碧角斑岩、火山碎屑岩、基性侵入岩为该区的主要岩浆岩类型。上述不同岩浆岩均有矿化产出，本文就区内岩浆岩的特征及其与矿化的关系作一简略的探讨。     

Volcanic rocks of the witwatersrand triad,south Africa. I: Description,classification and geochemical stratigraphy

The Witwatersrand triad contains thick volcanic sequences confined largely to the Dominion Group at the base and the Ventersdorp Supergroup at the top. These volcanic sequences are of late-Archaean to early-Proterozoic age and are amongst the oldest supracrustal volcanic sequences erupted onto the Archaean Kaapvaal craton. The volcanic rocks have suffered low-grade greenschist facies metamorphism but primary textures and, in some samples, primary mineralogies are well preserved. Major and trace element analyses of a large number of samples of volcanic rocks from boreholes in the Klerksdorp area, Western Transvaal, indicate that the chemical compositions of the lavas are largely unmodified by secondary processes and can be used for classification, stratigraphic studies and petrogenetic interpretation. The volcanics of the Dominion Group are a bimodal tholeiitic basalt-rhyolite association with considerable compositional variation from basalt to tholeiitic andesite within the basaltic suite. The Ventersdorp Supergroup is a weakly developed bimodal tholeiitic basalt-dacite suite. Basic rocks in the Klipriviersberg Group at the base and in the overlying Platberg Group are largely basaltic, whereas those of the Allanridge Formation at the top are largely tholeiitic andesites. Within the Klipriviersberg Group the more primitive samples occur at the top of the sequence. Phenocryst-rich porphyries of the Makwassie Formation in the Platberg Group are largely of dacitic composition and have textural features suggestive of an ash flow origin. A distinct geochemical stratigraphy is present within the volcanic sequences and application of discriminant function analysis and an empirical discrimination grid based on ratios of immobile elements P, Ti, and Zr allows for unknown samples to be placed within their correct stratigraphic unit.     

The Early Cretaceous Jacuí Group,a newly discovered volcaniclastic–epiclastic accumulation at the top of the Paraná Basin,southern Brazil

The presence of volcaniclastic rocks related to the silicic magmatism within the Serra Geral Formation has been a matter of long-standing debate. In this paper, we present extensive documentation that supports the presence and abundance of these rocks in the Jacuí Group, a newly discovered volcaniclastic and epiclastic accumulation in southern Brazil. The Jacuí Group is composed of two interfingered stratigraphic units, the Volta Alegre and Tupanciretã formations, and it represents the uppermost stratigraphic unit of the Paraná Basin. The Volta Alegre Formation is primarily composed of resedimented volcaniclastic tuffites, the pyroclasts which were sourced from the Santa Maria subgroup of the Palmas-type of the Serra Geral Formation. The Tupanciretã Formation is composed of fluvial and aeolian deposits transported towards the north–northwest. Deposition of the Jacuí Group began in the Early Cretaceous (∼132 Ma) and was coeval with the acidic volcanism of the Santa Maria subgroup. This group was deposited in a probable interior sag basin that represents either the beginning of the extension in the inner part of the continent that subsequently migrated to the east or the far-field impact of extensional processes that preceded the break-up of Gondwana and the opening of the South Atlantic Ocean.     

Subaqueous eruption-fed mass-flow deposits: Records of the Ordovician arc volcanism in the northern Famatina Belt; Northwestern Argentina

This study is focused on the analyses of a Chaschuil section (27° 49′ S–68° 04′ W), north of the Argentina Famatina Belt, where Ordovician explosive-effusive arc volcanism took place under subaerial to subaqueous marine conditions. In analyzing the profile, we have recognized an Arenigian succession composed by dominant volcaniclastic lithofacies represented by volcaniclastic debris flow, turbidity current and minor resedimented syn-eruptive pyroclastic depositsand lavas. The upper portions of succession are represented by volcanogenic sedimentary lithofacies with fossiliferous levels. Great volumes of the volcaniclastic deposits are strongly controlled in their transport by mass flow processes. These representative deposits provide significant data in relation to the coeval volcanic events for recognizing a continuous explosive volcanism together a minor effusive activity and the degradation of volcanic edifices. Likewise mass flow deposits give indications of the high rate of sedimentation, strong slope control and instability episodes in the basin, typical of those volcanic environments. That substantial information was the key to understand the features and evolution of the Arenigian basin in the north of the Famatina System.     

Geochemistry of the Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic Tadpatri shales,Cuddapah basin,India: implications on provenance,paleoweathering and paleoredox conditions

The Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic Tadapatri formation of the Cuddapah basin is comprised of clastic sedimentary rocks with minor carbonates and mafic–ultramafic sill bodies. Geochemistry of the shale is used to study the provenance, paleoweathering and paleoredox conditions of this Tadpatri formation in order to better understand the development of the Cuddapah basin during Palaeo–Mesoproterozoic time. The higher CIA (average 74.39), PIA (average 85.94) and CIW (average 87.59) values of the Tadpatri shales suggest intensely weathered sources. Higher Al₂O₃/TiO₂ (average 30.78) and LREE/HREE ratio (average 8.80) with negative europium anomaly indicate derivation of the clastic sediments from a felsic source rock. The geochemical parameters like U, U/Th, Cu/Zn, Ni/Co, V/Cr ratios reveal that the Tadpatri shales are mainly deposited in an oxic condition.     

额济纳旗大狐狸山地区干泉组火山岩锆石U-Pb测年及其意义

银额盆地干泉组火山岩段和碎屑岩段在大狐狸山地区出露较全,火山岩段由含晶屑玄武岩和中酸性火山岩构成双峰式火山岩组合。本次研究在含晶屑玄武岩中获得(305.2±3.9)Ma(MSWD=7.9)的LA-ICP-MS单颗粒锆石微区U-Pb同位素年龄,表明干泉组火山岩时代为晚石炭世,结合地层间接触关系,将干泉组时代定为晚石炭世一早二叠世。这一资料对于分析银额盆地北部红石山-黑鹰山坳陷充填演化意义重大,晚石炭世盆地属于裂谷盆地,发生快速裂解沉积巨厚的碎屑岩-火山岩。     

西藏尕尔穷-嘎拉勒铜金矿集区火山岩年代学及地球化学

尕尔穷-嘎拉勒铜金矿集区是班-怒结合带南部的重要矿集区.矿集区内发育大面积火山岩, 利用锆石U-Pb年代学方法, 首次精确测定了研究区内不同地层中火山岩年龄, 并结合其岩石地球化学特征探讨了其形成构造背景.研究表明, 区内朗久组火山角砾岩成岩年龄为141.7.0±0.47 Ma(MSWD=0.43), 多爱组流纹岩年龄为136.80±0.48 Ma(MSWD=0.79), 形成时代为早白垩世初期, 属于班公湖-怒江洋南向俯冲的岩浆作用响应; 原定多爱组火山角砾岩(GE火山角砾岩)年龄为85.20±0.53 Ma(MSWD=3.40), 形成时代为晚白垩世, 不属于早白垩世多爱组产物, 属于洋盆消亡后羌塘陆块与冈底斯陆块汇聚阶段的火山作用产物, 晚于尕尔穷铜金矿的成矿年龄(86.87±0.50 Ma).岩石地球化学特征表明, 区内火山岩均具有相对富集Rb、Th、U等大离子亲石元素(LILE), 而亏损Ta、Nb、Yb、Ti等高场强元素(HFSE)的特征, 显示出弧火山岩特性.结合区域已有火山岩研究资料表明, 在班公湖-怒江洋南向俯冲过程中, 从早白垩世初至中晚期均有比较连续的火山作用, 持续时间约为30 Ma(140~110 Ma); 在班公湖-怒江洋盆消亡后的羌塘陆块与冈底斯陆块汇聚晚阶段, 又伴随有晚白垩世火山作用的发生, 该期火山作用与区内成矿岩体年龄相当, 可能为同一岩浆系统的产物. 关键字: 火山岩; 班公湖-怒江特提斯洋; 俯冲; 碰撞; 尕尔穷-嘎拉勒矿集区; 地球化学.      

Origin and evolution of post-collisional volcanism: an example from Neoproterozoic Dokhan volcanics at Gabal Nugara area, Northeastern Desert, Egypt

Nugara volcanics are one of the northernmost outcrops of the Arabian?CNubian Shield. Two distinct volcanic successions are found in the Nugara basin: (1) old volcanic sequence composed of voluminous medium- to high-K calc-alkaline lavas and minor alkali basalt and (2) young volcanic sequence composed of subordinate tholeiitic mafic lavas. Their eruptions were punctuated by occasional volcaniclastic deposits that generated fall, flow, or reworked suites compositionally identical to the lava flows. These volcanics are a part of a post-subduction and extensional-related magmatic event in Northeastern Desert of Egypt. The volcanic rocks of the Nugara basin are characterized by strong enrichment in LILE relative to HESF, high LILE/HFSE ratios, and depletions of Nb on MORB-normalized multi-element diagrams. The geochemical features of the volcanic rocks suggest that they experienced fractional crystallization, along with mixing processes. Crustal contributions to the magma sources may also have occurred during magmatic evolution. These processes have resulted in scattered major and trace element variations with respect to increasing silica contents. The model proposed for their origin involves contrasting ascent paths and differentiation histories through crustal columns with different thermal and density gradients. The geochemical features of the most mafic samples suggest that the volcanic rocks in the region were derived from a mainly lithospheric mantle source that had been heterogeneously metasomatized by previous subduction events during convergence between the East and West Gondwanaland. The volcanic activity in the region is best explained by the delamination of lithospheric mantle slices that were heterogeneously enriched by previous subduction-related processes.     

Geology and mineralisation in the Meso- to Neoproterozoic Ghanzi-Chobe belt of northwest Botswana

The Ghanzi-Chobe Belt defines a linear zone of volcano-sedimentary rocks that form inliers through the Kalahari Desert of western and northern Botswana. Geological investigations along the Ghanzi Ridge have revealed a sequence composed of a basal bimodal volcanic suite with minor intercalated sedimentary rocks, termed the Kgwebe Formation, and an upper siliciclastic sedimentary unit with subordinate carbonates, called the Ghanzi Group. To the northeast in the Chobe District, basal volcanics informally termed the Goha Hills Formation are overlain by carbonate-bearing siliciclastics assigned to the Chinamba Hills Formation. Geochemical analysis and field relations of the Kgwebe Formation volcanics indicate that the sequences were accumulated in a continental rift basin. Rifting was initiated by extensional tectonics associated with a continental collision along the Namaqua-Natal Belt. The Kgwebe Formation volcanics started to accumulate during Mesoproterozoic times about 1 106 Ma ago. The depositional basin developed from fluvial and lacustrine systems during the accumulation of the Kgwebe Formation, into an extended shallow marine basin that accommodated the Kuke, Ngwako Pan, D'kar, and Mamuno Formations of the Ghanzi Group. Stratabound copper-sulfide mineralisation was developed at a redox interface within the Ghanzi Group. Mineralisation is confined to the basal part of the grey-green, argillitic facies of the D'kar Formation and is either disseminated or is found along cleavage planes and fractures. Minor Cu mineralisation also occurs in carbonates of the Chinamba Hills Formation. Tectonic deformation during the Pan African Damaran Orogeny resulted in a fold and thrust belt known as the Ghanzi-Chobe Belt.     

西藏冈底斯成矿带某盆地铀矿化地质特征与找矿方向

该盆地位于青藏高原冈底斯山脉东缘,是一个经历多期次火山作用及碰撞、挤压、抬升形成的新生代山间断陷盆地。近年来,四川省核工业地质调查院在该盆地北缘上新统嘎扎村组和宗当村组相继发现大量铀异常。铀矿化主要产于凝灰岩、砂岩、砂砾岩和中基性火山岩及石英(斑)岩之中,且矿化类型多样,铀异常点分布广,具有良好的找矿前景。通过对该盆地地质特征及铀矿化特征的初步研究,拟探讨西藏冈底斯成矿带新生代盆地铀矿找矿方向和线索。     

The ordovician (caradoc) volcanic rocks of montgomery,Powys, N. Wales

The Ordovician (Caradoc, Soudleyan) rocks of Montgomery, Powys are shales interbedded with locally conglomeratic volcaniclastic sediments composed of andesitic detritus. New formal lithostratigraphic units are proposed: Montgomery Volcanic Group comprising in ascending order: Castle Hill Shale Formation, Castle Hill Conglomerate Formation and Quarry Sandstone and Shale Formation. The volcaniclastic strata are reinterpreted as deposits of a submarine volcaniclastic fan system sourced by contemporaneous andesitic island volcanism. The observed diagenetic sequence is typical of marine volcanic sandstones and was dominated by hydration reactions related to the degradation of abundant unstable volcanic detritus. Diagenesis has resulted in the virtual destruction of original porosity in the volcaniclastic rocks.     

云南腾冲大六冲火山机构的发现及意义

腾冲火山群位于我国云南省西部和缅甸交界处的腾冲县境内,是我国著名的第四纪火山群,既有黑空山、打鹰山、马鞍山等一系列晚第四纪新期火山,也有早更新世以来有过喷发活动的大六冲、余家大山、来凤山等老火山。其中,位于腾冲火山区中东部的大六冲山势高峻,其顶峰是本区内的最高峰。野外地质调查发现,大六冲山体由一系列巨厚层爆发相火山碎屑堆积物和少量溢流相熔岩类岩石构成,喷发物类型极其丰富。在大六冲最高峰以南约100m处,首次发现存在着一个直径超百米的火山通道,可能是区内早期火山喷发的主通道,火山颈、熔岩穹丘、岩墙、爆发相与溢出相堆积物构成了大六冲完整的火山机构,在其周边多处地方还发现了因山体岩石破碎后形成的垮塌和滑坡堆积物。大六冲火山机构及其滑塌物的发现,不仅可以解释腾冲火山区大范围分布的火山碎屑岩的来源,也为防治以后类似大规模喷发可能造成的次生地质灾害提供了理想的研究样本和未来灾害预警。