A Paleogene magmatic overprint on Cretaceous seamounts of the western Pacific

The West Pacific Seamount Province (WPSP) represents a series of short-lived Cretaceous hotspot tracks. However, no intraplate volcanoes in advance of petit-spot volcanism erupted near a trench have been identified after the formation of the WPSP on the western Pacific Plate. This study reports new ages for Paleogene volcanic edifices within the northern WPSP, specifically the Ogasawara Plateau and related ridges, and Minamitorishima Island. These Paleogene ages are the first reported for basaltic rocks on western Pacific seamounts, in an area that has previously only yielded Cretaceous ages. The newly found Paleogene volcanisms overprint the Early–middle Cretaceous volcanic edifices, because the seamount or paleo-island material-covered reefal limestone caps on these edifices are uniformly older than the Paleogene volcanism identified in this study. This study outlines several possible causative factors for the Paleogene volcanism overprinting onto existing Cretaceous seamounts, including volcanism related to lithospheric stress, or a younger hotspot track within the northern part of the WPSP that records magmatism from ~60 Ma.     

强潮汐激发地震火山活动的新证据

强潮汐与火山地震活动密切相关. 天文资料表明, 2000年6月到8月日本Izu半岛最活跃的火山地震活动正好处于天文大潮时期和日长变化最小值时期. 在厄尔尼诺事件和拉尼娜事件发生前后,东西太平洋海面高度分别升降40cm, 水均衡作用使洋壳反向升降13cm. 由此形成的东西太平洋地壳跷跷板运动加强了强潮汐对地震火山活动的激发作用.     

Structure of Hawaiian volcanoes from seismic refraction data

Numerous seismic refraction traverses were carried out over the Hawaiian Islands to outline the structure of the volcanoes and determine the thickness of the layers of the crust. Results indicate that there is a progressive thickening of the crust in the area from younger to older volcanic islands. High velocity mantle-like material was detected under rift zones and in volcanic plugs. Volcanic regions were found to be intersected by flexure zones in the crust and in the mantle. The seismic refraction method, in conjunction with gravity and magnetic methods, was found to be successful in outlining the horizontal and vertical structures of rift zones and plugs of volcanoes.     

Cladistic analysis applied to the classification of volcanoes

Cladistics is a systematic method of classification that groups entities on the basis of sharing similar characteristics in the most parsimonious manner. Here cladistics is applied to the classification of volcanoes using a dataset of 59 Quaternary volcanoes and 129 volcanic edifices of the Tohoku region, Northeast Japan. Volcano and edifice characteristics recorded in the database include attributes of volcano size, chemical composition, dominant eruptive products, volcano morphology, dominant landforms, volcano age and eruptive history. Without characteristics related to time the volcanic edifices divide into two groups, with characters related to volcano size, dominant composition and edifice morphology being the most diagnostic. Analysis including time based characteristics yields four groups with a good correlation between these groups and the two groups from the analysis without time for 108 out of 129 volcanic edifices. Thus when characters are slightly changed the volcanoes still form similar groupings. Analysis of the volcanoes both with and without time yields three groups based on compositional, eruptive products and morphological characters. Spatial clusters of volcanic centres have been recognised in the Tohoku region by Tamura et al. (Earth Planet Sci Lett 197:105–106, 2002). The groups identified by cladistic analysis are distributed unevenly between the clusters, indicating a tendency for individual clusters to form similar kinds of volcanoes with distinctive but coherent styles of volcanism. Uneven distribution of volcano types between clusters can be explained by variations in dominant magma compositions through time, which are reflected in eruption products and volcanic landforms. Cladistic analysis can be a useful tool for elucidating dynamic igneous processes that could be applied to other regions and globally. Our exploratory study indicates that cladistics has promise as a method for classifying volcanoes and potentially elucidating dynamic and evolutionary volcanic processes. Cladistics may also have utility in hazards assessment where spatial distributions and robust definitions of a volcano are important, as in locating sensitive facilities such as nuclear reactors and repositories.     

Growth and collapse of the Reunion Island volcanoes

This work presents the first exhaustive study of the entire surface of the Reunion Island volcanic system. The focus is on the submarine part, for which a compilation of all multibeam data collected during the last 20 years has been made. Different types of submarine features have been identified: a coastal shelf, debris avalanches and sedimentary deposits, erosion canyons, volcanic constructions near the coast, and seamounts offshore. Criteria have been defined to differentiate the types of surfaces and to establish their relative chronology where possible. Debris avalanche deposits are by far the most extensive and voluminous formations in the submarine domain. They have built four huge Submarine Bulges to the east, north, west, and south of the island. They form fans 20–30 km wide at the coastline and 100–150 km wide at their ends, 70–80 km offshore. They were built gradually by the superimposition and/or juxtaposition of products moved during landslide episodes, involving up to several hundred cubic kilometers of material. About 50 individual events deposits can be recognized at the surface. The landslides have recurrently dismantled Piton des Neiges, Les Alizés, and Piton de La Fournaise volcanoes since 2 Ma. About one third are interpreted as secondary landslides, affecting previously emplaced debris avalanche deposits. On land, landslide deposits are observed in the extensively eroded central area of Piton des Neiges and in its coastal areas. Analysis of the present-day topography and of geology allows us to identify presumed faults and scars of previous large landslides. The Submarine Bulges are dissected and bound by canyons up to 200 m deep and 40 km long, filled with coarse-grained sediments, and generally connected to streams onshore. A large zone of sedimentary accumulation exists to the north–east of the island. It covers a zone 20 km in width, extending up to 15 km offshore. Volcanic constructions are observed near the coast on both Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise volcanoes and are continuations of subaerial structures. Individual seamounts are present on the submarine flanks and the surrounding ocean floor. A few seem to be young volcanoes, but the majority are probably old, eroded seamounts. This study suggests a larger scale and frequency of mass-wasting events on Reunion Island compared to similar islands. The virtual absence of downward flexure of the lithosphere beneath the island probably contributes to this feature. The increased number of known flank–failure events has to be taken into consideration when assessing hazards from future landslides, in particular, the probability of landslide-generated tsunamis. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The catalogue of Quaternary volcanoes of the Greater Caucasus based on geochronological,volcanological and isotope-geochemical data

A catalogue of Quaternary volcanoes of the Greater Caucasus has been compiled based on recent geological, petrological-geochemical and isotope-geochronological data obtained in the last decades. This catalogue provides insight into the evolution of the youngest magmatism in this part of the Alpine-Himalayan fold belt at the modern level of knowledge. The catalogue is given as a set of tabular data on 74 volcanic edifices that have been found and described in literature in varying detail, including their coordinates, absolute height, type of edifice and the predominant type of eruption, age, as well as main petrographic, isotope-geochemical characteristics, and the chemical composition of the products of magmatic activity. For the sake of convenience, the volcanoes of the Kazbek and Elbrus neovolcanic areas representing two main areals of young magmatism at the Greater Caucasus are described separately. In addition, data on the Kazbek area are grouped by traditionally distinguished volcanic centers. Text presents general information on the Quaternary volcanic activity within the Greater Caucasus, its geochronology, spatiotemporal distribution, and petrogenesis of the youngest volcanic rocks.     

The elastic thickness of the lithosphere in the Pacific Ocean

In this study, we present determinations of the effective elastic thicknessT_e of the oceanic lithosphere along Pacific chains or archipelagoes.T_e is determined by computing the deflection of a continuous elastic plate under the load of volcanoes, and constrained by geoid heights provided by SEASAT. In the South Central Pacific, estimates of 14 km for the Marquesas and 6 km or less for the Pitcairn-Mururoa-Gloucester chain are in good agreement with a previous work in this region (Cook-Austral and Society chains). Around the Line Islands chain, SEASAT data reveal that the bathymetry is poorly known, preventing fine analysis. Meanwhile,T_e looks globally very low ( 6 km), except for three volcanoes but these results may be unreliable. The Easter chain features lowT_e values ( 6 km), with no noticeable variation along the chain. Higher values are found for a Samoan island, Manuae (24 km), and along the Hawaiian-Emperor seamounts chain (from 32 km at the eastern end of the chain to 21.5 km for the Hawaiian volcanoes, and from 25.5 to 15 km for the Emperor seamounts). The large number ofT_e estimates obtained in this study points out a noticeable difference between North and South Pacific results. Those from the North Pacific agree with the general trend (increase with the square root of age plate at loading time), while those from the South Central Pacific are much lower, according to their plate age. These lowT_e results from the South Pacific are only partly explained by taking account of thermal perturbations using the rejuvenation model. Therefore, these results then point out a regional difference in oceanic lithosphere.     

The magmatic system of the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes inferred from data on its eruptions,earthquakes, deformation,and deep structure

The study of magmatic plumbing systems of volcanoes (roots of volcanoes) is one of the main tasks facing volcanology. One major object of this research is the Klyuchevskaya group of volcanoes (KGV), in Kamchatka, which is the greatest such group that has been found at any island arc and subduction zone. We summarize the comprehensive research that has been conducted there since 1931. Several conspicuous results derived since the 1960s have been reported, emerging from the study of magma sources, eruptions, earthquakes, deformation, and the deep structure for the KGV. Our discussion of these subjects incorporates the data of physical volcanology relating to the mechanism of volcanic activity and data from petrology as to magma generation. The following five parts can be distinguished in the KGV plumbing system and the associated geophysical model: the source of energy and material at the top of the Pacific Benioff zone at a depth of about 160 km, the region of magma ascent in the asthenosphere, the region of magma storage in the crust-mantle layer at depths of 40–25 km, magma chambers and channelways in the crust, and the bases of volcanic edifices. We discuss and explain the properties of and the relationships between these parts and the mechanisms of volcanic activity and of the KGV plumbing system as they exist today. Methods for calculating magma chambers and conduits, the amount of magma in the system, and its other properties are available.     

兴蒙造山带诺敏河火山群地壳厚度与波速比研究

利用布设于兴蒙造山带诺敏河火山群地区的宽频带流动地震台站资料,基于接收函数方法,获取了该地区的地壳厚度与波速比值.研究结果显示,该地区的地壳厚度介于32~38 km,莫霍面深度在空间上分布特征与五大连池为中心的火山带分布具有较好的一致性：沿着火山带延展方向地壳较薄.该地区的波速比介于1.74~1.84,波速比在空间上与地壳厚度变化具有一致性：高波速比主要集中于靠近五大连池火山带地区,向诺敏河火山和小古里河火山延展.研究认为：诺敏河火山与五大连池火山带可能具有相同的岩浆来源,可能与富钾岩石圈地幔拆沉作用造成的地幔热物质上涌有关.研究区地壳厚度与波速比呈现负相关关系,暗示该地区可能发生过岩浆底侵作用.     

卡罗琳板块及其附近地区的岩石圈有效弹性厚度

本文利用卡罗琳板块及其附近地区的自由空气重力异常和海水深度数据,结合滑动窗口导纳技术(MWAT),计算了该地区的岩石圈有效弹性厚度T_e.本文使用Multitaper(多窗谱)方法对功率谱密度进行估计,基于实际的海底地形,通过模拟计算得到了MWAT方法较真值的改正,MWAT方法计算的结果偏小20%左右.研究结果显示卡罗琳板块及其附近地区的T_e变化范围为1~34km.研究区域包括了海山、海底高原、俯冲带、扩张洋脊等多种构造,对它们的岩石圈强度的研究为认识西太平洋地区岩石圈的构造和演化提供了重要的依据.T_e与加载时的岩石圈年龄、地表热流相关.T_e与海底地壳年龄之间的关系显示T_e主要位于板块冷却模型的450℃的等温线深度以上.西太平洋的Magellan海山和Marcus-Wake Guyots(MWG)地区的T_e主要分布在加载形成时板块冷却模型的200℃的等温线深度附近,较低的等温线可能受太平洋超级地幔柱的影响.我们的研究结果也显示在研究区域内海洋地壳的热流与T_e之间存在一定的反相关性.     

盆地埋藏火山机构的地质-地球物理二维精细解剖——以松南腰英台地区营城组一段为例

腰英台地区营城组一段火山岩气藏为火山机构内幕型气藏,其储层分布受火山机构控制.本文以旋回作为时间格架进行火山机构的精细划分.首先通过钻井火山岩岩性、岩相、测井资料识别出的旋回间风化壳和沉积岩夹层等地质界面,地震剖面上全区发育的连续强反射同相轴等划分火山岩的旋回.然后,在旋回内部根据不同钻井岩性、岩相的变化以及火山机构的...     

Geochronology and petrochemistry of Easter and Sala y Gomez Islands: implications for the origin of the Sala y Gomez Ridge

Easter and Sala y Gomez Islands lie along the Sala y Gomez Ridge, a broad zone of high topography and scattered seamounts extending east-southeast from the East Pacific Rise. K-Ar ages and major element abundances of volcanic rocks from these islands are used to test the fixed melting spot hypothesis for the origin of this feature. Poike volcano, the oldest center on Easter Island, was constructed in two episodes, occurring at 2.5 and 0.9 m.y. ago. Eruptive activity on Sala y Gomez was nearly contemporaneous with the earliest volcanism on Easter Island. No migration of volcanism with time is apparent along the Sala y Gomez Ridge. Basaltic rocks from Easter Island have tholeiitic affinities, while those dredged from the base of Sala y Gomez belong to an alkali olivine basalt series. Differences in basalt chemistry suggest that the volcanic rocks from the two islands formed from magmas that equilibrated at different pressures, and a model is presented which relates the character of the erupted liquids to magma segregation at the base of a progressively thickening lithosphere. The islands and seamounts comprising the Sala y Gomez Ridge do not fall on a small circle about the Nazca-mantle pole of absolute motion. Available evidence, therefore, does not support a fixed melting spot origin for Easter Island, Sala y Gomez, and the Sala y Gomez Ridge. Rather, it appears that the Sala y Gomez Ridge formed along a leaky fracture zone, and in response to a major re-orientation of spreading centers in this area.     

Lithosphere thickness,subsidence of aseismic ridges,and volcano height

Two methods — collection of empirical subsidence data for aseismic ridges and observation of the increase in height of oceanic volcanoes with increasing lithospheric age — are used to try to discriminate between the thermal models for the oceanic lithosphere of McKenzie (1967), Parker and Oldenburg (1973), and Crough (1975). Although the volcano height data indicate that thickening of the lithosphere does occur, neither method is precise enough to allow preferential selection of one model over another.     

The development of the system of integrated instrumental monitoring of volcanoes in the Far East Region

This work presents the project of the first stage of implementation of the integrated instrumental system of volcanic activity monitoring in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands. The system of monitoring was designed for the purpose of ensuring public safety, aviation safety, and reducing economic losses caused by volcanic eruptions. The most active and dangerous volcanoes in Kamchatka (North and Avacha groups of volcanoes) and the Kuril Islands (volcanoes on the islands of Kunashir and Paramushir) are of first priority for monitoring. For this purpose, special observation points are planned to be installed on the volcanoes. The system of monitoring will include a complex of observations (broadband seismic station with a large dynamic range, tiltmeter, devices for gas, acoustic, and electromagnetic observations, and video camera). All the data will be passed to information processing centers in real time. New methods and algorithms of automatic and automated identification of the volcanic activity level and the probabilistic volcano hazard assessment have been developed.     

The pattern of circumferential and radial eruptive fissures on the volcanoes of Fernandina and Isabela islands,Galapagos

Maps of the eruptive vents on the active shield volcanoes of Fernandina and Isabela islands, Galapagos, made from aerial photographs, display a distinctive pattern that consists of circumferential eruptive fissures around the summit calderas and radial fissures lower on the flanks. On some volcano flanks either circumferential or radial eruptions have been dominant in recent time. The location of circumferential vents outside the calderas is independent of caldera-related normal faults. The eruptive fissures are the surface expression of dike emplacement, and the dike orientations are interpreted to be controlled by the state of stress in the volcano. Very few subaerial volcanoes display a pattern of fissures similar to that of the Galapagos volcanoes. Some seamounts and shield volcanoes on Mars morphologically resemble the Galapagos volcanoes, but more specific evidence is needed to determine if they also share common structure and eruptive style.     

Relationship between subsidence and volcanic load,Hawaii

A computer analysis of tide-gage records in the northeast Pacific indicates that the active volcanic islands of eastern Hawaii are subsiding at a rate considerably faster than the eustatic rise of sea level. The rate of absolute subsidence increases progressively toward the center of current activity on the Island of Hawaii. Honolulu, Oahu, appears to be stable; Kahului, Maui, is subsiding at 1.7 mm per year; and Hilo, Hawaii, is subsiding at 4.8 mm per year. This subsidence is apparently related to downbowing of the crust throughout a zone 400 km in diameter by the weight of volcanic material added to the crust by active volcanoes, principally Mauna Loa and Kilauea on the Island of Hawaii. The Hawaiian Arch encircles the subsiding zone and may be uplifted by material moving down and outward from the zone of subsidence. The annual volume of subsidence is about 270×10⁶ m³, whereas the average annual volume of erupted basalt on the Island of Hawaii (based on historic records back to about 1820) is about 50×10⁶ m³. The great excess of subsidence over volcanic addition cannot be reconciled by isostatic models, and is apparently the result of other processes operating in the volcano and its basement thet are poorly understood. Probably the more important of these processes are intrusions and submarine volcanism, both of which are providing additional unseen load on the volcanoes. Furthermore, the rate of eruption may be uplifted by material moving down and outward from the zone of subsidence may be overestimated due to localized downslope movement of the margins of the islands.     

Oceanic plateau accretion inferred from Late Paleozoic greenstones in the Jurassic Tamba accretionary complex, southwest Japan

Abstract The Jurassic Tamba accretionary complex is divided into two tectono‐stratigraphic suites (Type I and II nappe groups), which are further divided into six complexes (nappes) each of which is characterized by a rock sequence of Late Paleozoic greenstone/limestone, Permian to Jurassic chert and Jurassic terrigenous clastic rocks. The mode of occurrence of the greenstone is divided into two types. The major basal type occurs as a large coherent slab associated with Permian chert and limestone, constituting the basal part of each complex, and the minor mixed type occurs as fragmented allochthonous greenstone blocks and lenses mixed with chert, limestone and sandstone in the Jurassic mudstone matrix. Most of the basal greenstones have uniform geochemical characteristics, which indicate enriched‐mid‐oceanic ridge basalt (MORB) affinity. Their geochemical compositions are akin to the reported Permo‐Carboniferous and Triassic oceanic plateau basalts. Mixed greenstones are divided into two petrochemical types: (i) tholeiitic basalt with normal‐MORB affinity, which is predominant in the uppermost complex of the Type II suite (upper nappe group); and (ii) tholeiitic and alkalic basalts of oceanic island or seamount origin, which are common in all complexes of the Tamba Belt. Geochemical characteristics of the greenstones thus vary in accordance with their occurrences and the structural units to which they belong. This relationship reflects the difference in topographic relief and crustal thickness of the accreted oceanic edifices – the remnants of thick oceanic plateau crust tended to accrete to the continental margin as a large basal greenstone body, whereas thin normal oceanic crust with small seamounts or oceanic islands accreted as mixed greenstones because of their mechanical weakness. The Type II suite (upper nappe group) contains the basal and mixed greenstones, whereas the Type I suite (lower nappe group) includes only mixed greenstones. This distinction may reflect the temporal change of subducting edifices from a thick oceanic plateau to a thin normal oceanic crust, and suggests that the accretion of a large oceanic plateau may be responsible for building accretionary complexes with thick basal greenstones slabs.     

Adakitic magmas in the Ecuadorian Volcanic Front: Petrogenesis of the Iliniza Volcanic Complex (Ecuador)

The Iliniza Volcanic Complex (IVC) is a poorly known volcanic complex located 60 km SSW of Quito in the Western Cordillera of Ecuador. It comprises twin peaks, North Iliniza and South Iliniza, and two satellite domes, Pilongo and Tishigcuchi. The study of the IVC was undertaken in order to better constrain the role of adakitic magmas in the Ecuadorian arc evolution. The presence of volcanic rocks with an adakitic imprint or even pristine adakites in the Ecuadorian volcanic arc is known since the late 1990s. Adakitic magmas are produced by the partial melting of a basaltic source leaving a garnet rich residue. This process can be related to the melting of an overthickened crust or a subducting oceanic crust. For the last case a special geodynamic context is required, like the subduction of a young lithosphere or when the subduction angle is not very steep; both cases are possible in Ecuador. The products of the IVC, made up of medium-K basaltic andesites, andesites and dacites, have been divided in different geochemical series whose origin requires various interactions between the different magma sources involved in this subduction zone. North Iliniza is a classic calc-alkaline series that we interpret as resulting from the partial melting of the mantle wedge. For South Iliniza, a simple evolution with fractional crystallization of amphibole, plagioclase, clinopyroxene, magnetite, apatite and zircon from a parental magma, being itself the product of the mixing of 36% adakitic and 64% calc-alkaline magma, has been quantified. For the Santa Rosa rhyolites, a slab melting origin with little mantle interactions during the ascent of magmas has been established. The Pilongo series magma is the product of a moderate to high degree (26%) of partial melting of the subducting oceanic crust, which reached the surface without interaction with the mantle wedge. The Tishigcuchi series shows two stages of evolution: (1) metasomatism of the mantle wedge peridotite by slab melts, and (2) partial melting (10%) of this metasomatized source. Therefore, the relative ages of the edifices show a geochemical evolution from calc-alkaline to adakitic magmas, as is observed for several volcanoes of the Ecuadorian arc.     

Offset caldera and crater collapse on Juan de Fuca ridge-flank volcanoes

 Forty-three volcanoes located along the flanks of the Juan de Fuca Ridge were selected to study relationships between their morphologies and off-axis magmatic processes. The volcanoes occur both in chains consisting of up to seven distinct cones and isolated edifices. Nearly all of the volcanoes are circular, truncated cones with steep flanks and large, relatively flat summit plateaus. In addition, most of these volcanoes also have prominent and distinctly offset calderas or craters. The most striking characteristic of the volcanoes' morphology is that nearly all of their collapse structures are located on the sides of the volcanoes which face the Juan de Fuca Ridge and many are breached with openings toward the ridge. A simple model based on these observations accounts for these ridge-facing features. As plate motion transports a volcano away from its magma source beneath the lithosphere, the volcano's magma supply conduits tend to lag behind. Eventually these conduits are abandoned and ridgeward collapse structures are formed. It can be inferred from the model that, on average, individual volcanoes were active for approximately 50 000 years and that most eruptions took place early in this interval. If most of the cone-building eruptions occurred during the first thousand years or so, associated hydrothermal activity may have temporarily rivaled the present-day yearly time-averaged hydrothermal output along the entire Juan de Fuca ridge axis. Received: 1 September 1996 / Accepted: 13 January 1997     

The meaning of magmatic differentiation in some recent volcanoes of central Italy

The influence of volcanic processes on magmatic differentiation can be evidenced by the study of some of the most typical volcanoes of post-orogenic magmatism of Central Italy. It has been recognized that a close relationship exists between degree and type of differentiation on one hand, and structure and evolution of volcanic edifices as well as shape of their magmatic chambers on the other. The effect of the structural features of volcanic apparata on the magmatic differentiation is often so strong as to obliterate the original genetic characters of the magma. It was seen that, in Central Italy, magmas of «atlantic» affinities differentiating from basalt to trachyte, can turn to magmas of strong « mediterranean » affinities in the more superficial volcanic environments.