Tidal triggering of seismic and volcanic phenomena during the 1879–1880 eruption of Islas Quemadas volcano in El Salvador, Central America

The Islas Quemadas dome in Lake Ilopango, El Salvador, was extruded during December 1879 to March 1880. The eruption took place in six distinct periods, five of which began near fortnightly minima in the amplitude of the semidiurnal solid earth tide. An earthquake swarm preceded dome extrusion. Felt earthquakes were carefully recorded during a two-day period preceding a destructive main shock that occurred on December 27, 1879. During this foreshock sequence the periods of highest earthquake activity occurred at times of maxima and minima in semidiurnal solid-earth tide. The four largest earthquakes, including the main shock, occurred at maxima in the semidiurnal tide.     

Subduction-related Late Permian shoshonites of the Sydney Basin, Australia

Summary The Late Permian shoshonitic province of the southern Sydney Basin consists of lavas and intrusions confined to a 140 km long coastal belt, but geophysical and sedimentological data indicate that the province once had a length of at least 340 km. Both petrographic and geochemical data indicate shoshonitic affinities for these Late Permian rocks and, although the compositional range is from 48.4 to 60.6% SiO₂, all units except an andesite lava have <55% SiO₂. Subduction-related attributes of the province include enrichment in Al₂O₃ and LILE (Rb, K and LREE), depletion in HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ti), low Nb/U, and Sr/Nd of 30–35. Initial (at 250 Ma)⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ranges from 0.70294 to 0.70440 whereas _Nd values range from +5.11 to +2.14 and plot almost exclusively in the mantle array. Low MgO and mg-numbers (maximum 7.37% and 64.5, respectively) demonstrate that none of the shoshonites represent primary magmas in equilibrium with mantle peridotite. Isotopic data and elemental contents are not supportive of a model in which crustal contamination is the dominant process in magma petrogenesis, but do not exclude contamination with Sr-rich material having a low⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr and high _Nd values.A temporal correlation between igneous rocks from the southern Sydney Basin, Dampier Ridge, New England and Tasmania indicates a widespread magmatic event which was, at least in part, shoshonitic in character and which developed in response to subduction along the east coast of Gondwanaland. The geochemical similarity between the Dampier Ridge and Sydney Basin samples does not support a model for spatial compositional variation across a subduction-related magmatic belt but, coupled with the variations in isotopic ratios, implies heterogeneity in the source.

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Spät-permische Schoschonite des Sidney Beckens in Australien

Zusammenfassung Die spät-permische Schoschonit Provinz des südlichen Sidney Beckens besteht aus Laven und Intrusionen, die in einem 140 km langen Gürtel längs der Küste auftreten. Geophysikalische und sedimentologische Daten weisen darauf hin, daß diese Provinz ursprünglich eine Länge von mindestens 340 km hatte. Sowohl petrographische wie geochemische Daten weisen auf schoschonitische Affinität dieser spät-permischen Gesteine hin. Obwohl die SiO₂ Gehalte von 48.4 bis 60.6% schwanken, haben alle Einheiten mit Ausnahme einer andesitischen Lava < 55%. Auf Subduktion weisen u.a. Anreicherungen an Al₂O₃ und LILE (Rb, K and LREE), die Verarmung an HFSE (Nb, Ta, Zr, Hf and Ti) niedrige Nb/U und Sr/Nd von ungefähr 30–35 hin. Die⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr Initiale, berechnet für 250 Ma, liegen zwischen 0.70294 und 0.70440 und die _Nd-Werte zwischen +5,11 und +2,14 und fallen fast ausschließlich in den Mantel-Bereich. Niedrige MgO und mg-Zahlen (Maximal 7,37% bzw. 64,5) zeigen, daß die Schoschonite nicht primäre Magmen, die mit Mantelperidotiten im Gleichgewicht sind, darstellen. Isotopendaten und Elementgehalte weisen nicht auf ein Modell hin, bei dem Krusten-Kontamination bei der Magmen-Genese eine wichtige Rolle spielte, aber eine Nichtkontamination mit Material, das niedrige⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr Werte und hohe _Nd Werte hat, ist nicht auszuschließen. Eine zeitliche Beziehung zwischen den magmatischen Gesteinen des südlichen Sydney-Beckens, dem Dampier Ridge, Neuengland und Tasmanien weist auf ein weit verbreitetetes magmatisches Ereignis hin, das zumindest teilweise schoschonitischen Charakter hatte und das auf Subduktion längs der Ostküste von Gondwanaland zurückführbar ist. Die geochemische Ähnlichkeit von Proben des Dampier Ridge und des Sydney Beckens weist nicht auf räumliche Variationen in der Zusammensetzung über einen subduktionsbezogenen magmatischen Gürtel hin, sondern läßt eher, zusammen mit den Variationen der Isotopendaten, heterogene Quellen für diese Gesteine vermuten.

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With 10 Figures     

Book Review Introduction to Geostatistics: Applications in Hydrogeology By Peter K. Kitanidis,Cambridge University Press, 1997, 249 p + xx, $74.95 (U.S.), hardback,ISBN 0-521-58312-8; $29.95 (U.S.), paperback,ISBN 0-521-58747-6

Mathematical Geosciences -     

Large pseudomorphous trapezohedra of analcime and pumpellyite after leucite,Aghda area,Central Iran

Summary Spectacular large (3 cm) euhedral trapezohedra composed of single crystals of analcime or aggregates of pumpellyite occur in three stratigraphically adjacent phonolitic lavas from Aghda. The trapezohedra contain concentrically arranged inclusions of plagioclase, pyroxene, titanomagnetite and apatite which are fresh in the analcime but extensively altered in the pumpellyite. The analcime crystals are remarkably homogeneous in composition and are interpreted as having formed by ion-exchange pseudomorphous replacement of primary leucite. In the lower phonolite, however, the analcime became unstable and was replaced by pumpellyite which has a wide compositional range, reflecting variable input of Fe, Mg, Ca and Al from the precursor analcime and alteration of inclusions. The occurrence of analcime and pumpellyite at Aghda is indicative of zeolite facies conditions with low f_{CO 2}and H₂O activity and probably high P_fluid.

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Große pseudomorphe Trapezoeder von Analcim im Pumpellyit nach Leuzit, Aghda-Gebiet Zentraliran

Zusammenfassung Ungewöhnlich große idiomorphe Trapezoeder, die aus einzelnen Kristallen von Analcim oder aus Aggregaten von Pumpellyit bestehen, kommen in drei stratigraphisch benachbarten phonolitischen Lagen von Aghda vor. Die Trapezoeder enthalten konzentrisch verteilte Einschlüsse von Plagioklas, Pyroxen, Titanomagnetit und Apatit, die im Analcim frisch, im Pumpellyit jedoch intensiv umgewandelt sind. Die Analcim-Kristalle sind von bemerkenswerter Homogenität in ihrer Zusammensetzung und werden auf pseudomorphe Verdrängung von primärem Leucit durch Ionenaustausch zurück-geführt. Im unteren Phonolit ist der Analcim jedoch instabil geworden, und wurde durch Pumpellyit ersetzt, der ein weites Spektrum von Zusammensetzungen erkennen läßt und auf variierende Zufuhr von Fe, Mg, Ca, and Al vom Vorläuferanalcim und auf Umwandlung von Einschlüssen hinweist. Das Vorkommen von Analcim und Pumpellyit bei Aghda ist ein Hinweis auf Zeolithfazies-Bedingungen mit niedrigen f_{CO 2} und H₂O und hohem P_fluid.

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With 5 Figures     

Structural,stratigraphic, and petrologic aspects of the Arenal-Chato volcanic system,Costa Rica: Evolution of a young stratovolcanic complex

Geologic mapping on a scale of 1:10000 and detailed stratigraphic studies of lava flows and tephra deposits of the Arenal-Chato volcanic system reveal a complex and cyclic volcanic history. This cyclicity provides insight into the evolution of magma batches during the growth of the andesitic volcanic system. The Arenal and Chato volcanoes have a central zone comprised of a lava armor and a distal zone comprised of a tephra apron. During Arenal's last two eruptive periods major craters formed near intersections of regional fractures at the lava armortephra apron transition. We suggest that such intersections are potential sites for future major explosions. The earliest rocks, i.e., the Chato lava flows, range in composition from basaltic andesite to andesite. These rocks, except for the andesitic domes of Chatito and La Espina, appear to have evolved from a common parental magma. The last active period of Chato volcano occurred 3550 B. P. The earliest known activity of Arenal volcano is 2900 B. P. Arenal lava flows have 54–56 wt% SiO₂ and may be subdivided into a high-alumina group (HAG, Al₂O₃ = 20 wt%) and a low-alumina group (LAG, Al₂O₃ = 19 wt%). Compared to the HAG, the LAG also has smaller amounts of incompatible elements and higher amounts of FeO and MgO. Arenal tephra deposits were emplaced by Plinian-Sub-Plinian explosions occurring at 300±150-yr intervals. These deposits are compositionally zoned and alternate between dacite and basalt. The stratigraphy reveals an apparent magmatic cycle consisting of (a) dacitic-andesitic tephra, (b) HAG lava flows, (c) LAG lava flows, and (d) andesitic-basaltic tephra. This magmatic cycle is repeated four times during Arenal's history and is interpreted to have developed by the crystal fractionation and crystal redistribution of a single magma batch. The period of this cycle, and consequently the life of a magma batch, is about 800 years. If the cyclic pattern continues, a basaltic explosive phase may occur in the next 250 years.     

A reappraisal of the 1835 eruption of Cosigüina and its atmospheric impact

In the great January 1835 eruption of Cosigüina volcano, Nicaragua, andesitic magma and lithic material were erupted over a period of at least three days. Proximal facies consist of clastogenic lava, scoria-fall, and lithic ash-fall produced by phreatomagmatic to vulcanian or plinian activity, together with surge deposits and lithic block-falls. Pyroclastic flow deposits covered some flanks of the volcano and entered the sea in the Gulf of Fonseca. Little record exists of the distal ash-fall, thus the total bulk volume erupted can only be roughly constrained to 2.9–5.6 km³. Furthermore, the amount of juvenile material is thought to be small. A recent study of volatiles in 1835 scoria suggests sulfur release from the magma was negligible. This reappraisal indicates that the Cosigüina eruption probably had little global climatic impact. Despite its violent nature, the magnitude of the eruption was modest. The eruption occurred too late to initiate the Northern Hemisphere cooling trend form 1828–1836. Dry fogs and other atmospheric optical phenomena usually observed after eruptions that contribute significantly to the stratospheric aerosol burden were not recorded after 1835.     

Symmetrical and segmented variation of physical and geochemical characteristics of the central american volcanic front

The regional variation of physical and geochemical characteristics of Central American volcanoes occurs in two fundamentally different patterns. The first pattern is symmetrical about Nicaragua. Crustal thickness, silica contents of mafic lavas and volcanic edifice heights are lowest in Nicaragua and increase smoothly toward Costa Rica to the south and Guatemala to the north. Magma density is maximum in Nicaragua and decreases smoothly outward. The regional variation in crustal thickness is just enough so that magma densities, calculated at appropriate Moho pressures, are the same at the base of the crust throughout the region. This is consistent with magma ponding at the base of the crust. The bulk compositions of Central American basalts show the same symmetrical variation. Suites of Nicaraguan basalts plotted in pseudo-ternary CMAS projections indicate large olivine and plagioclase primary-phase volumes. Toward Costa Rica and Guatemala the olivine and plagioclase fields inferred from suites of basaltic lavas are smaller, which is consistent with fractionation at increasing depth.The second pattern is the segmentation of the volcanic front and the plate margin in general. The segmentation strongly affects the spacing and size of volcanic centers. At segment boundaries volcanic centers are generally small and unusually widely spaced. Toward segment interiors volcano spacing and size increase systematically. The LIL element contents of lavas strongly reflect this pattern. For lavas with similar silica contents the larger the volcano, the higher the LIL element contents. The relationships between segmentation, volcano spacing and volcano size are compatible with diapiric rise of magma accumulated in narrow ribbons near the upper surface of the underthrust slab. The relationship between volcano volume and LIL element content is qualitatively in agreement with an open-system fractionation model.