The use of microtephra horizons to correlate Late-glacial lake sediment successions in Scotland

Evidence is presented to show that two measurable concentrations of microtephra particles can be detected in deposits of Late Devensian Late-glacial age in three sites in Scotland. One layer is attributed to the Vedde Ash, a marker horizon within the Younger Dryas chronozone. The second is a new tephra reported for the first time, which we name the Borrobol Tephra. This occurs consistently near the base of the Late-glacial Interstadial organic sediments at each site, and is thought to date to around 12.5 ¹⁴C ka BP. Geochemical determinations using an electron microprobe confirm the identification of the Vedde Ash, suggest the Borrobol Tephra to have an Icelandic origin, and demonstrate the consistency of the geochemical signals at all three sites. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Explosive silicic volcanism in Iceland and the Jan Mayen area during the last 6 Ma: sources and timing of major eruptions

Fifty-three major explosive eruptions on Iceland and Jan Mayen island were identified in 0–6-Ma-old sediments of the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans by the age and the chemical composition of silicic tephra. The depositional age of the tephra was estimated using the continuous record in sediment of paleomagnetic reversals for the last 6 Ma and paleoclimatic proxies (δ¹⁸O, ice-rafted debris) for the last 1 Ma. Major element and normative compositions of glasses were used to assign the sources of the tephra to the rift and off-rift volcanic zones in Iceland, and to the Jan Mayen volcanic system. The tholeiitic central volcanoes along the Iceland rift zones were steadily active with the longest interruption in activity recorded between 4 and 4.9 Ma. They were the source of at least 26 eruptions of dominant rhyolitic magma composition, including the late Pleistocene explosive eruption of Krafla volcano of the Eastern Rift Zone at about 201 ka. The central volcanoes along the off-rift volcanic zones in Iceland were the source of at least 19 eruptions of dominant alkali rhyolitic composition, with three distinct episodes recorded at 4.6–5.3, 3.5–3.6, and 0–1.8 Ma. The longest and last episode recorded 11 Pleistocene major events including the two explosive eruptions of Tindfjallajökull volcano (Thórsmörk, ca. 54.5 ka) and Katla volcano (Sólheimar, ca. 11.9 ka) of the Southeastern Transgressive Zone. Eight major explosive eruptions from the Jan Mayen volcanic system are recorded in terms of the distinctive grain-size, mineralogy and chemistry of the tephra. The tephra contain K-rich glasses (K₂O/SiO₂>0.06) ranging from trachytic to alkali rhyolitic composition. Their normative trends (Ab–Q–Or) and their depleted concentrations of Ba, Eu and heavy-REE reflect fractional crystallisation of K-feldspar, biotite and hornblende. In contrast, their enrichment in highly incompatible and water-mobile trace elements such as Rb, Th, Nb and Ta most likely reflect crustal contamination. One late Pleistocene tephra from Jan Mayen was recorded in the marine sequence. Its age, estimated between 617 and 620 ka, and its composition support a common source with the Borga pumice formation at Sør Jan in the south of the island.     

冲绳海槽北部CS1孔岩石磁学特征及其早期成岩作用的影响

以2～4cm为间隔，对冲绳海槽北部的CSH1孔岩心（17．36m）进行了岩石磁学研究．根据岩心上部的两个特征火山灰层和浮游有孔虫组合分析建立了钻孔的时间框架，沉积物底部年龄可能为50ka．除了在三个火山灰层和近表层向下的快速降低外，整个钻孔磁学参数的变化甚小，未能反映出50ka来的气候变化．与大多数沉积物不同，该钻孔大多数层位的S值（S=-IRM-0.3T/SIRM，它代表了低矫顽力磁性矿物的含量）小于0.9，指示钻孔沉积物中存在相当比例的高矫顽力磁性矿物．代表性沉积物样品的磁化率-温度（K-T）曲线除了存在580℃磁铁矿的居里温度之外，还显示200-350℃的居里温度，指示样品中存在铁硫化物（胶黄铁矿-磁黄铁矿）．这与加热过程中有刺鼻的臭味、加热后的沉积物变黑对铁硫化物的指示相吻合．自生成因的铁硫化物的存在以及表层磁性参数的快速降低，都明确表明沉积物遭受了早期成岩作用．除了三个火山灰层以外钻孔的其他层位无特征磁学变化，表明沉积物后来受到的改造作用强烈，磁学参数所蕴含的原始气候信号被破坏．在这一系列氧化-还原过程中消耗了沉积物中的有机质和水溶液中的硫酸盐，造成了沉积物中铁、锰元素的重新溶解和沉淀等．     

Lacustrine sedimentation in active volcanic settings: the Late Quaternary depositional evolution of Lake Chungará (northern Chile)

Lake Chungará (18°15′S, 69°09′W, 4520 m above sea‐level) is the largest (22·5 km²) and deepest (40 m) lacustrine ecosystem in the Chilean Altiplano and its location in an active volcanic setting, provides an opportunity to evaluate environmental (volcanic vs. climatic) controls on lacustrine sedimentation. The Late Quaternary depositional history of the lake is reconstructed by means of a multiproxy study of 15 Kullenberg cores and seismic data. The chronological framework is supported by 10 ¹⁴C AMS dates and one ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U dates. Lake Chungará was formed prior to 12·8 cal kyr bp as a result of the partial collapse of the Parinacota volcano that impounded the Lauca river. The sedimentary architecture of the lacustrine succession has been controlled by (i) the strong inherited palaeo‐relief and (ii) changes in the accommodation space, caused by lake‐level fluctuations and tectonic subsidence. The first factor determined the location of the depocentre in the NW of the central plain. The second factor caused the area of deposition to extend towards the eastern and southern basin margins with accumulation of high‐stand sediments on the elevated marginal platforms. Synsedimentary normal faulting also increased accommodation and increased the rate of sedimentation in the northern part of the basin. Six sedimentary units were identified and correlated in the basin mainly using tephra keybeds. Unit 1 (Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene) is made up of laminated diatomite with some carbonate‐rich (calcite and aragonite) laminae. Unit 2 (Mid‐Holocene–Recent) is composed of massive to bedded diatomite with abundant tephra (lapilli and ash) layers. Some carbonate‐rich layers (calcite and aragonite) occur. Unit 3 consists of macrophyte‐rich diatomite deposited in nearshore environments. Unit 4 is composed of littoral sediments dominated by alternating charophyte‐rich and other aquatic macrophyte‐rich facies. Littoral carbonate productivity peaked when suitable shallow platforms were available for charophyte colonization. Clastic deposits in the lake are restricted to lake margins (Units 5 and 6). Diatom productivity peaked during a lowstand period (Unit 1 and subunit 2a), and was probably favoured by photic conditions affecting larger areas of the lake bottom. Offshore carbonate precipitation reached its maximum during the Early to Mid‐Holocene (ca 7·8 and 6·4 cal kyr bp ). This may have been favoured by increases in lake solute concentrations resulting from evaporation and calcium input because of the compositional changes in pyroclastic supply. Diatom and pollen data from offshore cores suggest a number of lake‐level fluctuations: a Late Pleistocene deepening episode (ca 12·6 cal kyr BP), four shallowing episodes during the Early to Mid‐Holocene (ca 10·5, 9·8, 7·8 and 6·7 cal kyr BP) and higher lake levels since the Mid‐Holocene (ca 5·7 cal kyr BP) until the present. Explosive activity at Parinacota volcano was very limited between c. >12·8 and 7·8 cal kyr bp . Mafic‐rich explosive eruptions from the Ajata satellite cones increased after ca 5·7 cal kyr bp until the present.     

Paleomagnetism of Pleistocene widespread tephra deposits and its implication for tectonic rotation in central Japan

Abstract   A single layer of widespread tephra deposits possibly can provide an instantaneous record of the past geomagnetic field and potentially can indicate even a small-scale tectonic rotation compared to a range of geomagnetic secular variations. We report paleomagnetic data of the Ebisutoge–Fukuda tephra, which is dated at approximately 1.8 Ma and is distributed in central Japan between the Osaka–Kyoto area and the Boso Peninsula. The Fukuda volcanic ash layer and its correlative ash deposits in the Osaka–Kyoto area, near Lake Biwa and in the Mie and Niigata areas yield identical site mean declinations of approximately −170° after tilt correction, whereas moderate inclination shallowing is observed in the upper unit at several localities. Anisotropy measurements both of low-field magnetic susceptibility and of anhysteretic remanent magnetization suggest that the inclination shallowing results from the biased alignment of magnetic grains, which were deposited in the fluvial environment. The source volcanic unit, Ebisutoge pyroclastic deposits in the Takayama area, yields a mean declination of approximately −155°, showing clockwise deflection from the magnetic directions of the correlative tephra deposits. These results suggest that no significant rotation occurred between the Osaka–Kyoto, Mie and Niigata areas, but that the Takayama area suffered a clockwise rotation in respect to the other areas during the Quaternary. This rotation might have been caused under an east–west stress field associated with the collision of the Okhotsk Plate with the Eurasia Plate.     

Le volcanisme Pliocène inférieur de Maguelone (région de Montpellier,Hérault)

The volcanism of the Maguelone Island indicates a surtseyan volcanism. It contains petrographical and mineralogical characteristics of coastal phreatic volcanism. Its discharges are interbedded in the marine or lagoon Pliocene context. Rodents fauna and high-stand in the curve of Vail indicate a period between 4.2 and 3.8 Myr. The geographical pattern of its markers suggests a new reading and dating of the Pliocene sequences, particularly known from the scarcity of chronological indications. To cite this article: P. Ambert, C. R. Geoscience 335 (2003).     

Middle Miocene to Pleistocene magneto-biostratigraphy of ODP Sites 1150 and 1151, northwest Pacific: Sedimentation rate and updated regional geological timescale

Abstract Shipboard and shore‐based investigation on siliceous and calcareous microfossil biostratigraphy, magneto‐stratigraphy and tephrostratigraphy identified numerous datum events from the sedimentary sequences of Sites 1150 and 1151 drilled on the forearc basin of northern Japan by the Ocean Drilling Program Leg 186. Some 83 datum events were selected to construct new age–depth models for the sites. Based on the reliable magneto‐stratigraphy from the Pleistocene to the Upper Miocene, which were correlated to the standard geomagnetic polarity timescale, and on excellent records of diatom and radiolarian biostratigraphy throughout the sequences, the shipboard age model was revised. Major revisions referred to stratigraphic position of the Miocene–Pliocene boundary that has been shifted more than 200 m downward in each sequence. The age–depth relations of the forearc sites represent drastic changes in the sedimentation rate—extremely high (40 cm/k.y. on average) in the Early Pliocene and low (less than 2 cm/k.y. on average) in the Middle Miocene—and several hiatuses exist throughout the sequence. The drastic changes can be related mostly to changes in diatom sedimentation and the tectonics of the Japanese Island Arc. Local ages for some foraminiferal, calcareous nannofossil and radiolarian bioevents are estimated from the age–depth models at each site. These newly calibrated bioevents and biozones as well as established diatom biostratigraphy are incorporated into the updated magneto‐biochronologic timescale, which will contribute to an improvement in biochronologic accuracy of Neogene sediments in northern Japan and adjacent areas.     

Tyatya Volcano, southwestern Kuril arc: Recent eruptive activity inferred from widespread tephra

Abstract Tyatya Volcano, situated in Kunashir Island at the southwestern end of Kuril Islands, is a large composite stratovolcano and one of the most active volcanoes in the Kuril arc. The volcanic edifice can be divided into the old and the young ones, which are composed of rocks of distinct magma types, low‐ and medium‐K series, respectively. The young volcano has a summit caldera with a central cone. Recent eruptions have occurred at the central cone and at the flank vents of the young volcano. We found several distal ash layers at the volcano and identified their ages and sources, that is, tephras of ad 1856, ad 1739, ad 1694 and ca 1 Ka derived from three volcanoes of Hokkaido, Japan, and caad 969 from Baitoushan Volcano of China/North Korea. These could provide good time markers to reveal the eruptive history of the central cone, which had continued intermittently with Strombolian eruptions and lava flow effusions since before 1 Ka. Relatively explosive eruptions have occurred three times at the cone during the past 1000 years. We revealed that, topographically, the youngest lava flows from the cone are covered not by the tephra of ad 1739 but by that of ad 1856. This evidence, together with a report of dense smoke rising from the summit in ad 1812, suggests that the latest major eruption with lava effusion from the central cone occurred in this year. In 1973, after a long period of dormancy, short‐lived phreatomagmatic eruptions began to occur from fissure vents at the northern flank of the young volcano. This was followed by large eruptions of Strombolian to sub‐Plinian types occurring from several craters at the southern flank. The 1973 activity is evaluated as Volcanic Explosivity Index = 4 (approximately 0.2 km³), the largest eruption during the 20th century in the southwestern Kuril arc. The rocks of the central cone are strongly porphyritic basalt and basaltic andesite, whereas the 1973 scoria is aphyric basalt, suggesting that magma feeding systems are definitely different between the summit and flank eruptions.     

New age estimates and climatostratigraphic correlations for the Borrobol and Penifiler Tephras: evidence from Abernethy Forest,Scotland

The emerging tephrostratigraphy of NW Europe spanning the last termination (ca. 15–9 ka) provides the potential for synchronizing marine, ice‐core and terrestrial records, but is currently compromised by stratigraphic complications, geochemical ambiguity and imprecise age estimates for some layers. Here we present new tephrostratigraphic, radiocarbon and chironomid‐based palaeotemperature data from Abernethy Forest, Scotland, that refine the ages and stratigraphic positions of the Borrobol and Penifiler tephras. The Borrobol Tephra (14.14–13.95 cal ka BP) was deposited in a relatively warm period equated with Greenland Interstadial sub‐stage GI‐1e. The younger Penifiler Tephra (14.09–13.65 cal ka BP) is closely associated with a cold oscillation equated with GI‐1d. We also present evidence for a previously undescribed tephra layer that has a major‐element chemical signature identical to the Vedde Ash. It is associated with the warming trend at the end of the Younger Dryas, and dates between 11.79 and 11.20 cal ka BP. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Decadal‐scale change of infiltration characteristics of a tephra‐mantled hillslope at Mount St Helens,Washington

The cataclysmic 1980 eruption of Mount St Helens radically reduced the infiltration characteristics of ∼60 000 ha of rugged terrain and dramatically altered landscape hydrology. Two decades of erosional, biogenic, cryogenic, and anthropogenic activity have modified the infiltration characteristics of much of that devastated landscape and modulated the hydrological impact of the eruption. We assessed infiltration and runoff characteristics of a segment of hillslope thickly mantled with tephra, but now revegetated primarily with grasses and other plants, to evaluate hydrological modifications due to erosion and natural turbation. Eruptive disturbance reduced infiltration capacity of the hillslope by as much as 50‐fold. Between 1980 and 2000, apparent infiltration capacities of plots on the hillslope increased as much as ten fold, but remain approximately three to five times less than the probable pre‐eruption capacities. Common regional rainfall intensities and snowmelt rates presently produce little surface runoff; however, high‐magnitude, low‐frequency storms and unusually rapid snowmelt can still induce broad infiltration‐excess overland flow. After 20 years, erosion and natural mechanical turbation have modulated, but not effaced, the hydrological perturbation caused by the cataclysmic eruption. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.