Formation of the mid-fifteenth century Kuwae caldera (Vanuatu) by an initial hydroclastic and subsequent ignimbritic eruption

In the mid-fifteenth century, one of the largest eruptions of the last 10 000 years occurred in the Central New Hebrides arc, forming the Kuwae caldera (12x6 km). This eruption followed a late maar phase in the pre-caldera edifice, responsible for a series of alternating hydromagmatic deposits and airfall lapilli layers. Tuffs related to caldera formation ( 120 m of deposits on a composite section from the caldera wall) were emitted during two main ignimbritic phases associated with two additional hydromagmatic episodes. The lower hydromagmatic tuffs from the precaldera maar phase are mainly basaltic andesite in composition, but clasts show compositions ranging from 48 to 60% SiO₂. The unwelded and welded ashflow deposits from the ignimbritic phases and the associated intermediate and upper hydromagmatic deposits also show a wide compositional range (60–73% SiO₂), but are dominantly dacitic. This broad compositional range is thought to be due to crystal fractionation. The striking evolution from one eruptive style (hydromagmatic) to the other (magmatic with emission of a large volume of ignimbrites) which occurred either over the tuff series as a whole, or at the beginning of each ignimbritic phase, is the most impressive characteristic of the caldera-forming event. This strongly suggests triggering of the main eruptive phases by magma-water interaction. A three-step model of caldera formation is presented: (1) moderate hydromagmatic (sequences HD 1–4) and magmatic (fallout deposits) activity from a central vent, probably over a period of months or years, affected an area slightly wider than the present caldera. At the end of this stage, intense seismic activity and extrusion of differentiated magma outside the caldera area occurred; (2) unhomogenized dacite was released during a hydromagmatic episode (HD 5). This was immediately followed by two major pyroclastic flows (PFD 1 and 2). The vents spread and intense magma-water interaction at the beginning of this stage decreased rapidly as magma discharge increased. Subsequent collapse of the caldera probably commenced in the southeastern sector of the caldera; (3) dacitic welded tuffs were emplaced during a second main phase (WFD 1–5). At the beginning of this phase, magma-water interaction continued, producing typical hydromagmatic deposits (HD 6). Caldera collapse extended to the northern part of the caldera. Previous C¹⁴ dates and records of explosive volcanism in ice from the south Pole show that the climactic phase of this event occurred in 1452 A.D.     

Clast shape and textural associations in peperite as a guide to hydromagmatic interactions: Upper Permian basaltic and basaltic andesite examples from Kiama,Australia

Upper Permian shallow marine siltstone and sandstone units of the Broughton Formation are intercalated with basaltic and basaltic andesite sheets at Kiama, New South Wales. Parts of the two sheets examined in this study display peperite texture. The lower example (Blow Hole Latite Member) can be divided into two units with peperitic contacts suggesting their intrusion into wet unconsolidated sediments of the overlying Kiama Sandstone Member. The Bumbo Latite Member overlies the Kiama Sandstone Member and has been interpreted by previous workers as a lava. Well‐developed columnar joints cut the interior of the sheets. Along contacts with sedimentary facies and peperitic dykes which penetrate the sheets, columnar joints merge into a several metre‐wide zone of blocky jointing, pseudo‐pillows and hyaloclastite. In peperitic facies, sandstone or siltstone fills joints and fractures that define pseudo‐pillows, polyhedral joint blocks and columns (closely packed fabric) or sediment matrix‐rich breccia contains fragments and apophyses of basalt and basaltic andesite (dispersed fabric). Along some contacts, peperite with dispersed fabric passes through a zone of closely packed peperite into coherent facies. Alternatively, closely packed peperite passes directly into coherent facies. Examples of peperite with more than one clast type (globular, blocky, platy), and involving sedimentary matrix of constant grain‐size, are common. In some examples, globular surfaces formed during an early, low‐viscosity phase of magma emplacement into wet sediment. Planar and curviplanar fractures cut some globular surfaces suggesting that these formed slightly later as the magma became more viscous (cooler) and/or vapour films at the magma‐sediment interface broke down. However, the complexities of peperite, in respect to clast types, abundances and distribution, as well as grainsize and structures in the sedimentary component, suggest that a spectrum of fragmentation and mixing processes were involved in fragmenting the sheets. Many peperitic domains include poorly and strongly vesicular parts, resulting in apparent polymictic breccias. Vesiculation of the sheets is interpreted to have occurred in two phases: an early degassing of primary magmatic volatiles and a later, scoria‐forming event, both of which progressed as the magma mixed with unconsolidated sediment. During the later phase, magma incorporated limited amounts of steam from the wet sediment and a vesicular front propagated out into the magmatic component. Confining pressures were insufficient to prevent vesiculation of the magma or to suppress fluidisation of the host sediment along magma‐sediment contacts, but large enough to inhibit large‐scale steam explosivity. Displacement of sediment along contacts may have reduced confining pressures sufficiently to promote vaporisation of pore water, and induce local vesiculation of the magma.