Correlation of welded ignimbrites on Pantelleria (Strait of Sicily) using paleomagnetism |
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Authors: | Fabio Speranza Anita Di Chiara Silvio G Rotolo |
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Institution: | 1.Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Roma 2,Rome,Italy;2.Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e del Mare (DISTeM),Università di Palermo,Palermo,Italy;3.Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione di Palermo,Palermo,Italy |
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Abstract: | Although the oldest volcanic rocks exposed at Pantelleria (Strait of Sicily) are older than 300 ka, most of the island is
covered by the 45–50 ka Green Tuff ignimbrite, thought to be related to the Cinque Denti caldera, and younger lavas and scoria
cones. Pre-50 ka rocks (predominantly rheomorphic ignimbrites) are exposed at isolated sea cliffs, and their stratigraphy
and chronology are not completely resolved. Based on volcanic stratigraphy and K/Ar dating, it has been proposed that the
older La Vecchia caldera is related to ignimbrite Q (114 ka), and that ignimbrites F, D, and Z (106, 94, and 79 ka, respectively)
were erupted after caldera formation. We report here the paleomagnetic directions obtained from 23 sites in ignimbrite P (133 ka)
and four younger ignimbrites, and from an uncorrelated (and loosely dated) welded lithic breccia thought to record a caldera-forming
eruption. The paleosecular variation of the geomagnetic field recorded by ignimbrites is used as correlative tool, with an
estimated time resolution in the order of 100 years. We find that ignimbrites D and Z correspond, in good agreement with recent
Ar/Ar ages constraining the D/Z eruption to 87 ka. The welded lithic breccia correlates with a thinner breccia lying just
below ignimbrite P at another locality, implying that collapse of the La Vecchia caldera took place at ~130–160 ka. This caldera
was subsequently buried by ignimbrites P, Q, F, and D/Z. Paleomagnetic data also show that the northern caldera margin underwent
a ~10° west–northwest (outwards) tilting after emplacement of ignimbrite P, possibly recording magma resurgence in the crust. |
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