The proximal facies of the Tosu pyroclastic-flow deposit erupted from Aso caldera,Japan

The Tosu pyroclastic flow deposit, a low-aspect-ratio ignimbrite (LARI), has widely distributed breccia facies around Aso caldera, Japan. The proximal facies, 9–34 km away from the source, consists of 3 different lithofacies, from bottom to top: a lithic-enriched and fines-depleted (FD) facies, a lithic-enriched (LI) facies with an ash matrix, and a fines- and pumice-enriched (NI) facies. Modes of emplacement of FD, LI, and NI are interpreted as ground layer, 2b-lithic-concentration zone, and normal ignimbrite, respectively. These stratigraphic components in the Tosu originated from the flow head (FD) and the flow body (LI and NI), and were generated by a single column collapse event. Remarkably thick FD and LI, in contrast to thin NI, suggest that due to high mobility most ash and punice fragments in the Tosu were carried and deposited as NI in the distal area. Heavier components were selectively deposited as FD and LI in the proximal area. The rate of falloff of lithic-clast size in the Tosu shows an inflection at 20 km from the source. In a survey of well-documented pyroclastic flows, the inflection distance of a LARI is generally greater than that of a high-aspect-ratio ignimbrite, so that the eruption of the former is probably more intense than the latter.