Holocene slip rate variability along the Pernicana fault system (Mt. Etna, Italy): Evidence from offset lava flows

The eastern flank of the Mount Etna stratovolcano is affected by extension and is slowly sliding eastward into the Ionian Sea. The Pernicana fault system forms the border of the northern part of this sliding area. It consists of three E-W−oriented fault sectors that are seismically active and characterized by earthquakes up to 4.7 in magnitude (M) capable of producing ground rupture and damage located mainly along the western and central sectors, and by continuous creep on the eastern sector. A new topographic study of the central sector of the Pernicana fault system shows an overall bell-shaped profile, with maximum scarp height of 35 m in the center of the sector, and two local minima that are probably due to the complex morphological relation between fault scarp and lava flows. We determined the ages of lava flows cut by the Pernicana fault system at 12 sites using cosmogenic 3He and 40Ar/39Ar techniques in order to determine the recent slip history of the fault. From the displacement-age relations, we estimate an average throw rate of ∼2.5 mm/yr over the last 15 k.y. The slip rate appears to have accelerated during the last 3.5 k.y., with displacement rates of up to ∼15 mm/yr, whereas between 3.5 and 15 ka, the throw rate averaged ∼1 mm/yr. This increase in slip rate resulted in significant changes in seismicity rates, for instance, decreasing the mean recurrence time of M ≥ 4.7 earthquakes from ∼200 to ∼20 yr. Based on empirical relationships, we attribute the variation in seismic activity on the Pernicana fault system to factors intrinsic to the system that are likely related to changes in the volcanic system. These internal factors could be fault interdependencies (such as those across the Taupo Rift, New Zealand) or they could represent interactions among magmatic, tectonic, and gravitational processes (e.g., Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii). Given their effect on earthquake recurrence intervals, these interactions need to be fully assessed in seismic hazard evaluations

The Cumbre Nueva collapse (La Palma, Canary Islands): new age determinations and evidence of an isotopic excursion

Episodic giant landslides characterize the history of intraplate oceanic volcanic islands, disrupting the gradual accumulation of eruptive products during shield-building stages. On La Palma (Canary Islands), the giant Cumbre Nueva collapse, which ended volcanic activity at the Paleo-Cumbre Nueva rift, formed the 11 km wide “Caldera de Taburiente” collapse embayment. Lavas erupted before and after this collapse have been studied, and 40Ar/39Ar ages of groundmass separates from key flows are presented, particularly from the small post-collapse Bejenado volcano that grew within the collapse scar. The new data constrain the age of the Cumbre Nueva collapse to between 519±20 ka and 529±12 ka (2) and confirm that it occurred during a period of rapid re-surfacing of the island. This study has also constrained the duration of activity of the post-collapse Bejenado volcano, and the results indicate that this was also brief (529±12 ka to 491±16 ka). Starting just before the time of the collapse, the radiogenic isotope compositions of the lavas shifted temporarily to more depleted compositions, perhaps indicating that an isotopically distinct magma source was being tapped. However, an isotopic excursion of similar magnitude also occurred later in the post-collapse activity, suggesting that the changes in isotope composition of the magma source continued during after the collapse

Apatite (U-Th)/He age constraints on the development of the Great Escarpment on the southeastern Australian passive margin

The southeast Australian margin, like other high elevation passive margins, is characterised by a steep escarpment that separates a dissected coastal plain from a low relief inland plateau. Quantitative constraints on the generation of escarpments can be provided by apatite (U-Th)/He ages. Here we use a coast-perpendicular traverse across the coastal lowlands, escarpment and plateau to test the three prevailing models of SE Australian escarpment formation, namely retreat into a downwarped rift shoulder, escarpment retreat and down-wearing on high elevation rift shoulder with flexural rebound. Apatites from the coastal plain have He ages of between 87 and 112 Ma, suggesting that the coastal lowlands developed very rapidly after rifting and continental break-up at 85-100 Ma. The He age data are inconsistent with the erosion of a downwarped rift margin, and cannot be explained by a constant post-break-up rate of lateral escarpment retreat across the coastal plain or by constant down-wearing. The data require either rapid escarpment retreat or rapid in-place excavation of the escarpment soon after break-up, in response to rifting and the lowering of base levels on the margin of the new continent at break-up, followed by a period of landscape stability and low erosion. Combined with the existing apatite fission track record, the He data are consistent with erosion of 3-4 km within a maximum of 28 Myr of break-up, at a minimum vertical erosion rate of 130 in Myr(-1) along the coast. The rapid denudation period across the coastal plain in this region took less than 48 Myr (from the coast to the escarpment base), which corresponds to an average vertical erosion rate of 45 in Myr(- 1). This is equivalent to a mean escarpment retreat rate of 5- 10 km Myr(-1). Apatite He ages from the plateau (183-247 Ma) indicate that the highlands remained stable throughout continental break-up, experiencing average erosion rates of less than 10 in Myr-1 since the late Palaeozoic/early Mesozoic

Duration of magmatic, hydrothermal, and supergene activity at Cerro Rico de Potosi, Bolivia

New high precision 40Ar/39Ar dating of sanidine and biotite from two rhyolitic domes and an ignimbrite, combined with existing fission-track data and a hydrothermal sericite age, suggests that the world-class Ag deposit at Cerro Rico was emplaced during a protracted period of magma-related hydrothermal activity beginning at 13.77 ± 0.03 Ma and continuing for at least 0.2 m.y. This may have been sustained by a large single injection or repeated injections of fractionated Ag-enriched magma into a high-level magma chamber. K-Ar dating of alunite indicates that supergene oxidation had begun by about 13.5 Ma, soon after dome emplacement, and progressed semicontinuously for at least 7.5 m.y. This oxidation, while not leading to significant enrichment, has significantly enhanced the economic viability of the disseminated part of the orebody

The East Australian, Tasmantid, and Lord Howe Volcanic Chains: Possible Mechanisms Behind a Trio of Hotspot Trails

The east Australian and Tasman Sea region is home to a unique example of intraplate volcanism: three long-lived, sub-parallel volcanic chains spaced only about 500 km apart. Here we present new 40Ar/39Ar results from the centre chain, the Tasmantid Seamounts, and show that the chain is strongly age-progressive, with an excellent correspondence to the age of the continental East Australian Volcanic Chain to the west and to the more limited ages available for the Lord Howe Seamount Chain to the east. Results from the Louisiade Plateau at the northern end of the Tasmantid chain suggest that it is composed of basalts of the correct age to be a large igneous province formed by the impact of the Tasmantid plume head reaching the lithosphere. This record of relative movement between the plate and the magma source over the last 55 Ma shows two clear deflections from the overall linear trend, one at 26-23 Ma, also observed in the continental chain and linked with the Ontong-Java Plateau jamming the South Melanesian subduction zone, and another at 50-43 Ma, beyond the end of the continental record and contemporaneous with the Hawaiian-Emperor bend. How does such a unique trio of volcanic chains form? The clear age progression, long lifespan, and tie to the Louisiade Plateau are classicindicators of deep-seated plumes, but it is difficult to explain how three separate plumes could remain stable for over 30 Ma when separated by little more than the radii of the plume conduits. Here we examine alternative possible explanations for this volcanic pattern, including small plumes rising from a single deep-seated plume pooling at the 660 km discontinuity, a single plume splitting around a subducting slab fragment, and small-scale convection triggered by topography on the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary

Resolving mantle and magmatic processes in basalts from the Cameroon volcanic line using the Re–Os isotope system

International audienceThis study presents major-, trace element and Re–Os isotope and elemental data for young alkaline basalts ( 20) possess 187Os/188Os isotope compositions between 0.14 and 0.18 (e.g., basalts from Mt Cameroon and Sao Tomé) which reflect the chemical characteristics that are more likely to be primary features of CVL, and are close to the value of 0.153 attributed to the HIMU end-member (Tubuai–Mangaia). However, most of the lavas from the continental sector show highly radiogenic initial 187Os/188Os ratios (0.36 to 0.56) that are outside the range previously observed for ocean island basalts, with shifts to radiogenic Os isotope compositions accompanied by less radiogenic 206Pb/204Pb and increasing SiO2 contents. The increase in 187Os/188Os is also associated with the decrease of Os, Ni, MgO and phenocryst abundances. These data can be explained by fractional crystallisation and assimilation of continental crust by the ascending magma.The systematic shift to unradiogenic lead isotope compositions from the COB into the oceanic sector is positively correlated with variations in 187Os/188Os isotope composition (from 0.140 to 0.128). At first sight this covariation might be attributed to the mixing of HIMU material with the ambient upper mantle (DMM). However, there is a clear covariation of the Os isotope and elemental composition, best explained with contamination of the oceanic basalts by the physical entrainment of xenoliths and xenocrysts of mantle origin. Overall, these results indicate that Os in CVL basalts is highly susceptible to contamination from both oceanic and continental lithospheres, under these circumstances covariations with other isotopes and elements must be interpreted with caution

Uturuncu volcano, Bolivia: Volcanic unrest due to mid-crustal magma intrusion

Uturuncu volcano, SW Bolivia, is a dormant stratovolcano (similar to 85 km(3)) dominated by dacitic lava domes and flows. Ar-39/Ar-40 ages show that the volcano was active between 890 ka and 271 ka, with the lavas becoming younger and less extensive at higher elevations. There are current signs of unrest. Between 1992 and 2006 geodetic satellite measurements record an ongoing 70 kin deformation field with a central uplift rate of I to 2 cm/yr. Deformation indicates volume changes of 400 x 108 m(3) over 14 years, an average of similar to 1 m(3)/s (10(-2) km(3)/yr). The deformation is attributed to magma intrusion into the Altiplano-Puna regional crustal magma body. Deformation models indicate a source at depths of 17 to 30 kin beneath current local relief. In a reconnaissance survey, persistent seismic activity (mean of 2.6 earthquakes per hour with a maximum of 14 per hour) was recorded at about 4 kin depth below the center of the uplift, 4 km SW of the volcano's summit. The seismic events have a normal b value (similar to 1.04) and activity is attributed to brittle deformation in the elastic crust above the active deep magma intrusion. The porphyritic dacite lavas (64-68% SiO2) have a plagioclase-orthopyroxene-biotite-magnetite-ilmenite assemblage and commonly contain juvenile silicic andesite inclusions, cognate norite nodules and crustal xenoliths. Temperature estimates are in the range 805 to 872 degrees C for the dacites and about 980 degrees C for the silicic andesites. The dacite magmas formed by fractional crystallization of andesite forming norite cumulates and involving partial melting of crust. Compositions and zoning patterns of orthopyroxene and plagioclase phenocrysts indicate that compositional variation in the dacites is caused by magma mixing with the silicic andesite. Reversely zoned orthopyroxene phenocrysts in the andesitic end-member are explained by changing oxidation states during crystallization. Fe3+ /Fe2+ ratios from orthopyroxene crystals and Fe3+ in plagioclase provide evidence for a relatively reduced melt that subsequently ascended, degassed and became more oxidized as a consequence of degassing. The geophysical and petrological observations suggest that dacite magma is being intruded into the Altiplano-Puna regional crustal magma body at 17 kin or more depth, consistent with deformation models. In the Late Pleistocene dacitic and andesitic magmas ascended from the regional crustal magma body to a shallow magma system at a few kilometers depth where they crystallized and mingled together. The current unrest, together with geophysical anomalies and 270 ka of dormancy, indicate that the magmatic system is in a prolonged period of intrusion. Such circumstances might eventually lead to eruption of large volumes of intruded magma with potential for caldera formation

The Lifecycle of Caldera-Forming Volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift: Insights from Aluto Volcano

The silicic peralkaline volcanoes of the East African Rift are some of the least studied and yet potentially most dangerous volcanoes in the world. We present the first detailed account of the eruptive history of Aluto, a restless silicic volcano located in the Main Ethiopian Rift, using newconstraints from fieldwork, remote sensing, 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and geochemistry. Prior to the growth of the Aluto volcanic complex (before 500 ka) the region was characterized by a significant period of fault development and mafic fissure eruptions. The earliest volcanism at Aluto built up a trachytic complex over 8 km in diameter. Aluto then underwent large-volume ignimbrite eruptions at ca. 300 ka developing a ~42 km2 collapse structure. After a hiatus of ~250 kyr, a phase of post-caldera volcanism began.Since ca. 60 ka, highly-evolved peralkaline rhyolite lavas, ignimbrites and pumice fall deposits have erupted from vents across the complex. The age of the youngest volcanism is not well known. Geochemical modelling is consistent with rhyolite genesis from protracted fractionation (>80 %) of typical rift basalt. Based on the field stratigraphy and the number, style and volume of recent eruptions we suggest that silicic eruptions occur at an average rate of 1 per 1000 years, and that future eruptions of Aluto will involve explosive emplacement oflocalised pumice cones and effusive obsidian coulees of volumes between 1100 106 m3. Comparisons with other caldera volcanoes in this section of the rift suggest that there may be parallels between Alutos behaviour and that of other volcanic centres, both in terms of the volcanic lifecycle, and broad timings of caldera collapse events

The Lifecycle of Caldera-Forming Volcanoes in the Main Ethiopian Rift: Insights from Aluto Volcano

The silicic peralkaline volcanoes of the East African Rift are some of the least studied and yet potentially most dangerous volcanoes in the world. We present the first detailed account of the eruptive history of Aluto, a restless silicic volcano located in the Main Ethiopian Rift, using newconstraints from fieldwork, remote sensing, 40Ar/39Ar geochronology and geochemistry. Prior to the growth of the Aluto volcanic complex (before 500 ka) the region was characterized by a significant period of fault development and mafic fissure eruptions. The earliest volcanism at Aluto built up a trachytic complex over 8 km in diameter. Aluto then underwent large-volume ignimbrite eruptions at ca. 300 ka developing a ~42 km2 collapse structure. After a hiatus of ~250 kyr, a phase of post-caldera volcanism began.Since ca. 60 ka, highly-evolved peralkaline rhyolite lavas, ignimbrites and pumice fall deposits have erupted from vents across the complex. The age of the youngest volcanism is not well known. Geochemical modelling is consistent with rhyolite genesis from protracted fractionation (>80 %) of typical rift basalt. Based on the field stratigraphy and the number, style and volume of recent eruptions we suggest that silicic eruptions occur at an average rate of 1 per 1000 years, and that future eruptions of Aluto will involve explosive emplacement oflocalised pumice cones and effusive obsidian coulees of volumes between 1100 106 m3. Comparisons with other caldera volcanoes in this section of the rift suggest that there may be parallels between Alutos behaviour and that of other volcanic centres, both in terms of the volcanic lifecycle, and broad timings of caldera collapse events

Formation and transformation of mixed-layer minerals by tertiary intrusives in cretaceous mudstones, West Greenland

In the Nuussuaq Basin, West Greenland, a thick succession of Tertiary dolerites has penetrated Upper Cretaceous mudstone. The mixed-layer minerals of mudstone core samples have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, solid-state 29Si and 27Al magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopies, thermal analysis, chemical analysis, stable isotopes (18O/16O), and K/Ar dating. The mixed-layer minerals include for each sample two mixed-layer phases consisting of pyrophyllite, margarite, paragonite, tobelite, illite, smectite and vermiculite layers. The main, 80 m thick intrusion resulted in the formation of pyrophyllite, margarite, paragonite and tobelite layers. However, the tobelite layers are absent in samples <21 m from this intrusion. Furthermore, chlorite was formed and kaolinite destroyed in samples adjacent to minor intrusions and at distances <60 m from the large intrusion. For the first time, the detailed, complex mixed-layer structures formed during contact metamorphism of kaolinitic, oil-forming mudstones have been investigated accurately. The formation of tobelite layers reveals that oil formation has taken place during contact metamorphism. Furthermore, K/Ar dating of mixed-layer minerals from shale indicates that the intrusives are of early Eocene age. The 80 m thick intrusive is responsible for the main mixed-layer transformations, whereas two thin (3 m and 0.5 m thick) intrusions contribute little. Thus, the detailed mixed-layer investigation has contributed significantly to the understanding of the regional geology and the contact metamorphic processes