New evidence about the subduction of the Copiap\uf2 ridge beneath South America, and its connection with the Chilean-Pampean flat slab, tracked by satellite GOCE and EGM2008 models

Satellite-only gravity measurements and those integrated with terrestrial observations provide global gravity field models of unprecedented precision and spatial resolution, which allow analyzing lithospheric structure allowing the analysis of the lithospheric structure. We used the model EGM2008 (Earth Gravitational Model) to calculate the gravity anomaly and the vertical gravity gradient in the South Central Andes region, correcting these quantities by the topographic effect. Both quantities show a spatial relationship between the projected subduction of the Copiap\uf3 aseismic ridge (located at 33 about 27\uba 30\u2019 S), its potential deformational effects in the overriding plate, and the Ojos del Salado-San Buenaventura volcanic lineament. This volcanic lineament constitutes a projection of the volcanic arc towards the retroarc zone, whose origin and development were not clearly understood. The analysis of the gravity anomalies, at the extrapolated zone of the Copiap\uf3 ridge beneath the continent, shows a change in the general NNE38 trend of the Andean structures to an ENE-direction coincident with the area of the Ojos del Salado-San Buenaventura volcanic lineament. This anomalous pattern over the upper plate is interpreted to be linked with the subduction of the Copiap\uf3 ridge. We explore the relation between deformational effects and volcanism at the northern Chilean-Pampean flat slab and the collision of the Copiap\uf3 ridge, on the basis of the Moho geometry and elastic thicknesses calculated from the new satellite GOCE data. Neotectonic deformations interpreted in previous works associated with volcanic eruptions along the Ojos del Salado-San Buenaventura volcanic lineament is interpreted as caused by crustal doming, imprinted by the subduction of the Copiap\uf3 ridge, evidenced by crustal thickening at the sites of ridge inception along the trench. Finally, we propose that the Copiap\uf3 ridge could have controlled the northern edge of the Chilean-Pampean flat slab, due to higher buoyancy, similarly to the control that the Juan Fernandez ridge exerts in the geometry of the flat slab further south

Forecasting volcanic ash dispersal and coeval resuspension during the April-May 2015 Calbuco eruption

Atmospheric dispersion of volcanic ash from explosive eruptions or from subsequent fallout deposit resuspension causes a range of impacts and disruptions on human activities and ecosystems. The April-May 2015 Calbuco eruption in Chile involved eruption and resuspension activities. We overview the chronology, effects, and products resulting from these events, in order to validate an operational forecast strategy for tephra dispersal. The modelling strategy builds on coupling the meteorological Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF/ARW) model with the FALL3D dispersal model for eruptive and resuspension processes. The eruption modelling considers two distinct particle granulometries, a preliminary first guess distribution used operationally when no field data was available yet, and a refined distribution based on field measurements. Volcanological inputs were inferred from eruption reports and results from an Argentina-Chilean ash sample data network, which performed in-situ sampling during the eruption. In order to validate the modelling strategy, results were compared with satellite retrievals and ground deposit measurements. Results indicate that the WRF-FALL3D modelling system can provide reasonable forecasts in both eruption and resuspension modes, particularly when the adjusted granulometry is considered. The study also highlights the importance of having dedicated datasets of active volcanoes furnishing first-guess model inputs during the early stages of an eruption.Fil: Reckziegel, Florencia Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Bustos, Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Leonardo, Mingari. Ministerio de Defensa. Secretaria de Planeamiento. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Walter Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Villarosa, Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Folch Duran, Arnau. Barcelona Supercomputing Center - Centro Nacional de Supercomputacion; EspañaFil: Collini, E.. Ministerio de Defensa. Secretaria de Planeamiento. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval; ArgentinaFil: Viramonte, Jose German. Universidad Nacional de Salta; ArgentinaFil: Romero, J.. Centro de Investigación y Difusión de Volcanes de Chile; Chile. Universidad de Atacama; ChileFil: Osores, María Soledad. Comision Nacional de Actividades Espaciales; Argentina. Ministerio de Defensa. Secretaria de Planeamiento. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Multi-banded pumice in the Campo de la Piedra Pómez rhyolitic ignimbrite (Southern Puna plateau): Pre-eruptive physical and chemical interactions between mafic and rhyolitic melts

The rhyolitic Campo de la Piedra Pómez ignimbrite crops out in the Southern Puna of NW Argentina and it isrelated to the youngest caldera-complex (Cerro Blanco caldera complex) of the Central Andes (73 - 4 kyr). Thepresence of rhyolitic pumice and mafic enclaves with different compositional and textural features, whichvariability can be observed within a single juvenile clast (multiple-banded pumice), characterized these deposits.The enclaves are associated with hybrid (trachydacitic) pumice and sporadic remnants of rhyolitic materialincluded in the trachydacite. To unravel the possible role of the mafic recharge as eruption trigger, the occurrenceof mixing events and the mechanisms of enclave formation, we studied the enclaves and silicic pumicematerial (petrography, whole rock analyses, mineral and glass chemistry) to decipher the magmatic interactionbetween the host rhyolitic melt and the enclave-forming magmas. Results allowed recognizing two main maficrecharge events. During the first episode, the mixing of the rhyolite with the injecting magma generated sporadicdacitic products. Mixing was favored by the relatively high temperature of both the injecting magma and therhyolitic melt, as revealed by clinopyroxene-liquid, plagioclase-liquid and two-pyroxene geothermometers(≥875 °C). The second mafic recharge event involved magma that remained confined at the bottom of thereservoir and crystallized with differential cooling rates. At the interface with the silicic host, the magmagenerated sub-millimetric mineral assemblage in which amphibole has normally zoned rims. Differently, withinthe body of the mafic intrusion, crystallization proceeded with a lower undercooling degree, generating a coarsercrystalline assemblage in which amphibole crystals do not display zoning. The convergence of different thermobarometricmodels (applied to the rhyolite, trachydacite, and enclaves) suggests that these magmas interactedat a crustal depth of ca. 2.7 Kbar, here interpreted as the base of the Campo de la Piedra Pómez rhyoliticreservoir (~10 Km b.s.l.). A time lapse occurred between the last mafic recharge and the eruptive events, wherethe felsic magma cooled down to ~800 °C and the amphibole re-equilibration took place.Fil: Bardelli, Lorenzo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Arnosio, José Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Walter Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Suzaño, Nestor Omar. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Becchio, Raul Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Viramonte, Jose German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Bustos, Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Bertea, Esteban Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; Argentin

Preliminary conceptual model of the Cerro Blanco caldera-hosted geothermal system (Southern Puna, Argentina): Inferences from geochemical investigations.

The Cerro Blanco Caldera (CBC) is the youngest collapse caldera system in the Southern Central Andes (Southern Puna, Argentina). The CBC is subsiding with at an average velocity of 0.87 cm/year and hosts an active geothermal system. A geochemical characterization of emitted fluids was carried out based on the chemical and isotopic compositions of fumaroles, and thermal and cold springs discharged in this volcanic area with the aim of constructing the first hydrogeochemical conceptual model and preliminary estimate the geothermal potential. The main hydrothermal reservoir, likely hosted within the pre-caldera basement rocks, has a Na+-Clˉ(HCO3)ˉ composition with estimated temperatures ≥135 °C. The unconsolidated, fine-grained Cerro Blanco ignimbrite likely acts as the cap-rock of the hydrothermal system. The presence of phreatic eruption breccias in the surrounding area of the geothermal fumaroles supports the effectiveness of the pyroclastic deposit as sealing rocks. The isotopic data of water (δ18O and δD) indicate a meteoric recharge of the hydrothermal reservoir, suggesting as recharge areas the sectors surrounding the CBC, mainly towards the W and NW where large outcrops of the pre-caldera basement exist. A fault-controlled hydraulic connection between the hot springs and the hydrothermal reservoir is proposed for the Los Hornitos area. The fumaroles show the typical compositional features of hydrothermal fluids, being dominated by water vapor with significant concentrations of H2S, CH4 and H2. Considering the high geothermal gradient of this area (∼104 °C/km) and the relatively high fraction of mantle He (∼39%) calculated on the basis of the measured R/Ra values, the hydrothermal aquifer likely receives inputs of magmatic fluids from the degassing magma chamber. The preliminary geothermal potential at CBC was evaluated with the Volume Method, calculating up to E = 11.4*1018 J. Both the scarce presence of superficial thermal manifestations and the occurrence of an efficient cap-rock likely contribute to minimize the loss of thermal energy from the reservoir. The results here presented constitute the necessary base of knowledge for further accurate assessment of the geothermal potential and ultimately the implementation of the geothermal resource as a viable energy alternative for small localities or mining facilities isolated from the National Interconnected System due to their remote localization.Published1022136A. Geochimica per l'ambiente e geologia medicaJCR Journa

Eruptive styles related to the monogenetic mafic volcanism of Pasto Ventura region, southern Puna, Argentina

Uno de los rasgos más sobresalientes de la Puna Austral es el desarrollo de un volcanismo monogenético máfico durante el Neógeno-Cuaternario. Si bien existen numerosos trabajos que discuten la petrogénesis de este particular volcanismo de retroarco, los estudios enfocados en su volcanología física son escasos. En este sentido, este trabajo presenta una caracterización del volcanismo monogenético máfico de la región de Pasto Ventura, ubicada en el borde sudeste de la Puna Austral. Los resultados obtenidos indican que en la región de Pasto Ventura existe una baja densidad de centros eruptivos de pequeño volumen alineados con estructuras tectónicas regionales y una variabilidad significativa en los estilos eruptivos (efusivo, estromboliano, hawaiano, estromboliano violento y freatomagmático) y tipología de estructuras volcánicas (domos, conos de escoria, maares y anillos de tobas). La baja densidad de centros eruptivos se explica por un flujo limitado de magma desde la fuente profunda y la utilización de estructuras tectónicas, orientadas oblicuas a la dirección de compresión máxima, favorables para el ascenso de pequeños volúmenes de magma a través de la corteza superior. La variabilidad de estilos eruptivos responde a una interacción compleja de diferentes factores endógenos y exógenos. La ocurrencia de erupciones efusivas o explosivas depende de las diferencias en las velocidades de ascenso del magma, incluyendo períodos de estancamiento en la corteza superior, que a su vez controlan la eficiencia de la desgasificación y en última instancia la ocurrencia o no de fragmentación. Por otro lado, las condiciones climáticas locales más húmedas (~150 mm/año), que se relacionan con la posición geográfica de la región de Pasto Ventura en el borde oriental de la Puna, favorecen la ocurrencia de actividad freatomagmática, la que a su vez varía en función de la topografía, tipología del substrato y profundidad a la que ocurre la interacción agua-magma.One of the most outstanding features of the Southern Puna is the occurrence of a widespread monogenetic mafic volcanism during Neogene-Quaternary. Despite a number of published papers focusing on the petrogenesis of this back-arc volcanism, works aimed on its physical volcanology are scarce. This paper presents the characterization of the monogenetic mafic volcanism in the Pasto Ventura region, located in the southeast edge of the Southern Puna. The results show that in the Pasto Ventura region there is a low density of small-volume eruptive centers aligned with regional tectonic structures and a significant variability in eruptive styles (effusive, strombolian, hawaiian, violent strombolian and phreatomagmatic) and typology of volcanic structures (domes, scoria cones, maars and tuff rings). The first of these features is explained by a limited magma flow rate from the deep source and the use of favorable tectonic structures (oriented obliquely to the regional maximum compression direction) for the ascent of small volumes of magma through the upper crust. The variability of eruptive styles responds to the complex interaction of different endogenous and exogenous factors. The occurrence of effusive or explosive eruptions depends on the differences in magma ascent rates including periods of stagnation in the upper crust, which in turn control the efficiency of degassing and ultimately the occurrence of fragmentation. On the other hand, the more humid local climatic conditions (~150 mm/year), which are related to the geographical position of the Pasto Ventura region in the eastern edge of the Puna, favor the occurrence of phreatomagmatic activity. Phreatomagmatic activity also varies according to the topography, substrate typology and depth at which water-magma interaction occurs.Fil: Filipovich, Ruben Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Walter Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Bustos, Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Villagrán, Carla Agustina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Museo de Ciencias Naturales. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del NOA; ArgentinaFil: Chiodi, Agostina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Viramonte, Jose German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentin

The geological and structural evolution of the long-lived Miocene-Pleistocene La Hoyada Volcanic Complex in the geodynamic framework of the Central Andes, Argentina

The long-lived La Hoyada Volcanic Complex (LHVC) is located in the east of Cordillera de San Buenaventura in Argentina. This region is important for understanding of the geodynamic evolution of the Southern Puna, since it is located in its southern edge, where the transition between normal and low-angle subduction occurs. The aim of this work is to contribute to the knowledge of the volcanism of the Southern Puna through the analysis of the stratigraphy and geological evolution of LHVC. Fieldwork and image analysis have led to a new lithostratigraphic scheme, that identifies lithosomes and unconformity-bounded stratigraphic units defining the stratigraphic architecture of the LHVC. New 40Ar/39Ar ages further constrain the geological evolution of this complex. The resulting stratigraphic scheme combines the lithostratigraphic units into lithosomes and synthemic units, with the identification of at least six superimposed eruptive centers and their products during the LHVC evolution. A new stratigraphic framework for the eastern Cordillera de San Buenaventura, composed by four supersynthems separated by unconformities that reflect periods of quiescence of the volcanic activity, catastrophic destructive events and changes in the magmatic plumbing system, is proposed: 1) San Buenaventura supersynthem (ca. 9?7 Ma), including mainly explosive rhyolitic volcanism; 2) Lower La Hoyada supersynthem (ca. 7?<4.63 Ma), comprising andesitic-dacitic lava flows and domes characterized by a pervasive compressive tectonic deformation; 3) Upper La Hoyada supersynthem (4.63?1.37 Ma), mainly represented by arc-related, calc-alkaline, andesitic-dacitic effusive products and subordinated pyroclastic and epiclastic deposits; and 4) Purulla supersynthem (<1.37 Ma), which comprises volcanic products with bimodal composition related to a Pleistocene extensional volcanotectonic fault system. The application of unconformity-based stratigraphic units provides a powerful tool for understanding the volcanic evolution of eroded long-lived volcanic complexes, with an effective reconstruction of the temporal and spatial relationships among constructive and destructive phases of the volcano history, correlated with the regional volcanic, magmatic and tectonic evolution of the southern Puna.Fil: Bustos, Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Walter Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Norini, Gianluca. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Arnosio, José Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: de Silva, Shanaka. State University of Oregon; Estados Unido

Mapeo litológico de volcanes compuestos en el plateau de la Puna usando datos satelitales ópticos: caso de estudio volcán Tuzgle

Geological mapping of volcanic areas is important to unravel the evolution of the volcanism with important implication for the assessment of the geologic hazard and the exploration and exploitation of energy and mineral resources. Volcanic mapping in Puna plateau is a challenging task due to inaccessibility, extreme climatic conditions, high altitude above sea level and dangerous issues like minefields, so an effective and validated methodology for mapping isfundamental to ensure the quality of the final results for the end-users. A practical mapping methodology using optical imagery data tested in Cerro Tuzgle because of its well-known stratigraphy is presented. Some of the most common and well known processing techniques (false color combinations, band ratios and principal component analysis) were applied to multispectral data (Landsat 7, Landsat 8 and ASTER). Supervised classification and an assessment of the classification were produced for every image created. The quantitativeaccuracy of the classification maps resulting from different data sets was assessed by comparing the classification with ground truth data extracted from the geological map by means of a confusion matrix and related statistics. From the validation over several processing techniques, we found that supervised classification over PCA in multispectral data was the best methodologyfor lithological mapping in volcanic areas. Comparing the three multispectral sensors used in this work, we achieve better results and more accuracy with ASTER images. Low costs, data availability and broad swath of the multispectral data make these images valuable for lithological mapping in arid volcanic regions. This time- and cost-effective methodology is adequate tocomposite volcano preliminary mapping, but the correct reconstruction of the stratigraphy of a volcano always requires field survey.Fil: Bustos, Emilce. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Baez, Walter Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Norini, Gianluca. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Chiodi, Agostina Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; ArgentinaFil: Groppelli, Gianluca. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Arnosio, José Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Departamento de Física. Instituto de Investigaciones en Energía no Convencional; Argentin