Quaternary sector collapses of Nevado de Toluca volcano (Mexico) governed by regional tectonics and volcanic evolution

Nevado de Toluca volcano is an andesiticdacitic composite volcano of Late Pliocene-Holocene age located in the central-eastern sector of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, an active continental arc. The latest stage of Nevado de Toluca evolution, in the past 50 k.y., has shown an interplay between volcanic activity and kinematics of the basement structures. Geological mapping, stratigraphic analysis, morphological and structural interpretation, and analogue modeling were used to investigate these complex volcano-tectonics relationships. In the past 50 k.y., Nevado de Toluca volcano underwent at least three sector collapses on the east, east-southeast, and west flanks because of faulting and destabilization of young dacitic domes at its summit. Field and remotely sensed data supported by analogue models of transtensive basement tectonics revealed that these catastrophic events were strongly correlated to the presence of the east-west-striking active Tenango fault system. The geometry, kinematics, and dynamics of the basement structure controlled the growth of a dome complex in the volcano summit and its destabilization. As a consequence of the active basement tectonics, the most probable sector collapse directions in the case of future gravitational failures of the volcano summit will be east-southeast, west-northwest, east, and west. Nevado de Toluca poses potential hazards to more than 25 million inhabitants; the analysis presented in this paper can improve hazard mitigation on the basis of better knowledge of growth and collapse mechanism of the volcano. The numerous examples of composite volcanoes in continental and island volcanic arcs with similar structural-volcanological characteristics of Nevado de Toluca volcano imply that the model results can also act as a guide to study the growth and collapse of other composite volcanoes affected by basement structures. © 2007 Geological Society of America

Volcano monitoring from space using high-cadence planet CubeSat images applied to Fuego Volcano, Guatemala

Fuego volcano (Guatemala) is one of the most active and hazardous volcanoes in the world. Its persistent activity generates lava flows, pyroclastic density currents (PDCs), and lahars that threaten the surrounding areas and produce frequent morphological change. Fuego’s eruption deposits are often rapidly eroded or remobilized by heavy rains and its constant activity and inaccessible terrain makes ground-based assessment of recent eruptive deposits very challenging. Earth-orbiting satellites can provide unique observations of volcanoes during eruptive activity, when ground-based techniques may be too hazardous, and also during inter-eruptive phases, but have typically been hindered by relatively low spatial and temporal resolution. Here, we use a new source of Earth observation data for volcano monitoring: high resolution (~3 m pixel size) images acquired from a constellation of over 150 CubeSats (‘Doves’) operated by Planet Labs Inc. The Planet Labs constellation provides high spatial resolution at high cadence (\u3c1–72 h), permitting space-based tracking of volcanic activity with unprecedented detail. We show how PlanetScope images collected before, during, and after an eruption can be applied for mapping ash clouds, PDCs, lava flows, or the analysis of morphological change. We assess the utility of the PlanetScope data as a tool for volcano monitoring and rapid deposit mapping that could assist volcanic hazard mitigation efforts in Guatemala and other active volcanic regions

Analysing stress field conditions of the Colima Volcanic Complex (Mexico) by integrating finite-element modelling (FEM) simulations and geological data

In recent decades, finite-element modelling (FEM) has become a very popular tool in volcanological studies and has even been used to describe complex system geometries by accounting for multiple reservoirs, topography, and het- erogeneous distribution of host rock mechanical properties. In spite of this, the influence of geological information on numerical simulations is still poorly considered. In this work, 2D FEM of the Colima Volcanic Complex (Mexico) is pro- vided by using the Linear Static Analysis (LISA) software in order to investigate the stress field conditions with increas- ingly detailed geological data. By integrating the published geophysical, volcanological, and petrological data, we mod- elled the stress field considering either one or two magma chambers connected to the surface via dykes or isolated (not connected) in the elastic host rocks (considered homoge- neous and non-homogeneous). We also introduced tectonic disturbance, considering the effects of direct faults bordering the Colima Rift and imposing an extensional far-field stress of 5 MPa. We ran the model using the gravity in calculations. Our results suggest that an appropriate set of geological data is of pivotal importance for obtaining reliable numerical out- puts, which can be considered a proxy for natural systems. Beside and beyond the importance of geological data in FEM simulations, the model runs using the complex feeding system geometry and tectonics show how the present-day Col- ima volcanic system can be considered in equilibrium from a stress state point of view, in agreement with the long-lasting open conduit dynamics that have lasted since 1913

Geological map of the Tocomar Basin (Puna Plateau, NW Argentina): Implication for the geothermal system investigation

This paper presents a detailed geological map at the 1:20,000 scale of the Tocomar basin in the Central Puna (north-western Argentina), which extends over an area of about 80 km2 and displays the spatial distribution of the Quaternary deposits and the structures that cover the Ordovician basement and the Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic units. The new dataset includes litho-facies descriptions, stratigraphic and structural data and new 234U/230Th ages for travertine rocks. The new reconstructed stratigraphic framework, along with the structural analysis, has revealed the complex evolution of a small extensional basin including a period of prolonged volcanic activity with different eruptive centres and styles. The geological map improves the knowledge of the geology of the Tocomar basin and the local interplay between orogen-parallel thrusts and orogen-oblique fault systems. This contribution represents a fundamental support for in depth research and also for encouraging geothermal exploration and exploitation in the Puna Plateau regionFil: Filipovich, Ruben Eduardo. 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: Groppelli, Gianluca. CNR Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; ItaliaFil: Ahumada, Maria Florencia. 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: Aldega, Luca. Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: 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: Berardi, Gabriele. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: Bigi, Sabina. Università degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"; ItaliaFil: Caricchi. Chiara. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia; ItaliaFil: Chiodi, Agostina Laura. 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: Corrado, Sveva. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: De Astis, Gianfilippo. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia; ItaliaFil: De Benedetti, Arnaldo Angelo. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: Invernizzi, Chiara. Universita Degli Di Camerino; ItaliaFil: Norini, Gianluca. CNR Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; ItaliaFil: Soligo, Michele. Università Roma Tre III; ItaliaFil: Taviani, Sara. University of Milano-Bicocca; ItaliaFil: 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: Giordano, Guido. CNR Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria; Italia. Università Roma Tre III; Itali

Volcanic Stratigraphy - State of the art

The volcanic stratigraphy is a fundament subject of field studies in volcanic areas because it can furnish basic and fundamental data for further and more detailed studies. Nowadays, the volcanologists are discussing the recent application of volcanic stratigraphy to map volcanoes, applying lithostratigraphy and other stratigraphic units, as synthemic units. This application represents a key point because the geological map should be the base for any detailed volcanological research and should represent the warehouse where to store in an objective way the past eruptions and the inter-eruptive phenomena. The volcanic stratigraphy and the stratigraphic mapping methodology provide significant data and constraints for volcanic hazard assessment, volcanological features, physical volcanology, petrographic, geochemical and petrological studies, and geophysical models.Peer Reviewe

Geological evolution of a complex basaltic stratovolcano: Mount Etna, Italy

An updated geological evolution model is presented for the composite basaltic stratovolcano of Mount Etna. It was developed on the basis of the stratigraphic setting proposed in the new geological map that was constrained by 40Ar/39Ar age determinations. Unconformity-bounded stratigraphy allows highlighting four main evolutionary phases of eruptive activity in the Etna region. The Basal Tholeiitic Supersynthem corresponds to a period, from about 500 to 330 ka, of scattered fissure-type eruptions occurring initially in the foredeep basin and then in a subaerial environment. From about 220 ka, an increase in the eruptive activity built a lava-shield during the Timpe Supersynthem. The central-type activity occurred at least 110 ka ago through the Valle del Bove Supersynthem. The earliest volcanic centres recognized are Tarderia, Rocche and Trifoglietto and later Monte Cerasa, Giannicola, Salifizio and Cuvigghiuni. During the Stratovolcano Supersynthem, from about 57 ka ago, the intense eruptive activity of Ellittico volcano formed a roughly 3600 m-high stratocone that expanded laterally, filling the Alcantara and Simeto paleovalleys. Finally, effusive activity of the last 15 ka built the Mongibello volcano. Its eruptive activity is mainly concentrated in three weakness zones in which the recurrent magma intrusion generates flank eruptions down to low altitude. The four main evolutionary phases may furnish constraints to future models on the origin of Etna volcano and help unravel the geodynamic puzzle of eastern Sicily

Geological data in volcanology: Collection, organisation and applications

This special issue aims to highlight and strengthen the role of geology in modern volcanology, which has grown turbulently in recent years, especially in the field of numerical modelling. Indeed, volcanology is today a modern, inter- and multi-disciplinary science, which qualitatively and quantitatively describe long and short term volcanic processes, their hazards and impacts on society and the environment. At the same time, the rapid increase of mathematical and computational modelling tools has reduced the perceived value of geology, despite it remains the unavoidable witness of past volcanic processes, and against which any model and theory has to face with. To promote the importance of volcano geology a commission of IAVCEI was recently (2015) established, and named IAVCEI Commission on Volcano Geology (VGC). The VCG supports the organisation of workshops, field trips, and scientific sessions at the major international conferences, promotes widely applicable guidelines for field geological mapping, as well as stimulates discussions and exchange of information among researchers on topics related to field data collection and organisation in volcanology. For these reasons this issue is under the aegis of the VGC

Deep-Water Accumulation of Volcaniclastic Detritus from a Petrographic Point of View: Beginning a Discussion from the Alpine Peripheral Basins

The interpretation of eruptive mechanisms accumulating ancient submarine volcaniclastic sequences is still extremely challenging, particularly when no spatial nor temporal constraints are identifiable. The present work reviews petrographic results gained during the last few decades on three different Paleogene Formations accumulated around the Alpine and Apennine Mountain belts, discussing how their detritus could have been formed and moved from the volcanic centers to the depo-centers, taking into account the volcanic mechanisms which are at the base of the production, transportation and accumulation of volcaniclastic detritus. In doing this, we reconsider the classical diagrams of Folk and Gazzi–Dickinson, rediscussing their significance on the basis of how orogenic volcanism delivers detritus to the environment. In addition, this work highlights the need of the scientific community for gaining new petrographic data on modern sedimentary systems to better constrain interpretative criteria for the petrographic study of ancient volcano–sedimentary sequences

Volcanism and Volcanogenic Submarine Sedimentation in the Paleogene Foreland Basins of the Alps: Reassessing the Source-to-Sink Systems with an Actualist View

This work critically reviews the Eocene–Oligocene source-to-sink systems accumulating volcanogenic sequences in the basins around the Alps. Through the years, these volcanogenic sequences have been correlated to the plutonic bodies along the Periadriatic Fault System, the main tectonic lineament running from West to East within the axis of the belt. Starting from the large amounts of data present in literature, for the first time we present an integrated 4D model on the evolution of the sediment pathways that once connected the magmatic sources to the basins. The magmatic systems started to develop during the Eocene in the Alps, supplying detritus to the Adriatic Foredeep. The progradation of volcanogenic sequences in the Northern Alpine Foreland Basin is subsequent and probably was favoured by the migration of the magmatic systems to the North and to the West. At around 30 Ma, the Northern Apennine Foredeep also was fed by large volcanogenic inputs, but the palinspastic reconstruction of the Adriatic Foredeep, together with stratigraphic and petrographic data, allows us to safely exclude the Alps as volcanogenic sources. Beyond the regional case, this review underlines the importance of a solid stratigraphic approach in the reconstruction of the source-to-sink system evolution of any basin