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The Eastern part of the Miocene Zărand extensional basin witnessed the generation and evolution of the largest composite volcano in Apuseni Mts., named recently Bontău. The volcano is filling the basin at the junction between the South and North Apuseni Mountains. The Bontău Volcano is known to be active roughly between ~14–10. In spite of heavily forested and poorly exposed volcanic deposits, it was possible to identify its complex evolution. The volcano suggests an original oval-shaped edifice base currently showing a north-oriented horseshoe-shaped debris avalanche eroded crater. The early effusive volcanic activity was contemporaneous with the emplacement of individual and/or clustered volcanic lava Domes. Late-stage summit dome generation was followed by several volcanic collapses all around the volcanic edifice producing large volcanic debris avalanche deposits (DADs), accompanied by numerous debris flows all around the volcano periphery. Thick pumice pyroclastic flow deposits found below DADs at the periphery may suggest that the slope failures were proceeded by a Plinian eruption. The debris avalanche crater is the last event in the volcano evolution exposing several intrusive andesitic-dioritic bodies and associated hydrothermal and mineralization processes, most probably including the former central vent area of the volcano. The volcano proximal effusive and explosive deposits display a change in the composition of the erupting magma (increased SiO2 from 53.4% to 60.6%) that resulted in an increase of viscosity and the construction of the summit lava domes. Such domes are however only found as various size blocks in DADs. The volcanism connects with the two steps of geotectonic evolution of the Zărand Basin: The initial construction period during regional extension started ~16 Ma up to 12.3–12.1 when the Bontău volcano and surrounding domes were generated. The second period, younger than 12 Ma, corresponds to NW-SE compressional tectonics developed only in the Bontău volcano with summit dome generation and, finally, assists volcano destruction and DADs generation. Newly performed geochemical and Sr and Nd isotopic data studies attest to a calc-alkaline character and suggest an evolution via assimilation-fractional crystallization processes of a dominant MORB-like mantle source magma. Also, they confirm the amphibole (± pyroxene) andesites to be the most evolved lithology. The stepwise changes in fracture propagation in the Zărand extensional setting along with a change to more hydrated and fractionated magma favored in ~4 Myrs of the evolution of the Bontău volcano lead to multiple pulses of the longest-lived magma chamber in the whole Miocene volcanism of the Apuseni Mts.

<p><span><span>In poorly-exposed forest-covered volcanic areas, the main challenge in classical geological and geomorphological studies is the interpretations of landforms and volcanic structures. The usage of 3D models provides modern opportunities in visualization of volcanic landforms in volcanological studies in areas with dense vegetation cover</span></span><span><span>. </span></span></p><p><span><span>Geological mapping of the Neogene Călimani-Gurghiu-Harghita (CGH) volcanic chain is challenging due poor exposure of area. The Călimani-Gurghiu-Harghita volcanic chain exhibits ~10 My age range spanning from North (> 10 Ma) to South (< 0.03 Ma) linked to the evolution of the adjacent intra-mountain sedimentary basins (</span></span><span>Bilbor, Borsec, Gheorgheni, Upper Ciuc, Lower Ciuc, Brașov </span><span><span>and </span></span><span>Baraolt </span><span><span>basins</span></span><span>)</span><span><span>. The geomorphological analysis of the CGH volcanic chain is currently performed using SRTM data. However, the SRTM data are affected by the vegetation cover. Instead, we used a digital elevation models (DEM) built from topographic maps in combinations with volcanological field observations.</span></span></p><p><span>Our method uses a DEM 3D spatial view with overlay standard geological maps, shaded relief complemented with terrain analysis and landform recognition. Then, the study integrates field-based observations and geomorphological mapping results in a new general overview of the complex volcanic topography of the CGH volcanic chain. </span></p><p><span><span>Using </span></span><span><span>digital</span></span><span><span> elevation models (DEM) allows the general identification of volcanic facies distribution (proximal, medial and distal) belonging to </span></span><span><span>an individual</span></span><span><span> volcanic structures as well as the regional assemblages of the whole volcanic chain. DEM studies also permit to reconstruct the erosion level of volcanic edifices in conjunctions with field-based volcanological studies. This approach may also help identifying volcanological formations and various types of volcanic facies resulting from both construction and destructions of the edifices in poorly exposed areas.</span></span></p><p><span><span>By using this methodology a broad range of volcanic morphological features have been observed along the CGH volcanic range including the </span></span><span>Călimani</span><span><span> caldera morphology, features of the old and young debris avalanche deposits of various volcanic edifices and the youngest lava-dome morphology of </span></span><span>Ciomadul</span><span><span> volcano. Our DEM approach provides better results than those obtained by previous studies pointing out, for instance, that the volcanic edifices are highly to moderately eroded in the north and progressively better preserved toward the south. </span></span></p><p><span>Acknowledgements. The research was funded through CNCS – UEFISCDI, project number PN-III-P4-ID-PCCF-2016-4-0014, within PNCDI III.</span></p>