Highly vesicular pumice generated by buoyant detachment of magma in subaqueous volcanism

Rotella, M. D.; Wilson, C. J. N.; Barker, Simon J.; Wright, I. C.

doi:10.1038/ngeo1709

Cited by 42 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Rotella et al . [] proposed that lava balloons may occur across a range of compositions up to rhyolite, and proposed that they result from an eruptive style (Tangaroan) that is unique to submarine volcanism and falls between effusive and explosive styles. Notably, lava balloons were not erupted during the most explosive phases of the El Hierro event, nor during effusive phases, as demonstrated by our hydroacoustic images in November and December (Figures and ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Today and through most of geological history, the greatest number and volume of volcanic eruptions on Earth have occurred underwater along mid‐ocean ridges, near subduction zones, on oceanic plateaus, and on thousands of intraplate seamounts [ Rubin et al ., ]. However, in comparison to their subaerial equivalents, little is known about submarine eruptive processes as they are inherently difficult to observe or sample in detail, especially during explosive phases [ Arculus , ; Rotella et al ., ]. Most interpretations of underwater eruptions have been based on post‐eruptive deposits sampled by dredging the seafloor [e.g., Somoza et al ., ; Barker et al ., ; Conte et al ., ], through remotely operated vehicle (ROV) observations of volcanic features and direct sampling [e.g., Binard et al ., ; Fouquet et al ., ; Stern et al ., ; Schipper et al ., , , ; Murtagh and White , ] or from field studies of uplifted ancient deposits now exposed on land [e.g., Allen and McPhie , ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Supporting Information: Supporting Information S1 Table S1 Table S2 Correspondence to: L. Somoza, l.somoza@igme.es is known about submarine eruptive processes as they are inherently difficult to observe or sample in detail, especially during explosive phases [Arculus, 2011;Rotella et al, 2013]. Most interpretations of underwater eruptions have been based on post-eruptive deposits sampled by dredging the seafloor [e.g., Somoza et al, 2004;Barker et al, 2012;Conte et al, 2014], through remotely operated vehicle (ROV) observations of volcanic features and direct sampling [e.g., Binard et al, 1992;Fouquet et al, 1998;Stern et al, 2008;Schipper et al, 2010aSchipper et al, , 2010bSchipper et al, , 2011Murtagh and White, 2013] or from field studies of uplifted ancient deposits now exposed on land [e.g., Allen and McPhie, 2009].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution of submarine eruptive activity during the 2011–2012 El Hierro event as documented by hydroacoustic images and remotely operated vehicle observations

Somoza

González

Barker

et al. 2017

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Submarine volcanic eruptions are frequent and important events, yet they are rarely observed.Here we relate bathymetric and hydroacoustic images from the 2011 to 2012 El Hierro eruption with surface observations and deposits imaged and sampled by ROV. As a result of the shallow submarine eruption, a new volcano named Tagoro grew from 375 to 89 m depth. The eruption consisted of two main phases of edifice construction intercalated with collapse events. Hydroacoustic images show that the eruptions ranged from explosive to effusive with variable plume types and resulting deposits, even over short time intervals. At the base of the edifice, ROV observations show large accumulations of lava balloons changing in size and type downslope, coinciding with the area where floating lava balloon fallout was observed. Peaks in eruption intensity during explosive phases generated vigorous bubbling at the surface, extensive ash, vesicular lapilli and formed high-density currents, which together with periods of edifice gravitational collapse, produced extensive deep volcaniclastic aprons. Secondary cones developed in the last stages and show evidence for effusive activity with lava ponds and lava flows that cover deposits of stacked lava balloons. Chaotic masses of heterometric boulders around the summit of the principal cone are related to progressive sealing of the vent with decreasing or variable magma supply. Hornitos represent the final eruptive activity with hydrothermal alteration and bacterial mats at the summit. Our study documents the distinct evolution of a submarine volcano and highlights the range of deposit types that may form and be rapidly destroyed in such eruptions.Plain Language Summary Today and through most of geological history, the greatest number and volume of volcanic eruptions on Earth have occurred underwater. However, in comparison to subaerial eruption, little is known about submarine eruptive processes as they are dangerous to cruise it over, especially during explosive phases. This work shows the results of a study carried out during the eruption of the submarine volcano occurred during 2011-2012 1 km offshore El Hierro Island, Canary Islands, Spain. The submarine volcano emitted periodically large bubbles of gas, ashes, and giant steamed lava balloons that floated in the sea surface before sinking. These products identified later after the eruption using a submersible vehicle forming huge accumulations of lava balloons on the seafloor. More quiet periods erupted toothpaste lava from secondary cones which formed stalactite-like formations. Massive accumulation of blocks on the summit evidence intermittent violent explosions occurred when the cooling of lava progressively close the vent accumulating gas that finally exploded. The final stage of this submarine eruption consisted in the formation of chimneys by liquid-like lavas mixed with hydrothermal fluids forming 5-10 m tall ''hornitos'' structures at the summit of the volcano at 89 m depth but without emerging as it was expected.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution of submarine eruptive activity during the 2011–2012 El Hierro event as documented by hydroacoustic images and remotely operated vehicle observations

Somoza

González

Barker

et al. 2017

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…For subaqueous eruptions, there are further influences from the thermal, hydrostatic, 63 viscous and phase-specific properties of water and their influences on fragmentation and 64 dispersal (White et al, 2003). Subaqueous eruptions that produce highly vesicular silicic 65 glass (pumice), are apparently common (Fiske, 1969;Kato, 1987;Kano et al, 1996; Allen 66 Von Lichtan et al 2016_2_28 3 of 37 and McPhie, 2000;Kano, 2003;Raos and McPhie, 2003; Bryan et al, 2004; Allen et al, 67 2008; Cantner et al, 2013;Rotella et al 2013Rotella et al , 2014Carey et al, 2014), and produce 68 extensive pumice-rich aprons around submarine explosive calderas (Nishimura et al, 1991; 69 Fiske et al, 2001; Wright et al, 2003). Rapid quenching of hot, magmatic steam- (Allen et 70 al., 2008) or air-charged (Whitham and Sparks, 1986) pumice accelerates water ingestion and 71 attainment of negative buoyancy, resulting in rapid fall-out from subaqueous eruption 72 plumes as eruption-fed density currents (Cashman and Fiske, 1991; White, 2000).…”

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confidence: 99%

Giant rafted pumice blocks from the most recent eruption of Taupo volcano, New Zealand: Insights from palaeomagnetic and textural data

Lichtan

White

Manville

et al. 2016

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

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17 18Giant blocks of pumice lie strewn along a former shoreline of intracaldera Lake Taupo, 19 New Zealand, and are the sole subaerial evidence of the most recent volcanism at the Taupo 20 supervolcano. Geochemically they are identical to material erupted during the complex and 21 multiphase 1.8 ka Taupo eruption, which they post-date by one to two decades. The blocks, 22 some of which are >10 m long, show complex jointing patterns indicative of both surface 23 chilling and continued interior expansion, as well as heterogeneous vesicularity, with dense 24 rims (mean density 917 kg/m 3 ) grading via an intervening transition zone (mean density 844 25 kg/m 3 ) into a more highly vesicular interior (mean density 815 kg/m 3 ). Analysis of thermal 26 demagnetisation data indicates significant reorientation of the blocks as they cooled through a 27 series of blocking temperatures. Some parts of block rims cooled to below 580°C well before 28 emplacement on the shore, whereas other parts in the interior and transition zones, which 29 cooled more slowly, acquired different orientations before stranding. Some block interiors 30 cooled after blocks were finally deposited, and record the direction of the 1.8 ka field. The 31 blocks are believed to be derived from one or both of a pair of rhyolitic lava domes that 32Von Lichtan et al. 2016_2_28 2 of 37 developed on the bed of Lake Taupo several decades after the climactic Taupo eruption over 33 the inferred vent area. 34 35 These, and similar giant rafted pumice blocks in other marine and lacustrine settings 36 raise a number of questions about how volatile-rich felsic magma can be erupted underwater 37 with only limited thermal fragmentation. Furthermore, the prolonged flotation of out-sized 38 fragments of vesiculated magma formed during subaqueous dome-growth contrasts with the 39 rapid sinking of smaller pieces of hot plinian pumice under laboratory conditions. The 40 genesis of pumice forming the blocks is not entirely clear. Most simply the blocks may 41 represent part of a vesiculated carapace of a growing lava dome, broken loose as the dome 42 grew and deformed then rising buoyantly to the surface. Parts of the carapace could also be 43 released by local magma-water explosions. Some textures of the pumice, however, suggest 44 fresher magma released from beneath the carapace. This may suggest that silicic dikes and 45 pillows/pods intruded into a growing mound of silicic hyaloclastite, itself formed by quench 46 fragmentation and thermal granulation of the dike margins. This fragmental cover would 47 have inhibited cooling of a still-hot and actively vesiculating interior, which was then 48 released to float to the surface by gravitational destabilisation and collapse of the growing 49 pile. Following their formation, the large fragments of pumice floated to the lake's surface, 50 where they were blown ashore to become embedded in accumulating transgressive shoreface 51 sediments and continue cooling. 52 53 Keywords: giant rafted pumice, thermal remnant ...

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“…The larger vesicles appear to have formed from the coalescence of smaller vesicles. Deep‐sea TV observation on the top of SM‐1 volcano shows dull white to grey‐coloured sheets of pumice capping on the surface, suggesting that these might have erupted without explosive volcanic activity (Rotella, Wilson, Barker, & Wright, ).…”

Section: Petrographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Geochemical characteristics of submarine rhyolitic pumice from Andaman subduction zone: Inferences on magmatism and tectonics of north‐eastern Indian Ocean

Saha

D'Mello²,

Sensarma

et al. 2019

Geological Journal

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This paper reports new geochemical data for submarine volcanic pumice sampled from two volcanoes (SM‐1 and SV‐1) which are part of the Andaman subduction system. SM‐1 volcano is located closer to the Andaman back‐arc spreading axis while SV‐1 volcano is part of a linear chain of arc volcanoes in the southern Andaman Basin. The pumice are products of phreatomagmatic eruptions and are highly vesicular in nature; however, immediately after eruption of these lava froth, sea water entering into the vesicles made them sink to the sea floor. A sheet of dull grey to white‐coloured pumice observed on top of the SM‐1 volcano indicates a nonexplosive eruption referred to as Tangoroan type. Pumice from these two spatially apart volcanoes share uniform physical properties but display minor variations in mineralogical compositions and distinct characteristics of selected major and trace elements. Pumice from SM‐1 comprised plagioclase, hornblende, and spinel while those from SV‐1 are composed of plagioclase and quartz as main crystalline phases. Geochemically, the pumice samples from SM‐1 volcano are classified as medium‐K calc‐alkaline rhyolites, while those from SV‐1 volcano show low‐K tholeiitic compositions. Trace and REE compositions for these rhyolitic pumice collectively reflect LILE‐LREE‐enriched, HFSE‐depleted signatures of subduction zone magmatism and implicate an oceanic arc tectonic affinity. Selective enrichment in LILE and LREE with relative HFSE depletion is attributed to infiltration of fluid‐mobile LILE and LREE into the mantle via fluids released from slab dehydration with retention of fluid‐immobile HFSE in the subducted slab. Elevated abundances of LILE/HFSE, LREE/HFSE, and LREE/HREE for the medium‐K calc‐alkaline rhyolitic pumice relative to their low‐K tholeiitic counterparts invoke increased fluid flux into the mantle with progressive maturation of oceanic slab subduction. The precursor magmas parental to the SM‐1 and SV‐1 volcanic pumice were derived by partial melting of a mantle wedge metasomatized by variable slab–mantle interactions, and influx of slab‐dehydrated fluids and sediments. Pronounced REE fractionation trends suggest evolution of resultant melts in a cold, hydrous, oxidizing regime of intraoceanic arc setting that eventually reheated, remelted, remobilized, and assimilated lower oceanic arc crust and erupted as rhyolites. The volcanic pumice from Andaman are geochemically and tectonically analogous to those from Mariana arc and Okinawa Trough of Pacific Ocean.

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Highly vesicular pumice generated by buoyant detachment of magma in subaqueous volcanism

Cited by 42 publications

References 24 publications

Evolution of submarine eruptive activity during the 2011–2012 El Hierro event as documented by hydroacoustic images and remotely operated vehicle observations

Evolution of submarine eruptive activity during the 2011–2012 El Hierro event as documented by hydroacoustic images and remotely operated vehicle observations

Giant rafted pumice blocks from the most recent eruption of Taupo volcano, New Zealand: Insights from palaeomagnetic and textural data

Geochemical characteristics of submarine rhyolitic pumice from Andaman subduction zone: Inferences on magmatism and tectonics of north‐eastern Indian Ocean

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