Commonalities and Contrasts in Location, Morphology and Emplacement of Large-volume Evolved Lava Flows

Observations of active dacite domes and evolved (SiO2 wt.% >65) plinian-style eruptions are considered to reveal typical behaviors of Si-rich volcanic systems. However, despite lack of mention in modern volcanology textbooks, large-volume (>4 km3) evolved lava flows exist globally. These large- volume evolved lava flows have many characteristics in common regardless of location and precise tectonic setting: they are associated with other large-volume deposits (both lava flow units and ignimbrites); are commonly found with large silicic systems; regionally, they are associated with bimodal volcanism and eruption of these large-volume evolved flows does not generate a caldera. Large-volume evolved lava flows have low aspect ratios, tend to be uniform in thickness from the vent to the distal margins and abruptly decrease in thickness at the flow front where they may form enormous pahoehoe-like lobes. A lack of pyroclastic textures such as bubble wall shards, pumice fragments, broken phenocrysts and lithics is taken as evidence for their lava flow origin rather than an ignimbrite origin despite their high SiO2 contents. Presence of a pervasive basal breccia and lobate distal margins also suggest a lava flow emplacement origin, that only the most intensely rheomorphic ignimbrite could potentially mimic. Our own studies and those from the literature suggest high eruption temperatures and peralkaline chemistries may be responsible for producing unusually low viscosities to account for large lateral extents; emplacement via fissure vents and insulations of the flow may also be key in attaining great volumes.