Evolution of rhyolitic magmas in the crustal magmatic system beneath the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand
Abstract
The Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) produces the most frequent rhyolitic eruptions on Earth. This volcanic arc is also characterized by bimodal volcanism, with eruptions of andesite (primarily in the NE and SW of the zone) and minor basalt. Here we use melt inclusions (MI) to investigate the magmatic evolution of rhyolites in the TVZ and their link to TVZ basalts. Our study focuses on recent (<50 ka) explosive rhyolitic eruptions, as well as several small-volume explosive basaltic eruptions, from the Okataina Volcanic Centre in the northern part of the TVZ. The rhyolitic melts of the TVZ are thought to be formed via fractionation of a basaltic parent plus assimilation of metasedimentary crust. Trace element data from our TVZ melt inclusions lend support to this idea, with constant ratios of incompatible trace elements (e.g., U/Th) in the TVZ basalts and rhyolites. Assuming that these elements are completely incompatible, we have calculated that the TVZ rhyolites can be produced by ~80% fractional crystallization of a basaltic parent. We have also used MI volatile contents to assess the pressures (and thus depths) in the crust of magma emplacement and differentiation. Both the TVZ rhyolites and basalts are volatile-rich. Quartz-hosted MI in the rhyolites typically contain 5.5- 7.6 wt% H2O and up to 2500 ppm Cl, and olivine-hosted MI in the basalts contain up to 4.5 wt% H2O and 1250 ppm Cl. The H2O concentrations imply crystallization pressures of at least 200-440 MPa for the rhyolites, which correspond to depths of ~8-16 km. However, the presence of rhyolitic MI with lower H2O (3.5-5 wt%) suggests that crystallization may have occurred over a wide range of pressures. Additionally, the basalts erupted in the TVZ likely crystallized at minimum pressures of 100-200 MPa. Together, this suggests that basaltic and rhyolitic melt zones occur over a wide range of depths (~4-16 km). Furthermore, the emplacement of the basaltic parent and the AFC process to create the rhyolites had to occur at depths >8-16 km. Our findings are consistent with geophysical models which suggest partial melts are present at depths of 6-16 km beneath portions of the TVZ (Bannister et al., 2004). We have also used MI analyses and cathodoluminescence (CL) images of quartz to assess degassing, mixing and fractionation in these magma systems. Our MI data indicate that the rhyolites underwent vapour-saturated crystallization. Concentrations of both H2O and Cl increase slightly during crystallization, suggesting that these volatiles behaved as moderately incompatible elements during fractionation. The extents of such fractionation are variable, and in some cases mixing of several rhyolitic magmas occurred, but in general we find that the range in U and Th in MI indicates ~7-20% crystallization from the least to most evolved rhyolitic melt. The results of this study provide important insights into the origin and evolution of rhyolitic magmas in an arc environment.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFM.V51A1643J
- Keywords:
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- 1031 GEOCHEMISTRY / Subduction zone processes;
- 1036 GEOCHEMISTRY / Magma chamber processes;
- 1037 GEOCHEMISTRY / Magma genesis and partial melting;
- 1043 GEOCHEMISTRY / Fluid and melt inclusion geochemistry