Dynamics of explosive paroxysms at open andesitic systems: high-resolution mass distribution analyses of 2006 tephra from Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador)
Abstract
Many andesitic volcanoes at subduction plate margins can experience in the course of their evolution periods of sub-continuous eruption during years, decades, or centuries. Such long-lived periods may embrace more or less intense outgassing events, extrusion of viscous lava flows and domes (e.g. Colima in Mexico, Merapi in Indonesia, Arenal in Costa Rica), and explosive activity of uneven intensity (e.g. Semeru in Indonesia, Sakurajima in Japan, Sangay in Ecuador). In addition, strong explosive events of short duration may occur, with potential generation of pyroclastic flows on the flanks and beyond, which can pose significant hazards in populated regions. The origin and dynamics of such violent eruptions remain poorly known and may involve a combination of different factors. Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador, reawaken in 1999 and is an example of such open-system behaviour that experienced a strong and deadly andesitic pyroclastic flow-forming event in August 2006. Inspection of the deposits suggested that the event could have been triggered by magma mixing (silicic pumices in the tephra), magma-water interaction (presence of xenolithic clasts) or deep andesitic magma reinjection (based on mineral chemistry). Here we investigate these options by performing a high-resolution mass budget analysis of the scoria fall deposit. This is achieved by analysing componentry compositions and their mass distribution pattern in the layer, which allow us to document and integrate exponential and power laws mass decay rates over wide areas. The results yield a total mass for the tephra layer of ~2 x 1010kg. The pumice mass fraction is far too small (< 0.4 %) to account for the high explosivity of the 2006 event. Similarly, the xenoclastic mass fraction is small (0.2%) and suggests limited magma-water interaction. Instead, we interpret these xenoclasts as a result of upper conduit erosion at a rate of ~30 cm/hour during the paroxysm. Altogether our results support an explosive event fed by a deep gas-rich andesitic reinjection, which would have incorporated a pocket of older differentiated magma and eroded the upper conduit during the sub-plinian event. The high-resolution mass-based approach reveals useful to decipher the origin of the violent 2006 paroxysm and has potential to improve magnitude determinations of ancient eruption by considering componentry mass instead of volume. It is also applicable for monitoring purposes in the context of on-going crises at andesitic volcanoes worldwide.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFM.V33A2844L
- Keywords:
-
- 8404 VOLCANOLOGY / Volcanoclastic deposits;
- 8414 VOLCANOLOGY / Eruption mechanisms and flow emplacement;
- 8428 VOLCANOLOGY / Explosive volcanism;
- 8488 VOLCANOLOGY / Volcanic hazards and risks