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1998 Eruption at Volcán Cerro Azul, Galápagos Islands: I. Syn-Eruptive Petrogenesis

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Abstract

The 1998 eruption of Volcán Cerro Azul in the Galápagos Islands produced two intra-caldera vents and a flank vent that erupted more than 1.0×108 m3 of lava. Lava compositions changed notably during the 5-week eruption, and contemporaneous eruptions in the caldera and on the flank produced different compositions. Lavas erupted from the flank vent range from 6.3 to 14.1% MgO, nearly the entire range of MgO contents previously reported from the volcano. On-site monitoring of eruptive activity is linked with petrogenetic processes such that geochemical variations are evaluated in a temporal context. Lavas from the 1998 eruption record two petrogenetic stages characterized by progressively more mafic lavas as the eruption proceeded. Crystal compositions, whole rock major and trace element compositions, and isotope ratios indicate that early lavas are the product of mixing between 1998 magma and remnant magma of the 1979 eruption. Intra-caldera lavas and later lavas have no 1979 signature, but were produced by the 1998 magma incorporating olivine and clinopyroxene xenocrysts. Thus, early magma petrogenesis is characterized by mixing with the 1979 magma, followed by the magma progressively entraining wehrlite cumulate mush.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by NSF grant EAR9612110 to DG; we especially want to thank the Program Directors for providing emergency funding that permitted Teasdale to be on-site within a few days of the start of the eruption. Work was also supported by the NSF under Grant No 9996141. Fieldwork was generously supported by the logistical coordination of the Charles Darwin Research Station and the Galápagos National Park Service. Howard Snell, Heidi Snell, Eduardo Villema, Monica Segovia, and Andres “Gorky” Ruiz were especially helpful in the field. Peter Mouginis-Mark provided images throughout the eruption and preparation of this manuscript. Diane Johnson and Scotty Cornelius of the WSU Geoanalytical lab provided great help with XRF and microprobe analyses. Additional microprobe analyses were completed at the University of Oregon Micro-analytical facility with the help of Michael Shaffer. This paper benefited significantly from reviews by Bill White, Mike Rhodes and Mike Garcia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, California State University, Chico, Chico, CA 95929, USA

    Rachel Teasdale

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844-3022, USA

    Dennis Geist

  3. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA

    Mark Kurz

  4. Department of Geology, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY 13346, USA

    Karen Harpp

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  1. Rachel Teasdale
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  2. Dennis Geist
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  4. Karen Harpp
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Correspondence to Rachel Teasdale.

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Editorial Responsibility: M.R. Carroll

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Teasdale, R., Geist, D., Kurz, M. et al. 1998 Eruption at Volcán Cerro Azul, Galápagos Islands: I. Syn-Eruptive Petrogenesis. Bull Volcanol 67, 170–185 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-004-0371-9

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