Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Changes in eruptive style during the A.D. 1538 Monte Nuovo eruption (Phlegrean Fields, Italy): the role of syn-eruptive crystallization

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Monte Nuovo eruption is the most recent event that occurred at Phlegrean Fields (Italy) and lasted from 29 September to 6 October 1538. It was characterized by 2 days of quasi-sustained phreatomagmatic activity generating pumice-bearing pyroclastic density currents and forming a 130-m-high tuff cone (Lower Member deposits). The activity resumed after a pause of 2 days with two discrete Vulcanian explosions that emplaced radially distributed, scoria-bearing pyroclastic flows (Upper Member deposits). The juvenile products of Lower and Upper Members are, respectively, phenocryst-poor, light-coloured pumice and dark scoria fragments with K-phonolitic bulk compositions, identical in terms of both major and trace elements. Groundmass is formed by variable proportions of K-feldspar and glass, along with minor sodalite and Fe-Ti oxide present in the most crystallized samples. Investigations of groundmass compositions and textures were performed to assess the mechanisms of magma ascent, degassing and fragmentation along the conduit and implications for the eruptive dynamics. In pumice of the Lower Member groundmass crystal content increases from 13 to 28 vol% from the base to the top of the sequence. Products of the Upper Member consist of clasts with a groundmass crystal content between 30 and 40 vol% and of totally crystallized fragments. Crystal size distributions of groundmass feldspars shift from a single population at the base of the Lower Member to a double population in the remaining part of the sequence. The average size of both populations regularly increases from the Lower to the Upper Member. Crystal number density increases by two orders of magnitude from the Lower to the Upper Member, suggesting that nucleation dominated during the second phase of the eruption. The overall morphological, compositional and textural data suggest that the juvenile components of the Monte Nuovo eruption are likely to record variations of the magma properties within the conduit. The different textures of pumice clasts from the Lower Member possibly reflect horizontal gradients of the physical properties (P, T) of the ascending magma column, while scoriae from the second phase are thought to result from the disruption of a slowly rising plug crystallizing in response to degassing. In particular, crystal size distribution data point to syn-eruptive degassing-induced crystallization as responsible for the transition in eruptive style from the first to the second phase of the eruption. This mechanism not only has been proved to profoundly affect the dynamics of dome-forming calc-alkaline eruptions, but may also have a strong influence in driving the eruption dynamics of alkaline magmas of intermediate to evolved compositions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbott RN (1978) Peritectic relations in the system An-Ab-Or-Qz-H2O. Can Mineral 16:245–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Alidibirov MA (1994) A model for viscous magma fragmentation during volcanic blast. Bull Volcanol 56:459–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alidibirov MA, Dingwell DB (2000) Three fragmentation mechanisms for highly viscous magma under rapid decompression. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 100:413–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll MR, Blank JG (1997) The solubility of H2O in phonolitic melts. Am Mineral 82:549–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashman KV (1992) Groundmass crystallization of Mount St. Helens dacite, 1980–1986: A tool for interpreting shallow magmatic processes. Contrib Mineral Petrol 109:431–449

    Google Scholar 

  • Cashman KV, Marsh BD (1988) Crystal size distribution (CSD) in rocks and the kinetics and dynamics of crystallization II. Makaopuhi lava lake. Contrib Mineral Petrol 99:292–305

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cashman KV, Blundy J (2000) Degassing and crystallization of ascending andesite and dacite. Phil Trans Roy Soc 358:1487–1513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cashman KV, Sturtevant B, Papale P, Navon O (2000) Magmatic fragmentation. In: Sigurdsson H (ed) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic Press, New York, pp 421–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Da Toledo PG (1538) Ragionamento del terremoto, del Nuovo Monte, dell’aprimento di terra in Pozzolo nell’anno 1538 e della significazione di essi per Pietro Giacomo Da Toledo. Napoli, Sultzbach, 1538

    Google Scholar 

  • Deino AL, Curtis GH, Rosi M (1992) 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Campanian Ignimbrite, Campanian Region, Italy. 29th International Geological Congress, Japan, Abstracts 3:2654

  • Deino AL, Curtis GH, Southon J, Terrasi F, Campajola L, Orsi G (1994) 14C and 40Ar/39Ar dating of the Campanian Ignimbrite, Phlegrean Fields, Italy. Berkeley, USA, 8th International Conference on Geochronology, Cosmochronology and Isotope Geology, Abstracts US Geol Surv Circ 1107:77

  • Del Nero F (1538) Sul terremoto di Pozzuoli, dal quale ebbe origine la Montagna Nuova, nel 1538

  • Delli Falconi MA (1538) Dell’incendio di Pozzuoli nel MDXXXVIII. Napoli 1538

  • Devine JD, Rutherford MJ, Gardner JE (1998) Petrologic determination of ascent rates for the 1995–1997 Soufrière Hill volcano andesitic magma. Geophys Res Lett 25:3673–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Vito M, Lirer L, Mastrolorenzo G, Rolandi G (1987) The 1538 Monte Nuovo eruption (Campi Flegrei, Italy). Bull Volcanol 49:608–615

    Google Scholar 

  • Dvorak J, Gasparini P (1991) History of earthquakes and vertical ground movement in Campi Flegrei caldera, southern Italy: comparison of precursory events to the AD 1538 eruption of Monte Nuovo and of activity since 1968. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 48:77–92

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichelberger JC, Carrigan CR, Westrich HR, Price RH (1986) Non-explosive silicic volcanism. Nature 323:598–602

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fenn PM (1977) The nucleation and growth of alkali feldspars from hydrous melts. Can Mineral 15:135–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Fink J, Anderson S, Manley C (1992) Textural constrains on effusive silicic volcanism: beyond the permeable foam model. J Geophys Res 97:9073–9083

    Google Scholar 

  • Folch A, Marti J (1998) The generation of overpressure in felsic magma chambers by replenishment. Earth Planet Sci Lett 163:301–314

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Freundt A, Tait SR (1986) The entrainment of high-viscosity magma into low-viscosity magma in eruption conduits. Bull Volcanol 48:325–339

    Google Scholar 

  • Gardner CA, Cashman KV, Neal CA (1998) Tephra-fall deposits from the 1992 eruption of Crater Peak, Alaska: implication of clast texture for eruption processes. Bull Volcanol 59:537–555

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giordano D, Dingwell BD (2003) Non-Arrhenian multicomponent melt viscosità: a model. Earth Planet Sci Lett 208:337–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gurioli L, Houghton B, Cashman CV, Cioni R (2004) Complex changes in eruption dynamics and the transition between plinian and phreatomagmatic activity during the 79 AD eruption of Vesuvius. Bull Volcanol (in press)

  • Hamilton W (1776) Campi Flegrei observations on the volcanoes of the two Sicilies. de Fabris P (ed) Naples

  • Hammer JE, Cashman KV, Hoblitt R, Newman S (1999) Degassing and microlite crystallization during the pre-climatic events of the 1991 eruption of the MT. Pinatubo, Philippines. Bull Volcanol 60:355–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer JE, Cashman KV, Voight B (2000) Magmatic processes revealed by textural and compositional trends in Merapi dome lavas. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 100:165–192

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammer JE, Rutherford M (2002) An experimental study of the kinetics of decompression-induced crystallization in silicic melt. J Geophys Res 107:1–24

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins M (1994) Numerical modeling of crystal shapes in thin sections: estimation of crystal habit and true size. Am Mineral 79:113–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins M (2000) Measurements of crystal size distributions. Am Mineral 85:1105–1116

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoover SR, Cashman KV, Manga M (2001) The yield strength of subliquidus basalts; experimental results. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 107:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton BF, Wilson CJN (1989) A vesicularity index for pyroclastic deposits. Bull Volcanol 51:451–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Housh TB, Luhr JF (1991) Plagioclase-melt equilibria in hydrous systems. Am Mineral 76:477–492

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaupart C, Allegre CJ (1991) Gas content, eruption rate and instabilities of eruption regime in silicic volcanoes. Earth Planet Sci Lett 102:413–429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larsen JF, Gardner JE (2004) Experimental study of water degassing from phonolite melts: implications for volatiles oversaturation during magmatic ascent. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 134:109–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lejeune AM, Richet P (1995) Rheology of crystal-bearing silicate melts: an experimental study at high viscosities. J Geophys Res 100:4215–4230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lirer L, Rolandi G, Di Vito M, Mastrolorenzo G (1987) L’eruzione del Monte Nuovo (1538) nei Campi Flegrei. Boll Soc Geol It 106:447–460

    Google Scholar 

  • Lofgren G (1974) An experimental study of plagioclase crystal morphology: isothermal crystallization. Am J Sci 274:243–273

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marchesino F (1538) Copia di una lettera di Napoli che contiene li stupendi, et gran prodigi apparsi sopra Pozzolo. Napoli 1538

  • Marsh B (1988) Crystal size distributions (CSD) in rocks and the kinetics and dynamics of crystallization I. Theory. Contrib Mineral Petrol 99:277–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrissey MM, Mastin LG (2000) Vulcanian eruptions. In: Sigurdsson H (ed) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 463–475

    Google Scholar 

  • Morrissey MM, Zimanowski B, Wholetz K, Buettner R (2000) Phreatomagmatic fragmentation. In: Sigurdsson H (ed) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 431–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakada S, Motomura Y (1999) Petrology of the 1991–1995 eruption at Unzen: effusion pulsation and groundmass crystallization. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 89:173–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nekvasil H, Burnham CW (1987) The calculated individual effects of pressure and water content on phase equilibria in the granite system. In: Magmatic processes: physicochemical principles. The Geochem Soc Spec Publ 1:433–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Nekvasil H, Lindsley D (1990) Termination of the 2 feldspar + liquid curve in the system Ab-An-H2O at low H2O contents. Am Mineral 75:1071–1079

    Google Scholar 

  • Orsi G, D’Antonio M, de Vita S, Gallo G (1992) The Neapolitan Yellow tuff, a large-magnitude trachytic phreatoplinian eruption: eruptive dynamics, magma withdrawal and caldera collapse. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 53:275–287

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orsi G, Civetta L, D’Antonio M, Di Girolamo P, Piochi M (1995) Step-filling and development of a three-layer magma chamber: the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff case history. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 67:291–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orsi G, De Vita S, Di Vito M (1996) The restless, resurgent Campi Flegrei nested caldera (Italy): constraints on its evolution and configuration. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 74:179–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orsi G, Civetta L, Del Gaudio C, de Vita S, Di Vito MA, Isaia R, Petrazzuoli SM, Ricciardi GP, Ricco C (1999) Short-term ground deformations and seismicity in the resurgent Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy): an example of active block-resurgence in a densely populated area. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 91:415–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pallister JS, Hoblitt RP, Meeker GP, Knight RJ, Siems DF (1996) Magma mixing at Mount Pinatubo: petrographic and chemical evidence from the 1991 deposits. In: Newhall CG, Punongbayan RS (eds) Fire and mud: eruptions and lahars of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines. University of Washington Press, Seattle, pp 687–732

    Google Scholar 

  • Papale P (1999) Strain-induced magma fragmentation in explosive eruptions. Nature 397:425–428

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parascandola A (1946) Il Monte Nuovo e il Lago Lucrino. Boll Soc Nat 55:151–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulick H, Franz G (1997) The color of pumice: case study on trachytic fall deposit, Meidob volcanic field, Sudan. Bull Volcanol 59:171–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polacci M, Papale P, Rosi M (2001) Textural heterogeneities in pumices from the climatic eruption of Mount Pinatubo, 15 June 1991, and implications for magma ascent dynamics. Bull Volcanol 63:83–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polacci M, Pioli L, Rosi M (2003) The Plinian phase of the Campanian Ignimbrite eruption (Phlegrean Fields. Italy): evidence from density measurements and textural characterization of pumice. Bull Volcanol 65:418–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porzio S (1551) De conflagrazione agri puteolani Simoni Portii Epistola. Napoli, Sultzbach, 1538, Floreantiae, 1551

  • Rosi M, Santacroce R (1984) Volcanic hazard assessment in the Phlegrean Fields: a contribution based on stratigraphic and historical data. Bull Volcanol 47 (2):359–370

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosi M, Sbrana A (1987) Phlegrean Fields. Quaderno della ricerca scientifica, Vol 9:114

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosi M, Landi P, Polacci M, Di Muro A, Zandomeneghi D (2004) Role of conduit shear on ascent of the crystal-rich magma feeding the 800-year-b.p. Plinian eruption of Quilotoa Volcano (Ecuador). Bull Volcanol 66:307–321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saar MO, Manga M, Cashman KV, Fermouw S (2001) Numerical models of the onset of yield strength in crystal-melt suspensions. Earth Planet Sci Lett 187:367–379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shaoxiong W, Nekvasil H (1994) SOLVCALC: an interactive graphics program package for calculating the ternary feldspar solvus and for two-feldspar geothermometry. Comput Geosci 20:1025–1040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn YK, Chough SK (1992) The Ilchulbong tuff cone, Cheju Island, South Korea: depositional processes and evolution of an emergent, Surtseyan-type tuff cone. Sedimentology 39:523–544

    Google Scholar 

  • Sparks RSJ (1997) Causes and consequences of pressurization in lava dome eruptions. Earth Planet Sci Lett 150:177–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks RSJ, Barclay J, Jaupart C, Mader HM, Phillips JC (1994) Physical aspects of magmatic degassing I. Experimental and theoretical constraints on vesiculations. In: Carroll MR, Holloway JR (eds) Volatile in magmas. Rev Mineral 30:413–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Spieler O, Dingwell DB, Alidibirov M (2003) Magma fragmentation speed: an experimental determination. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 129:109–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stix J, Torres RC, Narvaez LM, Cortes GPJ, Raigosa JA, Gomez DM, Castonguar R (1997) A model of vulcanian eruptions at Galeras volcano, Columbia. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 77:285–303

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tait SR, Vergniolle S, Jaupart C (1989) Pressure, gas content and eruption periodicity of a shallow crystallizing magma chamber. Earth Planet Sci Lett 92:107–123

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vespermann D, Schmincke HU (2000) Scoria Cones and Tuff Rings. In: Sigurdsson H (ed) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, New York, pp 683–694

    Google Scholar 

  • Wohletz K, Civetta L, Orsi G (1999) Thermal evolution of the Phlegraean magmatic system. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 91:381–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamagishi H, Feebrey C (1994) Ballistic ejecta from 1988–1989 andesitic Vulcanian eruptions of Tokachidake volcano, Japan: morphological features and genesis. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 59:269–278

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We wish to thank M. D’Orazio, M. Tamponi and M. Bertoli for chemical analyses, P. Pantani for the graphic assistance, and F. Colarieti for assistance during sample preparation for SEM studies. This work was funded by GNV Project n°. 17. Reviews by C. Gardner, K. Cashman and an anonymous reviewer improved the manuscript and are greatly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Via S. Maria, 53, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Claudia D’Oriano, Elisa Poggianti & Mauro Rosi

  2. Istituto Nazionale Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sez. Roma I, sede di Pisa, Via della Faggiola, 32, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Antonella Bertagnini, Patrizia Landi, Margherita Polacci & Mauro Rosi

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Via Trentino, 51, 09127, Cagliari, Italy

    Raffaello Cioni

Authors
  1. Claudia D’Oriano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Elisa Poggianti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonella Bertagnini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Raffaello Cioni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Patrizia Landi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Margherita Polacci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Mauro Rosi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonella Bertagnini.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: J. Donnelly-Nolan

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

D’Oriano, C., Poggianti, E., Bertagnini, A. et al. Changes in eruptive style during the A.D. 1538 Monte Nuovo eruption (Phlegrean Fields, Italy): the role of syn-eruptive crystallization. Bull Volcanol 67, 601–621 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-004-0397-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-004-0397-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation