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Preferential eruption of andesitic magmas through recharge filtering

Nature Geoscience volume 3, pages 631–636 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Andesitic volcanic rocks are common in subduction zones and are argued to play an important role in the formation and evolution of the continental crust at convergent margins1,2,3,4. Andesite formation is dominated by mixing between iron- and magnesium-rich (mafic) magmas and silica-rich (felsic) magmas1,2,4. The abundance of andesites in many subduction zones suggests they erupt in preference to the magmas that mix to produce them4; however, the reasons for this remain unclear. Here we use textural and geochemical analyses of andesites from Mount Hood, Oregon, to show that eruptions are closely linked with episodes of mafic recharge—the intrusion of mafic magma into a shallow felsic magma reservoir. The felsic and mafic magmas involved rarely erupt by themselves, probably because the former are too viscous and the latter too dense. Mafic recharge overcomes these barriers to eruption, and, as it also promotes efficient mixing, results in preferential eruption of mixed andesitic magmas. The abundance of andesites therefore relates to local crustal conditions and the ability of magmas to erupt. We suggest that volcanoes, such as Mount Hood, that erupt homogeneous andesitic compositions through time are those that are the most reliant on mafic recharge to initiate eruptions.

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Figure 1: SiO2 abundance in melt inclusions and rocks from convergent margin volcanoes and the composition and physical properties of lavas from Mount Hood.
Figure 2: CSDs and compositions of Mount Hood lavas.
Figure 3: FeO* versus anorthite content for plagioclase from Mount Hood lavas.
Figure 4: Backscattered electron images and compositional profiles for selected Population 2 plagioclase from Mount Hood.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (EAR-0838421) to A.J.R.K. and K.M.C. and by a USGS Kleinman grant to A.M.K. A.J.R.K. is also grateful for extra support from the University of Aarhus. F. Tepley, A. Weinsteiger and A. Ungerer provided extra assistance with electron microprobe and laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses. W. Bohrson provided assistance with CSD measurements and useful discussions. Comments by F. Costa, P. Ruprecht, O. Bachmann, E. Brook, A. Meigs and D. Wildenschild improved an initial version of this manuscript. W. Scott and C. Gardner of the USGS David A. Johnston Cascade Volcano Observatory provided invaluable assistance with sample collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geosciences, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon 97330, USA

    Adam J. R. Kent, Cristina Darr, Alison M. Koleszar & Morgan J. Salisbury

  2. Department of Geology, University of California at Davis, Davis, California 95616, USA

    Kari M. Cooper

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  1. Adam J. R. Kent
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Contributions

C.D. provided initial data from Mount Hood as part of a MS thesis at Oregon State University. C.D. and M.J.S. carried out CSD measurements; A.J.R.K. and A.M.K. obtained mineral chemistry data. A.J.R.K., C.D., A.M.K. and K.M.C. conducted field studies and sampling. All authors provided input to discussion and A.J.R.K. took the lead on writing the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Adam J. R. Kent.

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Kent, A., Darr, C., Koleszar, A. et al. Preferential eruption of andesitic magmas through recharge filtering. Nature Geosci 3, 631–636 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo924

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