Debris Fan Produced by Failure of Canyon-Blocking Pyroclastic Flows

Ash-rich pyroclastic flows from the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Mazama (~7700 yr. B. P.), Cascade volcanic arc, Oregon, entered and blocked the narrow, bedrock-lined canyon of the Williamson River approximately 35 to 44 km from the source volcano. The blockage impounded a body of water which then released producing four stratigraphic units in the downstream debris fan. The four stratigraphic units are a boulder core comprised of locally sourced bedrock boulders and three sand-rich units including a fine-grained sand unit, a sandy pumice gravel (±basalt/hydrovolcanic tuff) unit, and a pumice pebble-bearing, crystal-rich sand unit. Hand-drilled auger holes up to ~1.6 m deep were used to obtain samples of the sand-rich units. Units were delimited using surface and down-hole observations, composition and texture, estimated density, statistical parameters of grain size, and vertical and lateral distribution of properties. Overtopping followed by rapid incision into the ash-rich pyroclastic flows progressively cleared the canyon, but a bedrock knickpoint near the head of the canyon limited the volume of debris available for transport to about 0.04 km3 to 0.08 km3. Co-deposition of bedrock boulders and lithic-rich sand was followed by rapid deposition with minimal reworking of remobilized pyroclastics. Continued draining of the impounded lake sent hyperconcentrated flows onto the debris fan depositing pumice-rich gravels that graded upward to crystal-rich sands.

Constraints on unconsolidated pyroclastic flow sediments related REE enrichments originated from potassic-alkaline Gölcük stratovolcano: Darıdere-Direkli-Yakaören (DDY) table 4deposits, southwestern Anatolia of Turkey

In the last five decades,Rare Earth Elements(REE)are mostly produced from carbonatite complexes and alkaline magmatic environments.In this respect,pyroclastic flows produced by the potassic-alkaline Gölcük volcanism in the Isparta(SW,Turkey)angle stand out as an important target area where REE enrichments can be observed.This study focuses on the REE potential,geochemical and mineralogical characteristics of REE-bearing minerals as well as formation modeling of unconsolidated pyroclastic flows in Darıdere-Direkli-Yakaören(DDY)deposits in Turkey.REE-bearing minerals of DDY deposits which contain abundant trachytic-trachyandesitic rock fragments were determined as fluorapatite,britholite,and chevkinite by using XRD and SEM–EDX analyses.According to the geochemical analysis,the vast majority of RREE(up to 996 ppm)content is LREE such as La,Ce and Nd.Darıdere is the most REE enriched region followed by Yakaören and Direkli regions in terms of LREE(574.9 ppm),relative to MREE(38.5 ppm)and HREE(5.28 ppm)contents.These results are also on par with subduction-related Italian extrusive carbonatites such as Polino,Cupaello and San Venenzo.The DDY deposits can also be comparable with intraplate extrusive REE deposits in terms of LREE enrichments,however,HREE,Nb,Th and Zr values are generally lower.The RREE concentrations tend to rise with the increasing contents of alkaline elements(Na and K),HFSE(such as Nb and U),as well as LILE(Ba,Sr and Rb)and are negatively affected by sedimentary carbonate involvement.The economic value of the DDY deposits can gain importance due to the increasing global demand for LREE’s.

Development characteristics and petroleum geological significance of Permian pyroclastic flow volcanic rocks in Western Sichuan Basin,SW China

By examining field outcrops, drilling cores and seismic data, it is concluded that the Middle and Late Permian “Emeishan basalts” in Western Sichuan Basin were developed in two large eruption cycles, and the two sets of igneous rocks are in unconformable contact. The lower cycle is dominated by overflow volcanic rocks;while the upper cycle made up of pyroclastic flow volcanic breccia and pyroclastic lava is typical explosive facies accumulation. With high-quality micro-dissolution pores and ultra-fine dissolution pores, the upper cycle is a set of high-quality porous reservoir. Based on strong heterogeneity and great differences of pyroclastic flow subfacies from surrounding rocks in lithology and physical properties, the volcanic facies and volcanic edifices in Western Sichuan were effectively predicted and characterized by using seismic attribute analysis method and instantaneous amplitude and instantaneous frequency coherence analysis. The pyroclastic flow volcanic rocks are widely distributed in the Jianyang area. Centering around wells YT1, TF2 and TF8, the volcanic rocks in Jianyang area had 3edifice groups and an area of about 500 km^(2), which is the most favorable area for oil and gas exploration in volcanic rocks.

The Nuée Ardentes of Sabalan Volcano in Iran

This article deals with the introduction and explanation of the two nuéeardentes of “Mue’el Valley” and “Shirvandareh Valley” which are one type of the pyroclastic flows of Sabalan volcano. One of the features of nuéeardente in these two valleys is the presence of large blocks in upstream of valley and the abundance of ash in downstream which it has happened in one stage in Mue’el and in several stages in Shirvandareh Valley. Considering the antiquity of the great Sabalan volcano and numerous changes that have happened during these long years in the region, determining the temperature of nuéeardente was impossible. But what could be mentioned as a sign of high temperature because of nuéeardente is the presence of rust ground mass on piece levels which indicate hot water steam (500°C to 600°C). Also puzzle breakings like those in these rocks should be the result of severe explosion blast and very fast movements of nuéeardente that has broken these rocks instantly. These nuéeardentes are peléan type and they are more or less synchronous, and the main reason could be the huge explosion which happened because of the second caldra’s subsidence. By comparing deposits of the two nuéeardentes of Mue’el Valley and Shirvandareh Valley, it is observed that the extent, thickness, and size of blocks are higher in Shirvandareh than those in Mue’el Valley. Also considering higher levels of pieces’ adherence and hardness of deposits, it can be concluded that the temperature of this complex was higher than that of Mue’el Valley, and in general the power of Shirvandareh’s nuéeardente is more than the Mue’el Valley’s.