Maars in the Xilinhot-Abaga Volcanic Cluster

Located in Xilin Gol League of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region,the Xilinhot-Abaga volcanic cluster is in the centre of the Daxing’anling-Datong volcanic eruption belt.More than 300 Quaternary basaltic volcanoes of different types are developed in the volcanic eruption belt.Maars are found for the first time in the study area,with those in Haotewula in the southeast of Abagaqi,and Chelewula and Esigewula in the northwest of Abagaqi to be the most representative.They all are large in scale,with cone diameters generally 3~4km,with the largest up to 6.5km.The maars show intact structure,a similar two-ringed mountain landscape and obviously phased eruption which contained a vigorous phreatomagmatic explosion at the earlier stage,and weak magmatic explosion at the later stage,and basaltic lava effusion in the last stage.The eruption sequence reflects the interaction between magma and water,the change of intrusive speed and outflow rate of magma.The Middle Pleistocene deposits of sand and gravel in the valley are covered by basal surge deposits.The TL age of sandstone-shale 'xenolith'which was found in the spatter deposits close to the crater is( 0.112 ± 0.0096) Ma,indicating that the eruption time of the Maars was the early Late Pleistocene.

Numerical Simulation and Probabilistic Hazard Assessment of Tephra Fallout at Jinlongdingzi Volcano,Longgang Volcanic Field in Jilin Province

Tephra fallout is an important type of hazard caused by explosive volcanic eruption, and numerical simulation has become a fast and effective approach to assess the dispersion and deposition of tephra fallout. According to the improved 2D diffusion model of Suzuki （ 1983）, we edited a tephra diffusion program that can run in the Windows system. Based on previous data, we simulated the diffusion scope of the Jinlongdingzi volcanic eruption, which is the latest eruption in the Longgang volcanic cluster. The simulated results are in good agreement with the results from measurement in situ, indicating that the model is reliable and the parameters used in the model are suitable. By using wind profiles of ten years, 7, 021 simulations under different wind profiles were carried out, and then probabilistic hazard maps of tephra fallout were constructed for tephra thickness thresholds, lcm and 0.5cm. This study can provide an important scientific basis for volcanic hazard analysis, risk mitigation plans and countermeasures in the Longgang volcanic area.

Magmatic Processes of Ashi Volcano, Western Kunlun Mountains, China

The Ashikule volcanic cluster （AVC） in western Kunlun Mountains is located in a graben region at the convergence of the Altun and Kangxiwa fault zones,and consists of more than 10 main volcanoes and dozens of volcanelloes.The Ashi volcano lies in the central part of the volcanic cluster.The lithology,chemical composition and texture of Ashi volcanic rocks were studied in detail,and their implication in magmatic processes was discussed.The phenocrysts in Ashi volcanic rocks consist mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene,and the statistical results of phenocryst contents show that the rocks can be subdivided into two groups.In group A,the content of pyroxene phenocrysts is generally higher than that of plagioclase phenocrysts,but an inverse relation occurs in group B.In TAS diagram,the compositions of both groups fall into the trachyandensite field,but they are obviously concentrated into two clusters.The two clusters exist also in the oxide diagrams.The pyroxene phenocrysts comprise augite,bronzite and hypersthene,and their Mg# histogram shows two peaks.Plagioclase phenocrysts with reaction rim are observed in rocks of both groups.The An values of the core are generally 30-40,and those of the rim are 44-48,which are closer to those of euhedral plagioclases.The bronzites are in equilibrium with the melt,and two sets of magma depths,i.e.,18-25 km and 13-18 km,can be estimated by using thermobarometer proposed by Putirka.The hypersthenes are not in equilibrium with the melt,and can be assigned to xenocrysts.The crystal size distribution （CSD） curves of plagioclase appear as kinked lines indicative of magma mixing.The above analyses show that two magma pockets might exist beneath the Ashi volcano.It is likely that they are connected with each other.The one has more evolved and contains more acidic magma,and the other is a trachyandensite magma pocket characterized by layering.The magma from the upper part of the trachyandensite magma pocket might mix with more acidic magma,resulting in a magma that is more acidic than the magma from the lower part.