Keiko Suzuki-Kamata

Characterization of debris avalanche deposits in Japan

Abstract Seventy-one debris avalanche deposits are identified from 52 Japanese Quaternary volcanoes. The structures of these volcanoes are mostly stratovolcanoes and lava domes. No avalanche deposit is found in calderas, pyroclastic cones or maar volcanoes. Debris avalanche deposits are found in 18% of all Quaternary volcanoes or 25% of Quaternary stratovolcanoes and lava domes. The ratio rises to 49% when considering only active stratovolcanoes and lava domes. At least five debris avalanche deposits have formed since 9th century. The maximum height difference of sliding ( H ) for each debris avalanche ranges from 200 to 2400 meters and the maximum runout distance of sliding ( L ) ranges from 1.6 to 32 km. The ratio H / L ranges from 0.2 to 0.06, and becomes smaller in larger debris avalanches. They are more mobile than landslides in non-volcanic areas. Volume is within a range of 0.03 and 9 km 3 . There is no relation between the direction of sliding and the regional horizontal compressional stress axis at the site of a volcano. Two-dimensional computer simulations of avalanches using a simplified physical model are made. The maximum velocity is mainly controlled by the length of steep slope.

Groundmass pargasite in the 1991–1995 dacite of Unzen volcano: phase stability experiments and volcanological implications

Abstract Pargasite commonly occurs in the dacitic groundmass of the 1991–1995 eruption products of Unzen volcano. We described the occurrence and chemical compositions of amphibole in the dacite, and also carried out melting experiments to determine the low-pressure stability limit of amphibole in the dacite. The 1991–1995 ejecta of the Unzen volcano show petrographic evidence of magma mixing, such as reverse compositional zoning of plagioclase and amphibole phenocrysts, and we used a groundmass separate as a starting material for the experiments. Reversed experiments show that the maximum temperature for the crystallization of amphibole is 930°C at 196 MPa, 900°C at 98 MPa, and 820°C at 49 MPa. Compared with the experimental results on the Mount St. Helens dacite, present experiments on the Unzen dacitic groundmass show that amphibole is stable to pressures ca. 50 MPa lower at 850°C. Available Fe–Ti oxide thermometry indicates the crystallization temperature of the groundmass of the Unzen dacite to be 880±30°C, suggesting that the groundmass pargasite crystallized at >70 MPa, corresponding to a depth of more than 3 km in the conduit. The chlorine content of the groundmass pargasite is much lower than that of phenocrystic magnesiohornblende in the 1991–1995 dacite of Unzen volcano, indicating that vesiculation/degassing of magma took place before the crystallization of the groundmass pargasite. The present study shows that the magma was water oversaturated and that the degassing of magma along with magma mixing caused crystallization of the groundmass amphibole at depths of more than 3 km in the conduit.

Evolution of the caldera‐forming eruption at Crater Lake, Oregon, indicated by component analysis of lithic fragments

Crater Lake caldera (8 × 10 km), formed 6845 years B. P. (14C age) during the climactic eruption of the volcanic edifice known as Mount Mazama, is intermediate in size between small calderas associated with central vent eruptions and large calderas that have ring fracture vent systems. Our quantitative study of lithic fragments in the ejecta confirms the existing model of changes in vent configuration during the climactic eruption of Mount Mazama. Initial activity was from a single vent that produced a rhyodacite pumice fall from a Plinian column. Altered preexisting volcanic rocks are the predominant lithic type in the Plinian deposit, and their extensive hydrothermal alteration is considered as evidence of their relatively deep origin. The Wineglass Welded Tuff lies atop the Plinian deposit and contains a higher proportion of fresh volcanic rocks, suggesting enlargement of the single vent by slumping of its walls. This same vent enlargement caused the Plinian eruption column to collapse and feed valley-hugging pyroclastic flows that deposited the Wineglass Welded Tuff. When enough material was erupted from the shallow magma chamber that its roof was no longer adequately supported, Mount Mazama collapsed to form the caldera, while highly energetic pyroclastic flows produced the climactic ignimbrite. A lag breccia that represents the proximal facies of the compositionally zoned climactic ignimbrite lies atop the Wineglass Welded Tuff and contains predominantly altered volcanic rocks of deeper origin, accompanied by minor granitoids from the magma chamber walls. Azimuthal differences in lithic component proportions in the lag breccia correlate well with the geology of the caldera walls, indicating that the climactic ignimbrite was ejected by multiple vents along a ring fracture system. Systematic lithic component changes within the lag breccia suggest different quarrying levels that reflect waxing and waning of the discharge rate during the caldera collapse phase of the climactic eruption. Our lithic component analysis demonstrates that calderas that may be too small to experience structural resurgence, such as Crater Lake, nevertheless may form by syneruptive subsidence along ring fractures.

The ground layer of Ata pyroclastic flow deposit, southwestern Japan — evidence for the capture of lithic fragments

Lithic fragments in the ground layer of the Ata pyroclastic flow deposit, southwestern Japan, were supplied from two different sources. One is the eruptive vent and the other is the basement rock exposed underneath the path of flow. Lithic fragments captured at the eruptive vent gradually decrease in size with distance from the source. Local increases of ML or Md are proportional to increased amounts of captured lithic fragments. The pyroclastic flow eroded basement formations on slopes dipping away from the source, and deposited the lithics within the ground layer on slopes dipping towards the source. The ground layer was found only in the western half of the Ata pyroclastic flow deposit. The absence of the ground layer in the eastern half of the pyroclastic flow deposit is interpreted to result from a selective loss of lithics when the flow traversed a bay or a lake located just east from the vent.

The proximal facies of the Tosu pyroclastic-flow deposit erupted from Aso caldera, Japan.

The Tosu pyroclastic flow deposit, a low-aspect-ratio ignimbrite (LARI), has widely distributed breccia facies around Aso caldera, Japan. The proximal facies, 9–34 km away from the source, consists of 3 different lithofacies, from bottom to top: a lithic-enriched and fines-depleted (FD) facies, a lithic-enriched (LI) facies with an ash matrix, and a fines- and pumice-enriched (NI) facies. Modes of emplacement of FD, LI, and NI are interpreted as ground layer, 2b-lithic-concentration zone, and normal ignimbrite, respectively. These stratigraphic components in the Tosu originated from the flow head (FD) and the flow body (LI and NI), and were generated by a single column collapse event. Remarkably thick FD and LI, in contrast to thin NI, suggest that due to high mobility most ash and punice fragments in the Tosu were carried and deposited as NI in the distal area. Heavier components were selectively deposited as FD and LI in the proximal area. The rate of falloff of lithic-clast size in the Tosu shows an inflection at 20 km from the source. In a survey of well-documented pyroclastic flows, the inflection distance of a LARI is generally greater than that of a high-aspect-ratio ignimbrite, so that the eruption of the former is probably more intense than the latter.

Deformation of the Wineglass Welded Tuff and the timing of caldera collapse at Crater Lake, Oregon

Abstract Four types of deformation occur in the Wineglass Welded Tuff on the northeast caldera rim of Crater Lake: (a) vertical tension fractures; (b) ooze-outs of fiamme: (c) squeeze-outs of fiamme; and (d) horizontal pull-apart structures. The three types of plastic deformation (b–d) developed in the lower part of the Wineglass Welded Tuff where degree of welding and density are maximum. Deformation originated from concentric normal faulting and landsliding as the caldera collapsed. The degree of deformation of the Wineglass Welded Tuff increases toward the northeast part of the caldera, where plastic deformation occurred more easily because of a higher emplacement temperature probably due to proximity to the vent. The probable glass transition temperature of the Wineglass Welded Tuff suggests that its emplacement temperature was ⩾750°C where the tuff is densely welded. Calculation of the conductive cooling history of the Wineglass Welded Tuff and the preclimactic Cleetwood (lava) flow under assumptions of a initially isothermal sheet and uniform properties suggests that (a) caldera collapse occurred a maximum of 9 days after emplacement of the Wineglass Welded Tuff, and that (b) the period between effusion of the Cleetwood (lava) flow and onset of the climactic eruption was

Flow behavior of large-scale pyroclastic flows — Evidence obtained from petrofabric analysis

The grain orientations within the matrix of two large-scale welded, two small-scale nonwelded and two nonwelded low-aspect ratio pyroclastic flow deposits are measured to analyze flow behavior. Preferred grain alignments are especially apparent in the middle part of layer 2 of each deposit. Preferred grain alignments do not vary laterally within a 10 m interval. The grain alignments obtained are radial from the source caldera, especially in proximal to medial and plateau-forming facies of pyroclastic flow deposits. Grain alignments are controlled by valley-channel directions for the valley-ponded facies of pyroclastic flow deposits, especially at medial to distal locations. Such local topographic factors strongly affect the data for high-aspect ratio and smallscale deposits, and weakly affect the data for widespread low-aspect ratio pyroclastic flow deposits. This work suggests that grain alignment analysis should be used with care when attempting to determine the location of an unknown source.

Direct measurement of over pressure of a volcanic blast on the June 1991 eruption at Unzen Volcano, Japan

Over pressure of a volcanic blast has been measured for the first time by a lead-plate blastmeter at Unzen Volcano, Kyushu, Japan. The over pressure of the volcanic blast on June 8 was 0.28 bar at 2700 m distance from the crater, and that was less than 0.06 bar at 4400 m distance. The estimated explosive yield of the explosion accompanied by the blast was 1.1 × 107 kg TNT (5 × 1020 erg) calculated based on the over pressure and distribution of the blast effect. The explosion energy is as much as 1/600 of that of the blast at Mount St. Helens on 18 May 1980. The lead-plate of the blastmeter at 2700 m has also recorded the collision with some accretionary lapillis. The maximum particle velocity of the blast was estimated to be about 75 m/sec based on the trace of the collision. The significance of over pressure for the prediction of volcanic hazards is also discussed briefly.

Depositional ramps: asymmetrical distribution structure in the Ata pyroclastic flow deposit, Japan

The asymmetrical distribution of the welded Ata large-scale pyroclastic flow deposit in Southern Kyushu, Japan was identified. This distribution pattern was defined as depositional ramps. Depositional ramps can be identified in valleys wider than 1 km and become smaller-scale with increasing distance from the source. Upslope directions of depositional ramps are generally radially away from the source caldera, suggesting that the structure was formed by the flow of pyroclastic material radially away from the source. The original depositional surface was reconstructed based on field mapping and density measurements of the pyroclastic flow deposit. Depositional ramps having a dip angle of more than 9° were reconstructed on the vent-facing slopes of the topography underlying the valley-filling deposits in the area within 10 km of the caldera rim. Such a dip angle is much larger than previously described dip angles. The size and gradient of the depositional ramps decreases with increasing distance from the source. Depositional ramps are recognized commonly in densely welded pyroclastic flow deposits. A high emplacement temperature is required to form the depositional ramps. This suggests that the pyroclastic flow was transported as a dense, fluidized layer to minimize heat loss.

Viscosity of andesitic lava and its implications for possible drain-back processes in the 2011 eruption of the Shinmoedake volcano, Japan

The 850 m diameter crater of the Shinmoedake volcano was filled by andesitic lava after three subplinian eruptions on 26-27 January 2011. We analyzed blocks thrown from the lava-filled crater by subsequent Vulcanian explosions to estimate the lava’s viscosity and evaluate the possibility of drain-back processes in the crater. Petrographic work on the ejecta, including bulk and glass chemistry, phenocryst and microlite modes, and the water content of the glass enabled us to estimate the bulk viscosity of the lava to be 109.8(+15 − 12) Pa s. The conduit radius is constrained to 4.5 to 6 m by the eruption rate of preceding subplinian eruptions (450–740 m3/s dense rock equivalent). We estimate the simple drain-back rate of the lava to be 3 × 10−2 ~ 2 × 10−5 m3/s. At this rate, less than 1 percent of the total amount of the effused lava could drain back within 100 days. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations did not reveal evidence of drain-back after the eruption, possibly because the chamber was sustained, at least in part by repressurization and refilling as observed by global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements of the volcano. This study showed that degassing and crystallization of the andesitic magma during emplacement increased magma viscosity by more than five orders of magnitude, prohibiting drain-back of the lava that filled the crater after the emplacement.