Steffi Burchardt

Ardnamurchan 3D cone-sheet architecture explained by a single elongate magma chamber

The Palaeogene Ardnamurchan central igneous complex, NW Scotland, was a defining place for the development of the classic concepts of cone-sheet and ring-dyke emplacement and has thus fundamentally influenced our thinking on subvolcanic structures. We have used the available structural information on Ardnamurchan to project the underlying three-dimensional (3D) cone-sheet structure. Here we show that a single elongate magma chamber likely acted as the source of the cone-sheet swarm(s) instead of the traditionally accepted model of three successive centres. This proposal is supported by the ridge-like morphology of the Ardnamurchan volcano and is consistent with the depth and elongation of the gravity anomaly underlying the peninsula. Our model challenges the traditional model of cone-sheet emplacement at Ardnamurchan that involves successive but independent centres in favour of a more dynamical one that involves a single, but elongate and progressively evolving magma chamber system.

Weibull-distributed dyke thickness reflects probabilistic character of host-rock strength

Magmatic sheet intrusions (dykes) constitute the main form of magma transport in the Earth’s crust. The size distribution of dykes is a crucial parameter that controls volcanic surface deformation and eruption rates and is required to realistically model volcano deformation for eruption forecasting. Here we present statistical analyses of 3,676 dyke thickness measurements from different tectonic settings and show that dyke thickness consistently follows the Weibull distribution. Known from materials science, power law-distributed flaws in brittle materials lead to Weibull-distributed failure stress. We therefore propose a dynamic model in which dyke thickness is determined by variable magma pressure that exploits differently sized host-rock weaknesses. The observed dyke thickness distributions are thus site-specific because rock strength, rather than magma viscosity and composition, exerts the dominant control on dyke emplacement. Fundamentally, the strength of geomaterials is scale-dependent and should be approximated by a probability distribution.

Three-dimensional geometry of concentric intrusive sheet swarms in the Geitafell and the Dyrfjoll volcanoes, eastern Iceland

Sheet intrusions (inclined sheets and dykes) in the deeply eroded volcanoes of Geitafell and Dyrfjoll, eastern Iceland, were studied at the surface to identify the location, depth, and size of their magmatic source(s). For this purpose, the measured orientations of inclined sheets were projected in three dimensions to produce models of sheet swarm geometries. For the Geitafell Volcano, the majority of sheets converge toward a common focal area with a diameter of at least 4 to 7 km, the location of which coincides with several gabbro bodies exposed at the surface. Assuming that these gabbros represent part of the magma chamber feeding the inclined sheets, a source depth of 2 to 4 km below the paleoland surface is derived. A second, younger swarm of steeply dipping sheets crosscuts this gabbro and members of the first swarm. The source of this second swarm is estimated to be located to the SE of the source of Swarm 1, below the present-day level of exposure and deeper than the source of the first swarm. For the Dyrfjoll Volcano, we show that the sheets can be divided into seven different subsets, three of which can be interpreted as swarms. The most prominent swarm, the Njardvik Sheet Swarm, converges toward a several kilometers wide area in the Njardvik Valley at a depth of 1.5 to 4 km below the paleoland surface. Two additional magmatic sources are postulated to be located to the northeast and southwest of the main source. Crosscutting relationships indicate contemporaneous, as well as successive activity of different magma chambers, but without a resolvable spatial trend. The Dyrfjoll Volcano is thus part of a complex volcanic cluster that extends far beyond the study area and can serve as fossil analog for nested volcanoes such as Askja, whereas in Geitafell, the sheet swarms seem to have originated from a single focus at one time, thus defining a single central volcanic complex, such as Krafla Volcano.

Nannofossils in 2011 El Hierro eruptive products reinstate plume model for Canary Islands

The origin and life cycle of ocean islands have been debated since the early days of Geology. In the case of the Canary archipelago, its proximity to the Atlas orogen led to initial fracture-controlled models for island genesis, while later workers cited a Miocene-Quaternary east-west age-progression to support an underlying mantle-plume. The recent discovery of submarine Cretaceous volcanic rocks near the westernmost island of El Hierro now questions this systematic age-progression within the archipelago. If a mantle-plume is indeed responsible for the Canaries, the onshore volcanic age-progression should be complemented by progressively younger pre-island sedimentary strata towards the west, however, direct age constraints for the westernmost pre-island sediments are lacking. Here we report on new age data obtained from calcareous nannofossils in sedimentary xenoliths erupted during the 2011 El Hierro events, which date the sub-island sedimentary rocks to between late Cretaceous and Pliocene in age. This age-range includes substantially younger pre-volcanic sedimentary rocks than the Jurassic to Miocene strata known from the older eastern islands and now reinstate the mantle-plume hypothesis as the most plausible explanation for Canary volcanism. The recently discovered Cretaceous submarine volcanic rocks in the region are, in turn, part of an older, fracture-related tectonic episode.

Application of open‐source photogrammetric software MicMac for monitoring surface deformation in laboratory models

Quantifying deformation is essential in modern laboratory models of geological systems. This paper presents a new laboratory monitoring method through the implementation of the open-source software MicMac, which efficiently implements photogrammetry in Structure-from-Motion algorithms. Critical evaluation is provided using results from two example laboratory geodesy scenarios: magma emplacement and strike-slip faulting. MicMac automatically processes images from synchronized cameras to compute time series of digital elevation models (DEMs) and orthorectified images of model surfaces. MicMac also implements digital image correlation to produce high-resolution displacements maps. The resolution of DEMs and displacement maps corresponds to the pixel size of the processed images. Using 24 MP cameras, the precision of DEMs and displacements is ~0.05 mm on a 40 × 40 cm surface. Processing displacement maps with Matlab® scripts allows automatic fracture mapping on the monitored surfaces. MicMac also offers the possibility to integrate 3-D models of excavated structures with the corresponding surface deformation data. The high resolution and high precision of MicMac results and the ability to generate virtual 3-D models of complex structures make it a very promising tool for quantitative monitoring in laboratory models of geological systems.

Laboratory Modelling of Volcano Plumbing Systems : A Review

We review the numerous experimental studies dedicated to unravelling the physics and dynamics of various parts of a volcanic plumbing system. Section 1 lists the model materials commonly used for model magmas or model rocks. We describe these materials’ mechanical properties and discuss their suitability for modelling sub-volcanic processes. Section 2 examines the fundamental concepts of dimensional analysis and similarity in laboratory modelling. We provide a step-by-step explanation of how to apply dimensional analysis to laboratory models in order to identify fundamental physical laws that govern the modelled processes in dimensionless (i.e. scale independent) form. Section 3 summarises and discusses the past applications of laboratory models to understand numerous features of volcanic plumbing systems. These include: dykes, cone sheets, sills, laccoliths, caldera-related structures, ground deformation, magma/fault interactions, and explosive vents. We outline how laboratory models have yielded insights into the main geometric and mechanical controls on the development of each part of the volcanic plumbing system. We conclude with some perspectives on the limitations of past and current analogue modelling approaches, and on challenges to be addressed by future research.

Persistent multitiered magma plumbing beneath Katla volcano, Iceland

Recent seismic unrest and a persistent Holocene eruption record at Katla volcano, Iceland indicate that a near-future eruption is possible. Previous petrological investigations suggest that Katla is supplied by a simple plumbing system that delivers magma directly from depth, while seismic and geodetic data also point toward the existence of upper-crustal magma storage. To characterize Katlas recent plumbing system, we established mineral-melt equilibrium crystallization pressures from four age-constrained Katla tephras spanning from 8 kyr BP to 1918. The results point to persistent shallow- (≤8 km depth) as well as deep-crustal (ca. 10 – 25 km depth) magma storage beneath Katla throughout the last 8 kyr. The presence of multiple magma storage regions implies that mafic magma from the deeper reservoir system may become gas-rich during ascent and storage in the shallow crust and erupt explosively. Alternatively, it might intersect evolved magma pockets in the shallow-level storage region, and so increase the potential for explosive mixed-magma ash eruptions.

Magma plumbing for the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption, Iceland

The 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption on Iceland was located within the Askja fissure swarm butwas accompanied by caldera subsidence in the Barðarbunga central volcano 45 km to the southwest. Geophysica ...

Dynamics of Surface Deformation Induced by Dikes and Cone Sheets in a Cohesive Coulomb Brittle Crust

The analysis of surface deformation associated with intruding magma has become an established method to study subsurface processes and intrusion architecture. Active subsurface magmatism induces deformation that is commonly modeled using static elastic models. To what extent, Coulomb failure of the crust affects surface deformation remains, so far, largely unexplored. In this contribution we present quantitative laboratory results of surface deformation induced by the emplacement of simulated dikes and cone sheets in a cohesive Coulomb material. The analysis of the experimental surface deformation shows that these intrusion types produce distinct and characteristic surface deformation signatures, which reflect the evolution of the intrusion at depth. Generally, dikes show a two-phase evolution while cone sheets develop gradually. In comparison, cone sheets induce larger uplifted areas and volumes than dikes relative to the depth of the injection source. Dike formation is, in turn, is likely accommodated, to a larger degree than cone sheets, by lateral opening of the host consistent with our current understanding of dike emplacement mechanics. Notably, only surface uplifts develop above the experimental dikes, consistent with a viscous indenter propagation mechanism, that is, a dike pushing ahead. The measured surface deformation patterns associated with dikes starkly contrast with established static, elastic models that predict local subsidence above the tip of a dike. This suggests that Coulomb failure of crustal rocks may considerably affect surface deformation induced by propagating igneous intrusions. This is especially relevant when a relatively high viscosity magma intrudes a weak host, such as unconsolidated sedimentary and volcaniclastic rocks.

Magma transport in sheet intrusions of the Alnö carbonatite complex, central Sweden.

Magma transport through the Earth’s crust occurs dominantly via sheet intrusions, such as dykes and cone-sheets, and is fundamental to crustal evolution, volcanic eruptions and geochemical element cycling. However, reliable methods to reconstruct flow direction in solidified sheet intrusions have proved elusive. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) in magmatic sheets is often interpreted as primary magma flow, but magnetic fabrics can be modified by post-emplacement processes, making interpretation of AMS data ambiguous. Here we present AMS data from cone-sheets in the Alnö carbonatite complex, central Sweden. We discuss six scenarios of syn- and post-emplacement processes that can modify AMS fabrics and offer a conceptual framework for systematic interpretation of magma movements in sheet intrusions. The AMS fabrics in the Alnö cone-sheets are dominantly oblate with magnetic foliations parallel to sheet orientations. These fabrics may result from primary lateral flow or from sheet closure at the terminal stage of magma transport. As the cone-sheets are discontinuous along their strike direction, sheet closure is the most probable process to explain the observed AMS fabrics. We argue that these fabrics may be common to cone-sheets and an integrated geology, petrology and AMS approach can be used to distinguish them from primary flow fabrics.