Taro Shinmura

Paleomagnetic investigation of rhyolite lava: Is rhyolite with clearly marked flow structure a high-fidelity geomagnetic field recorder?

Rhyolite is a common volcanic rock; however, few studies have focused on the remanent magnetization of rhyolite lava, and few paleomagnetic studies have successfully investigated rhyolite lavas. We suspect that problems associated with paleomagnetic studies of rhyolite may be due to the nearly ubiquitous flow structure in rhyolite lava. In this study, we examined a thick rhyolite lava flow with clearly marked flow structure to assess its ability to record a consistent paleomagnetic direction, using material penetrated by two drill cores. Progressive thermal demagnetization isolated two magnetization components. A high-temperature component from each of the two cores yields inclinations that differ from each other. The low-temperature component had those that agreed with each other, and were also consistent with the direction expected from a geocentric axial dipole field. The modification of direction of the high-temperature component may be explained by post-magnetization acquisition tilting. The development of flow structure also leads to distortion of directions of the component, which is observed at stratigraphic positions where the volume fraction of light-colored parts of the flow structure >30%. In the case of silicic lava, the low-temperature component may retain directions parallel to the ambient field direction at the time of lava emplacement.

Two types of gabbroic xenoliths from rhyolite dominated Niijima volcano, northern part of Izu-Bonin arc: petrological and geochemical constraints

Abstract We examined the petrography, petrology, and geochemistry of two types of gabbroic xenoliths (A- and B-type xenoliths) in olivine basalt and biotite rhyolite units among the dominantly rhyolitic rocks in Niijima volcano, northern Izu-Bonin volcanic arc, central Japan. A-type gabbroic xenoliths consisting of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, and orthopyroxene with an adcumulate texture were found in both olivine basalt and biotite rhyolite units, and B-type gabbroic xenoliths consisting of plagioclase and amphibole with an orthocumulate texture were found only in biotite rhyolite units. Geothermal- and barometricmodelling based on mineral chemistry indicated that the A-type gabbro formed at higher temperatures (899–955°C) and pressures (3.6–5.9 kbar) than the B-type gabbro (687–824°C and 0.8–3.6 kbar). These findings and whole-rock chemistry suggest different parental magmas for the two types of gabbro. The A-type gabbro was likely formed from basaltic magma, whereas the B-type gabbro was likely formed from an intermediate (andesitic) magma. The gabbroic xenoliths in erupted products at Niijima volcano indicate the presence of mafic to intermediate cumulate bodies of different origins at relatively shallower levels beneath the dominantly rhyolitic volcano.