The magmatic and eruptive response of arc volcanoes to deglaciation: insights from southern Chile

Abstract:

In plate-tectonic settings where magmatism is driven by decompression melting there is convincing evidence that activity is modulated by changes in ice- or water-loading across glacial/interglacial cycles. In contrast, the response of subduction-related volcanoes, where the crust is typically thicker and mantle melting is dominated by flux melting, remains unclear. The large areas spanned by arcs, and the typical activity at subduction zone volcanoes present particular challenges when compiling regional eruption archives. Records of effusive eruptions from long-lived, arc stratovolcanoes are challenging to obtain, and date; while deposits from the explosive eruptions, which dominate arc records, are prone to erosion and reworking. Here we use a rare high-resolution post-glacial (<18 ka) eruption record from a large stratovolcano (Mocho-Choshuenco) in southern Chile to gain new insight into the magmatic response to removal of an ice load; variation in eruptive flux, eruption size and magma composition are observed and divided into three distinct phases based on style of activity and erupted composition. Phase 1, shortly after deglaciation, was dominated by large explosive eruptions of dacite and rhyolite. During Phase 2 (7.3 – 2.9 ka) eruption rates and eruptive fluxes were lower, and activity was dominated by moderate-scale basaltic-andesite eruptions. Since 2.4 ka (Phase 3) eruptive fluxes have been elevated, and dominated by explosive eruptions of more intermediate magmas. This time-varying behaviour reflects changes in crustal plumbing systems, and magma storage timescales. During glaciations, magmas stall and differentiate to form large, evolved crustal reservoirs. After the load is removed, much of this stored magma is erupted (Phase 1). Subsequently, less-differentiated melts infiltrate the shallow crust (Phase 2). Then, as storage timescales increase, volcanism returns to more evolved compositions (Phase 3). On short (<10 kyr) timescales these variations are less likely to result from changes in mantle melt flux in an arc setting. Instead, the phenomena more likely reflect changes in the crustal stress field due to unloading. This tripartite pattern of evacuation, relaxation and recovery may be a general feature of previously-glaciated arc volcanoes.