Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Observations on white island volcano, New Zealand

  • Published:
Bulletin Volcanologique Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

White Island is a complex of two overlapping cones constructed of lava flows, agglomerates and unconsolidated and unsorted ash and tuff beds. Remnants of a welded-tuff flow have been found on the north-east flank of the volcano. Since the extrusion of the youngest lava flow the young cone has been breached to the south-east and deeply eroded.

White Island lavas are porphyritic augite-hypersthene-labradorite andesites. One young lava flow is unusually rich in Na2O and contains groundmass sodian ferroaugite instead of the normal augite and hypersthene. The unusual groundmass features of this andesite are believed to be the result of contamination. Volcanic, plutonic and gneissic xenoliths have been found in the White Island lavas.

Three new analyses of White Island andesites are given together with an electron microprobe analysis of a groundmass glass from one of the andesites.

The White Island andesites are believed to have formed from the hybridisation of a primary mantle-derived andesitic magma with crustal material below the base of the Mesozoic New Zealand Geosyncline.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Clark, R. H., 1960,Andesite lavas of the North Island, New Zealand. Inter. Geol. Congress 21st Session XII, 123–131.

  • Cole, J. W., 1967,Quaternary volcanic zones in the North Island of New Zealand and their relationship to structure. Bull. Volcanologique XXX, 189–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewart, A., 1965,Tongariro National Park, inNew Zealand Volcanology, N.Z.D.S.I.R. Information Series 50.

  • —————, 1966,Review of the mineralogy and chemistry of the acidic volcanic rocks of Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand. Bull. Volcanologique XXIX, 147–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————,Cole, J. W., 1967,Textural and mineralogical significance of the granitic xenoliths from the Central Volcanic Region, North Island, New Zealand. N.Z. Jl. Geol. Geophys 10, 31–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • —————,Stipp, J. J., 1968,Petrogenesis of the volcanic rocks of the Central North Island, New Zealand, as indicated by a study of the Sr 87/Sr86 ratios, and Sr, Rb, K, U and Th abundances. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 32, 699–736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, T. H., Ringwood, A. E., 1968,Genesis of the calc-alkaline igneous rock suite. Cont. Min. Pet. 18, 105–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, W. M., Baumgart, I. L., 1959,White Island. N.Z.D.S.I.R. Bulletin 127, 84 pp.

  • Hatherton, T., Dickinson, W. R., 1968,Andesitic volcanism and seismicity in New Zealand. J. Geophys. Res. 73, 4615–4619.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiner, A., 1958,Petrogenetic implications of the 1954 Ngauruhoe lava and its xenoliths. N.Z. Jl. Geol. Geophys. 1, 325–363.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geology Department, University of Auckland, New Zealand

    P. M. Black

Authors
  1. P. M. Black
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Black, P.M. Observations on white island volcano, New Zealand. Bull Volcanol 34, 158–167 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02597783

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02597783

Keywords

Search

Navigation