Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vitriclastic lithofacies from Macquarie Island (Southern Ocean): compositional influence on abyssal eruption explosivity in a dying Miocene spreading ridge

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Macquarie Island is composed of a complete section of oceanic crust that formed in a slow-spreading mid-ocean ridge 2.0 to 3.5 km below sea level. Vitriclastic facies preserved on the island have both pyroclastic and hyaloclastic characteristics. Monomict hyaloclastic breccia facies are widespread across the island and are predominantly composed of near-primitive (~7.9 wt% MgO) subalkaline/transitional (~0.7 wt% K2O) sideromelane shards and crystalline basalt clasts with low vesicularity (LV, < 15% vesicles). Breccias are thick bedded and structureless with matrix-supported angular pillow fragments, bomb-sized fluidal mini-pillows, and globular glass lapilli. Clasts are lithologically similar to interbedded pillow basalts and laterally grade into fine-grained sandstone facies. These sandstones are normal-graded, well-laminated, thin bedded, and interstratified with red pelagic mudstone. Lithofacies associations indicate that the hyaloclastic breccias were formed proximal to a source vent via quench-fragmentation, and subsequently reworked by ocean-bottom currents into distal epiclastic sandstone facies. During eruption, co-genetic pillow lava and hypabyssal intrusions mingled with the breccia, forming fluidal peperite. Rare polymict pyroclastic facies only occur in the highest stratigraphic levels and are mostly composed of highly vesicular (HV, 15–50% vesicles) sideromelane shards and crystalline basalt clasts with alkaline (~1.0 wt% K2O) fractionated (~6.8% MgO) compositions. Minor lithic grains are composed of subalkaline (~0.7 wt% K2O) to very highly alkaline (~1.7 wt% K2O) LV sideromelane shards, and amphibole-bearing diabase. The pyroclastic facies contains medium to thick beds of lapilli-tuff that exhibit both reverse and normal grading, diffuse lamination, and planar-grain fabric. These beds are locally overlain by thin fine-grained tuff beds entirely composed of cuspate to very thin elongate bubble-wall shards. These characteristics indicate that explosive deep-marine eruptions produced high-density coarse-grained gravity flows that were covered by slower suspension settle-out of delicate bubble-wall shards. Stratigraphic relationships suggest that explosive eruptions started during the waning stages of more alkaline volcanism along the proto-Macquarie spreading center.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arnott RWC, Hand BM (1989) Bedforms, primary structures and grain fabric in the presence of suspended sediment rain. J Sed Petrol 59:1062–1069

    Google Scholar 

  • Batiza R (1996) Magmatic segregation in mid-ocean ridges: A review. In: MacLeod CJ, Walker CL (eds) Tectonic, magmatic, hydrothermal, and biological segmentation of mid-ocean ridges. Geol Soc London Spec Pub 118:103–130

  • Busby-Spera CJ, White JDL (1987) Variation in peperite textures associated with differing host-sediment properties. Bull Volcanol 49:765–776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Büttner R, Dellino P, Zimanowski B (1999) Identifying magma-water interaction from the surface features of ash aarticles. Nature 401:688–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Büttner R, Dellino P, La Volpe L, Lorenz V, Zimanowski B (2002) Thermohydraulic explosions in phreatomagmatic eruptions as evidenced by the comparison between pyroclasts and products from molten fuel coolant interaction experiments. J Geophys Res 107:2277. doi:10.1029/2001JB000511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlisle D (1963) Pillow breccias and their aquagene tuffs, Quadra Island, British Columbia. J Geol 71:48–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cas RAF, Yamagishi H, Moore L, Scutter C (2003) Miocene submarine fire fountain deposits, Ryugazaki Headland, Oshoro Peninsula, Hokkaido, Japan: implications for submarine fountain dynamics and fragmentation processes. In: White JDL, Smellie JL, Clague DA (eds) Explosive subaqueous volcanism. Am Geophys Union Mon 140:299–316

  • Cashman KV, Sturtevant B, Papale P, Navon O (2000) Magmatic fragmentation. In: Sigurdsson H, Houghton BF, McNutt SR, Rymer H, Stix J (eds) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 421–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheel RJ (1990) Horizontal lamination and the sequence of bed phases and stratification under upper-flow-regime conditions. Sedimentology 37:517–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clague DA, Batiza R, Head JW, Davis AS (2003) Pyroclastic and hydroclastic deposits on Loihi Seamount, Hawaii. In: White JDL, Smellie JL, Clague DA (eds) Explosive subaqueous volcanism. Am Geophys Union Mon 140:73–95

  • Clague DA, Paduan JB, Davis AS (2009) Widespread strombolian eruptions of mid-ocean ridge basalt. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 180:171–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daczko NR, Mosher S, Coffin MF, Meckel TA (2005) Tectonic implications of fault-scarp-derived volcaniclastic deposits on Macquarie Island; sedimentation at a fossil ridge-transform intersection? Geol Soc Am Bull 117:18–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daczko NR, Harb N, Portner RA, Dickinson JA (2009) Geochemical fingerprint of hyaloclasts in glassy fragmental rocks of Macquarie Island (Southern Ocean): implications for volcanogenic sedimentary processes at a waning mid-ocean ridge. Aus J Earth Sci 56:951–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis A, Clague D (2006) Volcaniclastic deposits from the North Arch volcanic field, Hawaii: explosive fragmentation of alkalic lava at abyssal depths. Bull Volcanol 68:294–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deer WA, Howie RA, Zussman J (1992) An introduction to the rock-forming minerals. Longman Scientific Technical, Harlow Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickinson JA, Harb N, Portner RA, Daczko NR (2009) Glassy fragmental rocks of Macquarie Island (Southern Ocean): Mechanism of formation and deposition. Sed Geol 216:91–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan RA, Varne R (1988) The age and distribution of the igneous rocks of Macquarie Island. Pap Proc Roy Soc Tas 122:45–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Eissen JP, Fouquet Y, Hardy D, Ondreas H (2003) Recent MORB volcaniclastic explosive deposits formed between 500 and 1750 m.b.s.l. on the axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, south of the Azores. In: White JDL, Smellie JL, Clague DA (eds) Explosive subaqueous volcanism. Am Geophys Union Mon 140:143–166

  • Fisher RV (1971) Features of coarse-grained, high-concentration fluids and their deposits. J Sed Petrol 41:916–927

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RV, Schmincke H-U (1994) Volcaniclastic sediment transport and deposition. In: Pye K (ed) Sediment transport and depositional processes. Blackwell Scientific, Edinburgh, pp 351–388

    Google Scholar 

  • Fouquet Y, Eissen JP, Ondreas H, Barriga F, Batiza R, Danyushevsky L (1998) Extensive volcaniclastic deposits at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis; results of deep-water basaltic explosive volcanic activity? Terra Nova 10:280–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Georgen JE, Lin J (2003) Plume-transform interactions at ultra-slow spreading ridges; implications for the Southwest Indian Ridge. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 4:9106. doi:10.1029/2003GC000542

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gill J, Torssander P, Lapierre H, Taylor R, Kaiho K, Koyama M, Kusakabe M, Aitchison J, Cisowski S, Dadey K, Fujioka K, Klaus A, Lovell M, Marsaglia K, Pezard P, Taylor B, Tazaki K (1990) Explosive deep water basalt in the Sumisu backarc rift. Science 248:1214–1217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goscombe BD, Everard JL (1998) Geology of Macquarie Island. Geological Atlas 1:10,000 Series, Mineral Resources Tasmania, Hobart:7 sheets

  • Goscombe BD, Everard JL (2001) Tectonic evolution of Macquarie Island; extensional structures and block rotations in oceanic crust. J Struct Geol 23:639–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffin BJ (1982) Igneous and metamorphic petrology of lavas and dikes of the Macquarie Island ophiolite complex. PhD thesis, University of Tasmania, Hobart

    Google Scholar 

  • Harb N (2006) Fragmentation processes, depositional mechanisms and lithification of glassy fragmental rocks, Macquarie Island. BSc (hons) thesis, Macquarie University, Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayward BW, Grenfell HR, Carter R, Hayward JJ (2004) Benthic foraminiferal proxy evidence for the Neogene palaeoceanographic history of the Southwest Pacific, east of New Zealand. Mar Geol 205:147–184

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Head JW, Wilson L (2003) Deep submarine pyroclastic eruptions; theory and predicted landforms and deposits. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 121:155–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heiken G, Wohletz K (1991) Fragmentation processes in explosive volcanic eruptions. Soc Econ Paleontol Mineral Spec Publ 45:19–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Hekinian R, Pineau F, Shilobreeva S, Bideau D, Gracia E, Javoy M (2000) Deep sea explosive activity on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 34 degrees 50'N; magma composition, vesicularity and volatile content. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 98:49–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hiscott RN, Middleton GV (1980) Fabric of coarse deep-water sandstones, Tourelle Formation, Quebec, Canada. J Sed Petrol 50:703–721

    Google Scholar 

  • Honnorez J, Kirst P (1975) Submarine basaltic volcanism: morphometric parameters for discriminating hyaloclastites from hyalotuffs. Bull Volcanol 39:441–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Houghton BF, Wilson CJN (1989) A vesicularity index for pyroclastic deposits. Bull Volcanol 51:451–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamenetsky VS, Everard JL, Crawford AJ, Varne R, Eggins SM, Lanyon R (2000) Enriched end-member of primitive MORB melts; petrology and geochemistry of glasses from Macquarie Island (SW Pacific). J Petrol 41:411–430

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamenetsky VS, Maas R (2002) Mantle-melt evolution (dynamic source) in the origin of a single MORB suite: a perspective from magnesian glasses of Macquarie Island. J Petrol 43:1909–1922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kneller B, McCaffrey W (1999) Depositional effects of flow nonuniformity and stratification within turbidity currents approaching a bounding slope; deflection, reflection, and facies variation. J Sed Res 69:980–991

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokelaar P (1986) Magma-water interactions in subaqueous and emergent basaltic volcanism. Bull Volcanol 48:275–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lackschewitz KS, Dehn J, Wallrabe-Adams H-J (1994) Volcaniclastic sediments from mid-oceanic Kolbeinsey Ridge, north of Iceland; evidence for submarine volcanic fragmentation processes. Geology 22:975–978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Le Maitre RW (2002) Igneous rocks a classification and glossary of terms. Cambridge University, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe DR (1982) Sediment gravity flows; II, depositional models with special reference to the deposits of high-density turbidity currents. J Sed Petrol 52:279–297

    Google Scholar 

  • Lowe DR (1988) Suspended-load fallout rate as an independent variable in the analysis of current structures. Sedimentology 35:765

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maicher D, White JDL, Batiza R (2000) Sheet hyaloclastite; density-current deposits of quench and bubble-burst fragments from thin, glassy sheet lava flows, Seamount Six, eastern Pacific Ocean. Mar Geol 171:75–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mangan MT, Cashman KV (1996) The structure of basaltic scoria and reticulite and inferences for vesiculation, foam formation, and fragmentation in lava fountains. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 73:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McBirney AR (1963) Factors governing the nature of submarine volcanism. Bull Volcanol 26:455–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrissey MM, Zimanowski B, Wohletz K, Büttner R, Ballard RD (2000) Phreatomagmatic fragmentation. In: Sigurdsson H, Houghton BF, McNutt SR, Rymer H, Stix J (eds) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 431–445

    Google Scholar 

  • Mosher S, Massell-Symons CM (2008) Ridge reorientation mechanisms: Macquarie Ridge Complex, Australia-Pacific plate boundary. Geology 36:119–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naumann TR, Geist DJ (1999) Generation of alkalic basalt by crystal fractionation of tholeiitic magma. Geology 27:423–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noguchi S, Toramaru A, Shimano T (2006) Crystallization of microlites and degassing during magma ascent: Constraints on the fluid mechanical behavior of magma during the Tenjo eruption on Kozu Island, Japan. Bull Volcanol 68:432–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orton GJ (1996) Volcanic environments. In: Reading HG (ed) Sedimentary environments: Processes, facies and stratigraphy. Blackwell Science, Oxford, pp 485–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Quilty PG, Crundwell M, Wise SW Jr (2008) Microplankton provide 9 Ma age for sediment in the Macquarie Island ophiolite complex. Aus J Earth Sci 55:1119–1125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanders JE (1965) Primary sedimentary structures formed by turbidity currents and related resedimentation mechanisms. In: Middleton GV (ed) Primary sedimentary structures and their hydrodynamic interpretation. Soc Econ Paleontol Mineral Spec Publ, pp 192–219

  • Schneider J-L (2000) Volcaniclastic sedimentation in submarine settings; products and processes. In: Leyrit H, Montenat C (eds) Volcaniclastic rocks from magmas to sediments. Gordon and Breach Science Publishers, Amsterdam, pp 175–191

    Google Scholar 

  • Shanmugam G (1997) The Bouma sequence and the turbidite mind set. Earth-Sci Rev 42:201–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson K, McPhie J (2001) Fluidal-clast breccia generated by submarine fire fountaining, Trooper Creek Formation, Queensland, Australia. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 109:339–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skilling IP, White JDL, McPhie J (2002) Peperite: a review of magma sediment mingling. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 114:1–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith TL, Batiza R (1989) New field and laboratory evidence for the origin of hyaloclastite flows on seamount summits. Bull Volcanol 51:96–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn RA, Willis C, Humphris S, Shank TM, Singh H, Edmonds HN, Kunz C, Hedman U, Helmke E, Jakuba M, Liljebladh B, Linder J, Murphy C, K-i N, Sato T, Schlindwein V, Stranne C, Tausenfreund M, Upchurch L, Winsor P, Jakobsson M, Soule A (2008) Explosive volcanism on the ultraslow-spreading Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean. Nature 453:1236–1238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Squire RJ, McPhie J (2002) Characteristics and origin of peperite involving coarse-grained host sediment. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 114:45–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Staudigel H, Schmincke H-U (1984) The Pliocene seamount series of La Palma/Canary Islands. J Geophys Res 89:11,195–11,215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vergniolle S, Mangan M (2000) Hawaiian and strombolian eruptions. In: Sigurdsson H, Houghton BF, McNutt SR, Rymer H, Stix J (eds) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 447–461

    Google Scholar 

  • Wertz KL, Mosher S, Daczko NR, Coffin MF (2003) Macquarie Island's Finch-Langdon Fault; a ridge-transform inside-corner structure. Geology 31:661–664

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White JDL (1996) Impure coolants and interaction dynamics of phreatomagmatic eruptions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 74:155–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White JDL, Houghton BF, Ballard RD (2000) Surtseyan and related phreatomagmatic eruptions. In: Sigurdsson H, Houghton BF, McNutt SR, Rymer H, Stix J (eds) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 495–512

    Google Scholar 

  • White JDL, Houghton BF (2006) Primary volcaniclastic rocks. Geology 34:677–680

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wohletz KH (1983) Mechanisms of hydrovolcanic pyroclast formation: grain-size, scanning electron microscopy, and experimental studies. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 17:31–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wohletz KH (2003) Water/magma interaction: physical considerations for the deep submarine environment. In: White JDL, Smellie JL, Clague DA (eds) Explosive subaqueous volcanism. Am Geophys Union Mon 140:25–49

  • Wright IC (2001) In situ modification of modern submarine hyaloclastic/pyroclastic deposits by oceanic currents; an example from the southern Kermadec Arc (SW Pacific). Mar Geol 172:287–307

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamagishi H (1991) Morphological and sedimentological characteristics of the Neogene submarine coherent lavas and hyaloclastites in Southwest Hokkaido, Japan. Sed Geol 74:5–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimanowski B, Büttner R, Lorenz V (1997a) Premixing of magma and water in MFCI experiments. Bull Volcanol 58:491–495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimanowski B, Büttner R, Lorenz V, Haefele H-G (1997b) Fragmentation of basaltic melt in the course of explosive volcanism. J Geophys Res 102:803–814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimanowski B, Wohletz K, Dellino P, Büttner R (2003) The volcanic ash problem. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 122:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge I. Skilling, D. Maicher, and JDL White for providing comments that greatly improved this manuscript. We thank the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD project number 2515) and the Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service for providing support and access to our remote field locations on Macquarie Island during summer field seasons of 2006 and 2007. We thank the crews of the Marina Svateava (summer 2006) and the Spirit of Enderby (summer 2007) along with Aurora and Heritage expeditions for providing transport to Macquarie Island. N. Pearson provided numerous insights and instrumentation support for the geochemical aspect of the study. This project was supported by an ARC discovery grant to NRD and JAD (DP0663373). This is contribution number 581 from the ARC GEMOC National Key Centre (www.es.mq.edu.au/GEMOC/).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. GEMOC ARC National Key Centre, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Ryan A. Portner, Nathan R. Daczko & Julie A. Dickinson

Authors
  1. Ryan A. Portner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nathan R. Daczko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Julie A. Dickinson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ryan A. Portner.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: J. White

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 198 kb)

ESM 2

Complete geochemical dataset for glass and olivine phenocrysts (XLS 246 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Portner, R.A., Daczko, N.R. & Dickinson, J.A. Vitriclastic lithofacies from Macquarie Island (Southern Ocean): compositional influence on abyssal eruption explosivity in a dying Miocene spreading ridge. Bull Volcanol 72, 165–183 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-009-0312-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-009-0312-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation