Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evolution of a complex isolated dome system, Cerro Pizarro, central México

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

Abstract

Cerro Pizarro is an isolated rhyolitic dome in the intermontane Serdán-Oriental basin, located in the eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Cerro Pizarro erupted ~1.1 km3 of magma at about 220 ka. Activity of Cerro Pizarro started with vent-clearing explosions at some depth; the resultant deposits contain clasts of local basement rocks, including Cretaceous limestone, ~0.46-Ma welded tuff, and basaltic lava. Subsequent explosive eruptions during earliest dome growth produced an alternating sequence of surge and fallout layers from an inferred small dome. As the dome grew both vertically and laterally, it developed an external glassy carapace due to rapid chilling. Instability of the dome during emplacement caused the partial gravitational collapse of its flanks producing various block-and-ash-flow deposits. After a brief period of repose, re-injection of magma caused formation of a cryptodome with pronounced deformation of the vitrophyric dome and the underlying units to orientations as steep as near vertical. This stage began apparently as a gas-poor eruption and no explosive phases accompanied the emplacement of the cryptodome. Soon after emplacement of the cryptodome, however, the western flank of the edifice catastrophically collapsed, causing a debris avalanche. A hiatus in eruptive activity was marked by erosion of the cone and emplacement of ignimbrite derived from a caldera to the north of Cerro Pizarro. The final growth of the dome growth produced its present shape; this growth was accompanied by multiple eruptions producing surge and fallout deposits that mantle the topography around Cerro Pizarro. The evolution of the Cerro Pizarro dome holds aspects in common with classic dome models and with larger stratovolcano systems. We suggest that models that predict a simple evolution for domes fail to account for possibilities in evolutionary paths. Specifically, the formation of a cryptodome in the early stages of dome formation may be far more common than generally recognized. Likewise, sector collapse of a dome, although apparently rare, is a potential hazard that must be recognized and for which planning must be done.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andreastuti SD, Alloway BV, Smith IEM (2000) A detailed tephrostratigraphic framework at Merapi Volcano, Central Java, Indonesia: Implications for eruption predictions and hazard assessment. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 100:51–67

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belousov A (1996) Deposits of the 30 March 1956 directed blast at Bezymianny Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. Bull Volcanol 57:649–662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco-Núñez G (2000) Structure and proximal stratigraphy of Citlaltépetl Volcano (Pico de Orizaba), Mexico. In: Aguirre-Diaz G, Delgado-Granados H, Stock JM (eds) Cenozoic volcanism and tectonics of Mexico. Geol Soc Am Spec Pap 334:247–262

    Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco-Núñez G, Gómez-Tuena A, Lozano VL (1997) Geologic map of Cerro Grande volcano and surrounding area, Central Mexico. Geol Soc Am Map and Chart Series MCH 081, 10 pp

  • Carrasco-Núñez G, Riggs NR (2002) Dome growth in monogenetic and polygenetic magmatic systems: Cerro Pizarro and Citlaltépetl volcanoes, eastern México. Mount Pelee 1902–2002. Explosive volcanism in subduction zones. Programe et resumes, p 18

    Google Scholar 

  • Christiansen RL, Lipman PW (1966) Emplacement and thermal history of a rhyolite flow near Fortymile Canyon, southern Nevada. Bull Geol Soc Am 77:671–684

    Google Scholar 

  • Cole PD, Calder ES, Druitt TH, Hoblitt R, Robertson R, Sparks RSJ, Young SR (1998) Pyroclastic flows generated by gravitational instability of the 1996–1997 lava dome of Soufriere Hills Volcano, Montserrat. Geophys Res Lett 25:3425–3428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crandell DR, Miller CD, Glicken, HX, Christiansen, RL, Newhall CG (1984) Catastrophic debris avalanche from ancestral Mount Shasta Volcano, California. Geology 12:143–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Crandell DR (1989) Gigantic debris avalanche of Pleistocene age fromancestral Mount Shasta Volcano, California, and debris-avalanche hazard zonation. US Geol Surv Bull B1861, 32 pp

  • Duffield WA, Jackson MD, Smith JG, Lowenstern JB, Clynne MA (1996) Structural doming over an upper crustal magma body at Alid, Eritrea. EOS Trans 77:792

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffield WA, Richter DH, Priest SS (1995) Physical volcanology of silicic lava domes as exemplified by the Taylor Creek Rhyolite, Catron and Sierra Counties, New Mexico. US Geol Surv Map I-2399, 1:50,000

  • Ferriz H, Mahood GA (1984) Eruption rates and compositional trends at Los Humeros Volcanic Center, Puebla, Mexico. J Geophys Res 89:8511–8524

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher RV (1990) Transport and deposition of a pyroclastic surge across an area of high relief: the 18 May 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington. Bull Geol Soc Am 102:1038–1054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Tuena A, Carrasco-Núñez G. (2000) Cerro Grande volcano: The evolution of a Miocene stratocone in the early Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Tectonophysics 318:249–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorshkov GS (1959) The gigantic eruption of the volcano Bezymianny. Bull Volcanol 20:77–109

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hildreth W, Drake RE (1992) Volcán Quizapo, Chilean Andes. Bull Volcanol 54:93–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoblitt RP, Miller CD, Vallance JW (1981) Origin and stratigraphy of the deposit produced by the May 18 directed blast. In: Lipman PW, Mullineaux DR (eds) The 1980 eruptions Mount St. Helens, Washington. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 1250:401–419

    Google Scholar 

  • Ishikawa T (1950) New eruption of Usu Volcano, Hokkaido, Japan, during 1943–1945. J Fac Sci Hokkaido University 7:237–260

    Google Scholar 

  • Kluth CF, Kluth MJ (1974) Geology of the Elden Mountain area, Arizona. In: Karlstrom TNV, Swann GA, and Eastwood RL (eds) Geology of northern Arizona with notes on archaeology and paleoclimate; Pt. II, area studies and field guides. Geol Soc Am Rocky Mtn Sec Mtg, Flagstaff, pp 521–529

  • Lipman PW, Moore JG, Swanson DA (1981) Bulging of the north flank before the May 18 eruption—geodetic data. In: Lipman, PW, Mullineaux DR (eds) The 1980 eruptions Mount St. Helens, Washington. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 1250:143–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Lozano-Santa Cruz R, Verma SP, Girón P, Velasco F, Morán D, Viera F, Chávez G (1995) Calibración preliminar de fluorescencia de rayos-X para análisis cuantitativo de elementos mayores en rocas ígneas. Acta INAGEQ 1:203–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Metz JM, Bailey RA (1993) Geologic map of Glass Mountain, Mono County, California. Misc Invest Ser US Geol Surv Report I–1995

  • Mimatsu M (1995) Showa-Shinzan Diary [English translation]. Executive Committee 50th anniversary of Mt. Showa-Shinzan, Hokkaido, Japan 179 pp

  • Minakami T, Ishikawa T, Yagi K (1951) The 1944 eruption of Volcano Usu in Hokkaido Japan. Bull Volcanol 11:45–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore JG, Albee WC (1981) Topographic and structural changes, March–July 1980—photogrammetric data. In: Lipman PW, Mullineaux DR (eds) The 1980 eruptions Mount St. Helens, Washington. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 1250:123–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakada S, Fujii T (1993) Preliminary report on the activity at Unzen Volcano (Japan), November 1990–November 1991: Dacite lava domes and pyroclastic flows. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 54:319–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riggs NR, Hurlbert JC, Schroeder TJ, Ward SA (1997) The interaction of volcanism and sedimentation in the proximal areas of a mid-Tertiary volcanic dome field, central Arizona, USA. J Sediment Res 67:142–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson HH (1913) The San Franciscan volcanic field, Arizona. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 76, 213 pp

  • Rosales-Hoz L, Santiago-Pérez S, Lozano-Santa Cruz R (1997) Modifications to a glass disk fusion method for X-ray fluorescence analyses of geological material. Acta INAGEQ 2:245–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowley PD, Kuntz MA, MacLeod NS (1981) Pyroclastic-flow deposits. In: Lipman PW, Mullineaux DR (eds) The 1980 eruptions Mount St. Helens, Washington. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 1250:489–512

    Google Scholar 

  • Sato H, Fujii T, Nakada S (1992) Crumbling of dacite dome lava and generation of pyroclastic flows at Unzen volcano. Nature 360:664–666

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Siebe C (1985) Geologische, geochemische und petrographische Untersuchungen im Gebiet der rhyolithischen Dome Las Derrumbadas, Bundesstaat, Puebla, Mexiko. Diplomarbeit, Universität Tübingen, 97 pp

  • Siebert L (1984) Large volcanic debris avalanches: characteristics of source areas, deposits, and associated eruptions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 22:163–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sparks RSJ, Barclay J, Calder ES, Herd RA, Komorowski J-C, Luckett R, Norton GE, Ritchie LJ, Voight B, Woods AW (2002) Generation of a debris avalanche and violent pyroclastic density current on 26 December (Boxing Day) 1997 at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat. In: Druitt TH, Kokelaar BP (eds) The eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, from 1995–1999. Geol Soc Lond Mem 21:409–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Ui T (1983) Volcanic dry avalanche deposits—identification and comparison with nonvolcanic debris stream deposits. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 18:135–150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ui T, Takarada S, Yoshimoto M (2001) Debris avalanches. In: Sigurdsson H (ed) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 617–626

  • Voight B, Glicken H, Janda RJ, Douglass PM (1981) The rockslide avalanche of May 18. In: Lipman PW, Mullineaux DR (eds) The 1980 eruptions Mount St. Helens, Washington. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 1250:347–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Voight B, Constantine EK, Siswowidjoyo S, Torley R (2000a) Historical eruptions of Merapi Volcano, central Java, Indonesia, 1768–1998. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 100:69–138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Voight B, Komorowski JC, Norton GE, Belousov AB, Belousova M, Boudon G, Francis PW, Franz W, Heinrich P, Sparks RSJ, Young SR (2002c) The 26 December (Boxing Day) 1997 sector collapse and debris avalanche at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat. In: Druitt TH, Kokelaar BP (eds) The eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, from 1995–1999. Geol Soc Lond Mem 21:363–407

    Google Scholar 

  • Voight B, Young KD, Hidayat D, Subandrio, Purbawinata MA, et al (2000b) Deformation and seismic precursors to dome-collapse and fountain-collapse nuées ardentes at Merapi Volcano, Java, Indonesia, 1994–1998. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 100:261–287

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watts RB, Herd RA, Sparks RSJ, Young SR (2002) Growth patterns and emplacement of the andesitic lava dome at Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat. In: Druitt TH, Kokelaar PB (eds) The eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, from 1995 to 1999. Geol Soc Lond Mem 21 pp

  • Yáñez C, García S (1982) Exploración geotérmica de la región geotérmica Los Humeros-Las Derrumbadas, estados de Puebla y Veracruz. C.F.E. 96

  • Young SR, Sparks RSJ, Aspinall WP, Lynch LL, Miller AD, Robertson REA, Shepherd JB (1998) Overview of the eruption of Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, 18 July 1995 to December 1997. Geophys Res Lett 25:3389–3392

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was partially supported by an AAAS/NSF Women’s International Science Collaboration Program grant to NRR and Conacyt grant 27554-T and PAPIIT IN104401 to GCN. Thin sections were prepared by Juan Vazquez at UNAM. Aerial photographs were provided by Fidel Cedillo at Los Humeros Geothermal Field (CFE). Chemical analyses were performed at UNAM by Patricia Girón and Rufino Lozano.40Ar/39Ar dating was done at the New Mexico Geochronological Research Lab by L. Peters and W.C. McIntosh. We are grateful to Siobhan McConnell for quality field assistance and to Wendell Duffield and Jocelyn McPhie for wading through an earlier version of this manuscript and substantially improving its content and organization. Reviews by Gill Norton and an anonymous reviewer are greatly appreciated. Continuous encouragement by Dante Morán, former director of Instituto de Geología at UNAM, is greatly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA

    Nancy Riggs

  2. Centro de Geociencias, Campus UNAM Juriquilla, Apdo. Postal 1–742, 76001, Querétaro, Qro, Mexico

    Gerardo Carrasco-Nunez

Authors
  1. Nancy Riggs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gerardo Carrasco-Nunez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nancy Riggs.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: J. Gilbert

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Riggs, N., Carrasco-Nunez, G. Evolution of a complex isolated dome system, Cerro Pizarro, central México. Bull Volcanol 66, 322–335 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-003-0313-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-003-0313-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation