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Evidence from cosmic ray exposure (CRE) dating for the existence of a pre-Minoan caldera on Santorini, Greece

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Abstract

Cosmic ray exposure (CRE) dating was performed on the caldera cliffs of Santorini with the aim of detecting cliff segments predating the Minoan eruption (17th century BCE). The methodology involved the determination of in situ-produced cosmogenic 36Cl concentration in basaltic-to-rhyodacitic whole rocks cropping out in the cliffs. After the samples were processed following the chemical protocol of 36Cl preparation for silicate rocks, 36Cl concentrations were measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Important challenges during the implementation procedure were related to large amounts of radiogenic 36Cl, complex modeling of inherited 36Cl, and dominance of the thermal and epithermal (low-energy) neutron capture production pathway. Nevertheless, quantitative assessments on the basis of the contribution of the low-energy neutron capture pathway percent to the total production rate validated the calculated CRE dates. Current CRE ages demonstrate that an ancient caldera existed on pre-Minoan Santorini, occupying at least the northern half of the modern-day caldera.

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Acknowledgments

This work is a contribution to the Labex OT-Med (no. ANR-11-LABX-0061) funded by FMSH, the European Commission’s Action Marie Curie COFUND Programme, and the French Government «Investissements d’Avenir» program of the French National Research Agency (ANR) through the A*MIDEX project (no. ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02) and the Frenand Braudel-IFER fellowship. M. Arnold, G. Aumaître, and K. Keddadouche are thanked for their valuable assistance during 36Cl measurements at the ASTER AMS national facility (CEREGE, Aix-en-Provence) which is supported by the INSU/CNRS, the ANR through the “Projets thématiques d’excellence” program for the “Equipements d’excellence” ASTER-CEREGE action, IRD, and CEA. This is a Laboratory of Excellence ClerVolc contribution. Authors thank Darryl Granger (Purdue University, USA) for constructive discussion, as well as an anonymous reviewer. The authors are thankful to Vaggelis Nomikos, resident of Santorini, for sailing them across the caldera for sample collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS-IRD-Collège de France, UM 34 CEREGE, Technopôle de l’Environnement Arbois-Méditerranée, BP80, 13545, Aix-en-Provence, France

    C. D. Athanassas, D. L. Bourlès, R. Braucher & L. Léanni

  2. Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, Université Blaise Pascal-CNRS-IRD, OPGC, 5 rue Kessler, 63038, Clermont Ferrand, France

    T. H. Druitt

  3. Faculty of Geology and the Geoenvironment, University of Athens, Panepistimioupolis Zografou, 15784, Athens, Greece

    P. Nomikou

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  1. C. D. Athanassas
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  2. D. L. Bourlès
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  3. R. Braucher
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  4. T. H. Druitt
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  5. P. Nomikou
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  6. L. Léanni
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Correspondence to C. D. Athanassas.

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Editorial responsibility: G. Giordano

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Athanassas, C.D., Bourlès, D.L., Braucher, R. et al. Evidence from cosmic ray exposure (CRE) dating for the existence of a pre-Minoan caldera on Santorini, Greece. Bull Volcanol 78, 35 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-016-1026-3

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