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The ~4-ka Rungwe Pumice (South-Western Tanzania): a wind-still Plinian eruption

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Abstract

The ~4-ka trachytic Rungwe Pumice (RP) deposit from Rungwe Volcano in South-Western Tanzania is the first Plinian-style deposit from an African volcano to be closely documented focusing on its physical characterization. The RP is a mostly massive fall deposit with an inversely graded base. Empirical models suggest a maximum eruption column height H T of 30.5–35 km with an associated peak mass discharge rate of 2.8–4.8 × 108 kg/s. Analytical calculations result in H T values of 33 ± 4 km (inversion of TEPHRA2 model on grain size data) corresponding to mass discharge ranging from 2.3 to 6.0 × 108 kg/s. Lake-core data allow extrapolation of the deposit thinning trend far beyond onland exposures. Empirical fitting of thickness data yields volume estimates between 3.2 and 5.8 km3 (corresponding to an erupted mass of 1.1–2.0 × 1012 kg), whereas analytical derivation yields an erupted mass of 1.1 × 1012 kg (inversion of TEPHRA2 model). Modelling and dispersal maps are consistent with nearly no-wind conditions during the eruption. The plume corner is estimated to have been ca. 11–12 km from the vent. After an opening phase with gradually increasing intensity, a high discharge rate was maintained throughout the eruption, without fountain collapse as is evidenced by a lack of pyroclastic density current deposits.

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Acknowledgements

KF and GGJE are supported by the Belgian Research Foundation (FWO-Vlaanderen). Damien Delvaux is acknowledged for introduction in the field and providing assistance in obtaining working permissions. Edista Abdallah, Shimba Kwelwa, Shaban Sangalala, Gabriel Mwakyambiki and the people from Bongo Camping in Kibisi-Tukuyu are acknowledged for their support and friendship during and after field work. Danielle Schram is highly acknowledged for assistance with grain size analyses. Toon Van Dijck is thanked for assisting in pumice density measurements, and Alain Volentik for sharing thickness data from the Pululagua BF2 deposit. Reviews by Sebastian Watt and Mauro Rosi were highly appreciated and have improved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281/S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Karen Fontijn, Gerald G. J. Ernst, Marlina A. Elburg & Patric Jacobs

  2. Section des sciences de la Terre et de l’environnement, Université de Genève, Rue des Maraîchers 13, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland

    Costanza Bonadonna

  3. Ministry of Communication, Science and Technology, PO Box 2645, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

    Evelyne Mbede

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  1. Karen Fontijn
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  2. Gerald G. J. Ernst
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  5. Evelyne Mbede
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Correspondence to Karen Fontijn.

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Editorial responsibility: P. Delmelle

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Fontijn, K., Ernst, G.G.J., Bonadonna, C. et al. The ~4-ka Rungwe Pumice (South-Western Tanzania): a wind-still Plinian eruption. Bull Volcanol 73, 1353–1368 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-011-0486-8

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