ALBERT

Description: The 1.3 Ma Purico complex is part of an extensive Neogene-Pleistocene ignimbrite province in the central Andes. Like most other silicic complexes in the province, Purico is dominated by monotonous intermediate ash-flow sheets and has volumetrically minor lava domes. The Purico ignimbrites (total volume 80-100 km3) are divided into a Lower Purico Ignimbrite (LPI) with two extensive flow units, LPI I and LPI II; and a smaller Upper Purico Ignimbrite (UPI) unit. Crystal-rich dacite is the dominant lithology in all the Purico ignimbrites and in the lava domes. It is essentially the only lithology present in the first LPI flow unit (LPI I) and in the Upper Purico Ignimbrite, but the LPI II flow unit is unusual for its compositional diversity. It constitutes a stratigraphic sequence with a basal fall-out deposit containing rhyolitic pumice (68-74 wt% SiO2) overlain by ignimbrite with dominant crystal-rich dacitic pumice (64-66 wt% SiO2). Rare andesitic and banded pumice (60-61 wt% SiO2) are also present in the uppermost part of the flow unit. The different compositional groups of pumice in LPI II flow unit (rhyolite, andesite, dacite) have initial Nd and Sr isotopic compositions that are indistinguishable from each other and from the dominant dacitic pumice ()Nd=-6.7 to -7.2 and 87Sr/86Sr=0.7085-0.7090). However, two lines of evidence show that the andesite, dacite and rhyolite pumices do not represent a simple fractionation series. First, melt inclusions trapped in sequential growth zones of zoned plagioclase grains in the rhyolite record fractionation trends in the melt that diverge from those shown by dacite samples. Second, mineral equilibrium geothermometry reveals that dacites from all ignimbrite flow units and from the domes had relatively uniform and moderate pre-eruptive temperatures (780-800 �C), whereas the rhyolites and andesites yield consistently higher temperatures (850-950 �C). Hornblende geobarometry and pressure constraints from H2O and CO2 contents in melt inclusions indicate upper crustal (4-8 km) magma storage conditions. The petrologic evidence from the LPI II system thus indicates an anomalously zoned magma chamber with a rhyolitic cap that was hotter than, and chemically unrelated to, the underlying dacite. We suggest that the hotter rhyolite and andesite magmas are both related to an episode of replenishment in the dacitic Purico magma chamber. Rapid and effective crystal fractionation of the fresh andesite produced a hot rhyolitic melt whose low density and viscosity permitted ascent through the chamber without significant thermal and chemical equilibration with the resident dacite. Isotopic and compositional variations in the Purico system are typical of those seen throughout the Neogene ignimbrite complexes of the Central Andes. These characteristics were generated at moderate crustal depths (〈30 km) by crustal melting, mixing and homogenization involving mantle-derived basalts. For the Purico system, assimilation of at least 30% mantle-derived material is required.

Description: La Pacana caldera in the Central Andes of northern Chile is one of the largest and best exposed resurgent calderas in the world. The caldera had previously been recognised as the source of the regionally-extensive Atana ignimbrite, but additional field and stratigraphic evidence, along with new K–Ar age determinations and geochemical data have led to a revision of the geology and development of this major Andean caldera. In particular, this information allows more realistic estimates of eruptive volumes and has implications for the style of ignimbrite eruption. Two major ignimbrites appear to have originated from La Pacana caldera, based on their thickness variations, lateral distributions and stratigraphic relations: the crystal-poor, rhyolitic Toconao ignimbrite (4–5 Ma) and the crystal-rich, dacitic Atana ignimbrite (4 Ma). Following caldera collapse and formation of the resurgent Atana block, several crystal-rich dacitic–rhyolitic domes formed along the margin of the resurgent block. New K–Ar ages show that this post-caldera volcanism continued from 4 to 2 Ma, indicating that the La Pacana magmatic system was active for at least 2 Ma after the main eruption. The Atana ignimbrite extends west, south and east of La Pacana caldera. Our work shows that the ignimbrite sequence northeast of the caldera, formerly mapped as Atana outflow, represents two new units which we name the upper and lower Tara ignimbrites. The distribution of the Tara ignimbrites points to a source to the north. The upper Tara ignimbrite comprises four flow units with interbedded surge and fall deposits and a characteristic, heterogeneous pumice population. It occurs in the La Pacana moat and onlaps the resurgent block. These field relations and a new K–Ar age of 3.8 Ma show convincingly that this ignimbrite erupted after formation of La Pacana caldera. The lower Tara ignimbrite is a single extensive flow unit, and has an age of 5.6 Ma. Two outcrops of lag breccia occur adjacent to the caldera topographic margin and these are interpreted as vent areas for the Atana ignimbrite. This indicates that the structural caldera margin does not coincide with the resurgent block as previously thought, but is close to the topographic margin. Combining this redefinition of caldera geometry with the revised distribution of the Atana ignimbrite implies an overall trap-door-like configuration of caldera collapse, with a hinge to the north and maximum subsidence in the south. The new volume estimate of 2500 km3 for the caldera-forming Atana ignimbrite, including intracaldera and outflow facies, places it among the most voluminous ignimbrites of the world.

Description: The stratigraphical succession of the Piànico-Sèllere Basin (Northern Italy) represents an exceptionally well preserved sedimentary assemblage which formed in a closed lake basin during the Middle–Upper Pleistocene. These deposits are grouped into the hereby proposed "Piànico Formation". This includes four lacustrine, fine-grained, laminated lithostratigraphical units containing a 10.5 m thick interval of well preserved varved carbonates. The lacustrine units are coeval, and laterally heteropic to lake-marginal, talus cone/fan delta debris flow deposits accumulated within the lake. The stratigraphical study and sedimentary facies analysis throughout the lacustrine succession, combined with a preliminary pollen and microstratigraphical investigation, provide evidence of a complex environmental and climatic evolution which occurred during the lacustrine deposition. The Piànico Formation shows multiple changes in sedimentary processes which indicate a transition from a peri/proglacial to a temperate lacustrine environment. Within forested phases a complex evolution is evident. Main changes in vegetational patterns from conifer to broad-leaved, warm temperate forests correspond to changes in sediment composition from distal sand silt turbidites to a regular continuous succession of endogenic calcite-rich annual varves. An increased rate of erosional processes on the surrounding slopes is also indicated by debris flow deposits. Stratigraphically, their frequency within the fine-grained basinal sediments increases upwards which would indicate increasing subaerial erosion processes at the end of the sedimentation of the Piànico Formation. These data highlight the sensitivity of the Piànico-Sèllere Basin sedimentation in recording minor climatic fluctuations and related environmental changes which occurred before the Last Glacial Maximum probably during oxygen isotope stage 5, 7 or 9.