Crystals and melt inclusions record deep storage of superhydrous magma prior to the largest known eruption of Cerro Machín volcano, Colombia

Abstract

Cerro Machín, a volcano located in the northern segment of the Andes, is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Colombia with an explosive record that involves at least five plinian events. Prior studies focused on the last dome-building eruption have suggested the presence of a water-rich mid-crustal magma reservoir. However, no direct volatile measurements have been published and little work has been completed on the explosive products of the volcano. Here, we study the largest known eruption of Cerro Machín volcano which occurred 3600 yr BP producing dacitic pyroclastic fall deposits that can be traced up to 40 km from the vent. Lapilli pumice clasts have a mineral assemblage of plagioclase, amphibole, quartz, and biotite phenocrysts, with accessory olivine, Fe-Ti oxides, and apatite. The occurrence of Fo89-92 olivine rimmed by high Mg# amphibole and the established high-water contents in the magma imply the presence of magma near or at water saturation at pressures >~500 MPa. Measurements of up to 10.7 wt% H2O in melt inclusions hosted in plagioclase and quartz in the 3600 years BP eruption products support the idea that Cerro Machín is a remarkably water-rich volcanic system. Moreover, this is supported by measurements of ~103 – 161 ppm H2O in plagioclase phenocrysts. The application of two parameterizations of water partitioning between plagioclase and silicate melt allows us to use our water in plagioclase measurements to estimate equilibrium melt water contents of 5 ± 1 – 11 ± 2 wt% H2O, which are in good agreement with the water contents we measured in melt inclusions. Results of amphibole geobarometry are consistent with a magma reservoir stored in the mid-to-lower crust at a modal pressure of 700 ± 250 MPa, corresponding to a depth of ~25 km. Minor crystallization in the shallow crust is also recorded by amphibole barometry and calculated entrapment pressures in melt inclusions. Amphibole is present as unzoned and zoned crystals. Two populations of unzoned amphibole crystals are present, the most abundant indicate crystallization conditions of 853 ± 26 °C (1 se; standard error), and the less abundant crystallized at an average temperature of 944 ± 24 °C (1 se). Approximately 18% of the amphibole crystals are normally or reversely zoned, providing evidence for a minor recharge event that could have been the trigger mechanism for the explosive eruption. Plagioclase crystals also show normal and reverse zoning. The moderate Ni concentrations (<1600 μg/g) in the high-Fo olivine xenocrysts suggest that Cerro Machín primary magmas are generated by inefficient interaction of mantle peridotite with a high-silica melt produced by slab melting of basaltic material. Some sediment input is also suggested by the high Pb/Th (>2.2), Th/La (0.3 – 0.4), and low La/Th (<13; relative to mantle array) ratios. Whole rock chemistry reveals heavy rare earth element (HREE) depletion and Sr enrichment that likely formed during the crystallization of garnet and amphibole in the upper part of the mantle or lower portion of the crust, promoting the formation of water-rich dacitic magma that was then injected into the middle-to-lower crust. Textural and compositional differences in the crystal cargo that erupted during dome-building and plinian events support the idea that large volumes of magma recharge lead to effusive eruptions, while only small recharge events are needed to trigger plinian eruptions at Cerro Machín.