Eruptive history and 40 Ar∕ 39 Ar geochronology of the Milos volcanic field, Greece
2021
Abstract. High-resolution geochronology is essential for determining the growth rate of volcanoes, which is one of the key factors for establishing the
periodicity of volcanic eruptions. However, there are less high-resolution eruptive histories ( > 10 6 years) determined for long-lived
submarine arc volcanic complexes than for subaerial complexes, since submarine volcanoes are far more difficult to observe than subaerial ones. In
this study, high-resolution geochronology and major-element data are presented for the Milos volcanic field (VF) in the South Aegean Volcanic Arc,
Greece. The Milos VF has been active for over 3 Myr , and the first 2 × 10 6 years of its eruptive history occurred in a submarine setting
that has been emerged above sea level. The long submarine volcanic history of the Milos VF makes it an excellent natural laboratory to study the
growth rate of a long-lived submarine arc volcanic complex. This study reports 21 new high-precision 40 Ar / 39 Ar ages and major-element compositions for 11 volcanic units of the Milos VF. This allows us to divide the Milos volcanic history into at least three periods of
different long-term volumetric volcanic output rate ( Qe ). Periods I (submarine, ∼ 3.3–2.13 Ma ) and III (subaerial,
1.48 Ma –present) have a low Qe of 0.9 ± 0.5 × 10 −5 and
0.25 ± 0.05 × 10 −5 km3 yr−1 , respectively. Period II (submarine, 2.13–1.48 Ma ) has a 3–12 times higher
Qe of 3.0 ± 1.7 × 10 −5 km3 yr−1 . The Qe of the Milos VF is 2–3 orders of magnitude
lower than the average for rhyolitic systems and continental arcs.
Keywords:
- Correction
- Source
- Cite
- Save
- Machine Reading By IdeaReader
58
References
2
Citations
NaN
KQI