Short-lived eruptive episodes during the construction of a Na-alkalic basaltic field (Persani Mountains, SE Transylvania, Romania)

摘要

The Persani Mts. basaltic field covers > 176 km(2) (similar to 22 x 8 km) and is one of the youngest and biggest monogenetic volcanic fields in Southeastern Europe. It consists of 21 monogenetic volcanic centers, most of which were built on a basement of Miocene rhyolitic tuffs and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. Ar-40/Ar-39 dating shows that the eruptions took place in five episodes: 1220, 1142, 1060, 800, and 683 ka. An additional undated episode at 1060-800 ka has been identified using volcanological observations. Initial phreatomagmatic activity was commonly followed by explosive Strombolian/Hawaiian phases that deposited agglutinated spatter around the vents along with massive-to-bedded unconsolidated scoria and lapilli. Some volcanoes lack evidence for magmatic explosive activity, while others lack evidence for the initial phreatomagmatic phase. During most eruptions, the final activity was the effusion of lava flows that in some cases deformed (or partially destroyed) the volcanic edifices. The erupted volumes varied greatly from one episode to other, without showing any pattern: the highest volumes are recorded in deposits from the third pulse (1060 ka). The volcanoes are located close to faults and always on their footwall blocks, and it is inferred that the regional tectonic stress regime controlled both the timing and spacing of volcanic activity in the volcanic field.