Geologic Publications for Mount Rainier

Preeruption conditions and timing of dacite-andesite magma mixing in the 2.2 ka eruption at Mount Rainier

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Author(s): Dina Y. Venezky, M J. Rutherford

Category: PUBLICATION
Document Type:
Publisher: Papers on Chemistry and Physics of Minerals and Rocks Volcanology
Published Year: 1997
Volume: 102
Number: B9
Pages: 20069 to 2008
DOI Identifier: 10.1029/97JB01590
ISBN Identifier:
Keywords:

Abstract:
Analytical, field, and experimental evidence demonstrate that the Mount Rainier tephra layer C (2.2 ka) preserves a magma mixing event between an andesitic magma (whole rock SiO₂ content of 57–60 wt %) and a dacitic magma (whole rock SiO₂ content of 65±1 wt %). The end-member andesite (a mix of an injected and chamber andesite) and dacite can be characterized on the basis of the homogeneity of the matrix glass and phenocryst rim compositions. Many pumices, however, contain mixtures of the end-members. The end-member dacite contains a microlite-free matrix glass with 74–77 wt % SiO₂, orthopyroxene rims of Mg_57–64, clinopyroxene rims of Mg_66–74, and plagioclase rim anorthite contents of An_45–65. The temperature and oxygen fugacity, from Fe-Ti oxide compositions, are 930±10°C and 0.5–0.75 log units above NNO. The mixed andesite contains Mg_73–84 orthopyroxene rims, Mg_73–78 clinopyroxene rims, An_78–84 plagioclase rims, and Mg_67–74 amphibole rims. The temperature from Fe-Ti oxides, hornblendeplagioclase, and two-pyroxene geothermometry is 1060±15°C, and the oxygen fugacity is approximately one log unit above NNO for the injected andesite. The chamber andesite is estimated to be a magma with a ~64–65 wt % SiO₂ melt at 980°C and a NNO oxygen fugacity. We conclude that the andesitic and dacitic magmas are from separate magma storage regions (at >7 km and ~2.4 km) due to differences in the bimodal whole rock, matrix glass, and phenocryst compositions and the presence or absence of stable hornblende. The time involved from the mixing event through the eruption is limited to a period of 4–5 days based on Fe-Ti oxide reequilibration, phenocryst growth rates, and hornblende breakdown. The eruption sequence is interpreted as having been initiated by an injection of the 1060±15°C andesitic magma into the ~980°C (>7 km) andesite storage region. The mixed andesitic magma then intersected a shallow, ~2.4 km, dacitic storage system on its way toward the surface. The eruption became more dacitic over time, and the final products some show evidence of partial reequilibration between the andesite and dacite.

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Suggested Citations:
In Text Citation:
Venezky and Rutherford (1997) or (Venezky and Rutherford, 1997)

References Citation:
Venezky, D.Y. and M.J. Rutherford, 1997, Preeruption conditions and timing of dacite-andesite magma mixing in the 2.2 ka eruption at Mount Rainier: Papers on Chemistry and Physics of Minerals and Rocks Volcanology, Vol. 102, No. B9, pp. 20069-2008, doi: 10.1029/97JB01590.