Английская Википедия:Galán

Материал из Онлайн справочника
Перейти к навигацииПерейти к поиску

Шаблон:Short description Шаблон:For multi Шаблон:Good article Шаблон:Infobox mountain

Cerro Galán is a caldera in the Catamarca Province of Argentina. It is one of the largest exposed calderas in the world and forms part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, one of the three volcanic belts found in South America. One of several major caldera systems in the Central Volcanic Zone, the mountain is grouped into the Altiplano–Puna volcanic complex.

Volcanic activity at Galán is the indirect consequence of the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South America Plate, and involves the infiltration of melts into the crust and the formation of secondary magmas which after storage in the crust give rise to the dacitic to rhyodacitic rocks erupted by the volcano.

Galán was active between 5.6 and 4.51 million years ago, when it generated a number of ignimbrites known as the Toconquis group which crop out mainly west of the caldera. The largest eruption of Galán was 2.08 ± 0.02 million years ago and was the source of the Galán ignimbrite, which covered the surroundings of the caldera with volcanic material. The volume of this ignimbrite has been estimated to be about Шаблон:Convert; after this eruption much smaller ignimbrite eruptions took place and presently two hot springs are active in the caldera.

Geography and geomorphology

The Galán caldera lies in the northwestern Catamarca Province of Argentina and was discovered in 1975 in a remote region of the Andes,Шаблон:Sfn using satellite images.Шаблон:Sfn The town of Antofagasta de la Sierra lies west-southwest of the Galán caldera,Шаблон:Sfn Tacuil is almost due northeast from the caldera and El Penon southwest of the volcano.Шаблон:Sfn The caldera is difficult to access.Шаблон:Sfn An Inka tambo was situated at Laguna Diamante,[1][2] and an important prehistoric travel route passed through the caldera.Шаблон:Sfn Sacrificial offers were given on the summit of Galán.[3]

Galán is part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn which lies on the western margin of South America,Шаблон:Sfn where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South America Plate. There are about 50 volcanoes with recent activity in the Central Volcanic Zone, and additional volcanoes exist in the Northern Volcanic Zone and the Southern Volcanic Zone, two other volcanic belts north and south.Шаблон:Sfn

The volcanic arc runs along the borders between Bolivia and Argentina with Chile, and behind the volcanic arc lies a chain of silicicШаблон:Efn volcanoes, of which Galán is a southern member.Шаблон:Sfn The whole region has been subject to substantial ignimbrite-forming volcanism with many eruptions producing volumes of rock larger than Шаблон:Convert, although the actual vents often are only visible from space imagery.Шаблон:Sfn Many vents cluster in an area known as the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex which occupies a surface of about Шаблон:ConvertШаблон:Sfn approximately Шаблон:Convert north of Galán,Шаблон:Sfn and which includes the large calderas of La Pacana, Cerro Guacha, Pastos Grandes and Cerro Panizos as well as more recent geothermal systems.Шаблон:Sfn This volcanism appears to be a surface expression of a pluton,Шаблон:Sfn and at depths of Шаблон:Convert beneath the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex electrical, gravity and seismic tomography data have localized a structure of partially molten rock called the "Altiplano Puna Magma Body".Шаблон:EfnШаблон:Sfn Volcanism in this "back" region may not be directly related to subduction processes despite the region itself being close to a subducting margin.Шаблон:Sfn

The Galán caldera lies on the eastern margin of the Andes, where the Sierras Pampeanas begin.Шаблон:Sfn The region is characterized by the Puna, a high plateau similar to Tibet in Asia.Шаблон:Sfn

Local

Файл:Cerro Galan.jpg
The Galán caldera from the inside

Galán is a caldera with topographic dimensions of Шаблон:Convert, of which about Шаблон:Convert are part of the caldera proper.Шаблон:Sfn Such dimensions make Galán one of the biggest calderas on Earth;Шаблон:Sfn it has been described as a supervolcano.Шаблон:Sfn The floor of the caldera reaches an elevation of Шаблон:ConvertШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn or about Шаблон:Convert,Шаблон:Sfn and the whole caldera has an elliptical shapeШаблон:Sfn extending in the north–south direction.Шаблон:Sfn Only the western margin of the caldera structure appears to be a true caldera margin, however,Шаблон:Sfn with different landforms forming the rest of the caldera wallsШаблон:Sfn and the actual collapse caldera covering only a portion of the topographic caldera expression;Шаблон:Sfn the latter has been defined to be a volcano-tectonic depression.Шаблон:Sfn

The caldera contains a resurgent dome,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn whose highest pointШаблон:Sfn in the frost-shattered Galán massifШаблон:Sfn reaches an elevation of about Шаблон:Convert[4]-Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn Seismic tomography has identified a slow-speed anomaly beneath Galán, which has a volume of about Шаблон:Convert and is considered to be a magma reservoir of the volcano.[5]

Summits along the caldera margin include Cerro Aguas Calientes (a lava domeШаблон:Sfn) to the north, Cerro Leon Muerto to the southeast, Cerro Pabellon to the southwest and Cerro Toconquis to the northwest.Шаблон:Sfn On the western rim, elevations of Шаблон:Convert are reached.Шаблон:Sfn Younger volcanoes have developed on the western and northern rim of the Galán caldera.Шаблон:Sfn

Hydrology

The caldera contains a Шаблон:Convert lakeШаблон:Sfn in its southwestern corner,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn which is known as Laguna DiamanteШаблон:Sfn and may formerly have occupied much of the caldera.[6] Laguna Diamante has gained attention among scientists for the extreme environmental conditions that life within the lake has to withstand, including high arsenic contents of the waters and high insolation with ultraviolet radiation.[7][8] The water is hyper-alkaline and five times as salty as the sea but supports microorganisms which form microbial mats and provide food for a colony of flamingos.[7] Tube-shaped microbialites have also been reported.[4] A smaller lake known as Laguna Pabellon lies just south of Laguna Diamante. North of the resurgent dome, the Rio Aguas Calientes drains the caldera northward, while east of it the Rio Leon Muerto runs eastward out of the caldera.Шаблон:Sfn

Rivers in the caldera and neighbourhood display river terraces which may reflect pre-caldera formation uplift of the terrain and uplift associated with the resurgent dome.Шаблон:Sfn These drainages eventually converge in the Rio de Los Patos and end into the Salar del Hombre Muerto north of Galán.[9][10] The high Cerro Galán intercepts moisture transported from east, thus nourishing the Rio de Los Patos in a region where long permanent watercourses are unusual.Шаблон:Sfn The western flanks of the caldera drain into the Antofagasta de la Sierra valley through a number of drainages such as Rio Punilla, Rio Toconquis, Rio Miriguaca, Rio Las Pitas; the waters eventually end into the Laguna Antofagasta south of Antofagasta de la Sierra.[11] Two hot springs are found within the caldera, the first close to its northern end and the second on the southwestern foot of the resurgent dome,Шаблон:Sfn both emitting water with temperatures of about Шаблон:Convert.[12] The first one is known as the Aguas Calientes hydrothermal spring and features deposits of tufaШаблон:Sfn and boiling water.[13] Another geothermal system is known as La Colcha and includes fumaroles as well as boiling water and sinter deposits; it has been prospected for the possibility of geothermal power generation.[14]

Geology

The basement beneath the caldera consists of 600–365 million years old metamorphicШаблон:Sfn and sedimentary rocks of Precambrian to Paleozoic age.Шаблон:Sfn These include intrusions of granitoid character and are overlain with Paleozoic marine sediments.Шаблон:Sfn Ordovician units are also presentШаблон:Sfn and form sediment layers up to Шаблон:Convert thick.Шаблон:Sfn Basements outcrops occur in the northeastern margin of the caldera.Шаблон:Sfn

About 14.5 million years ago volcanic activity started in the region, first west of Galán but by 7 million years ago it shifted to the future caldera, forming the Cerro Colorado, Pabellon and Cerro Toconquis composite volcanoes on its future western rim.Шаблон:Sfn The more westerly centres are today represented by eroded volcanoes.Шаблон:Sfn Since about 6.6 million years ago the volcanic activity produced rocks of both maficШаблон:Efn and silicic compositions.Шаблон:Sfn The increase of volcanic activity has been attributed to the steepening of the Nazca Plate slab which allowed mantle material to penetrate into the space between the lower crust and the slab.Шаблон:Sfn North of 21° degrees southern latitude ignimbritic volcanism started earlier, generating the Altos de Pica and Oxaya formations.Шаблон:Sfn

Mafic volcanism occurred south and west of Galán both before its large eruption and afterwards, in the valley of Antofagasta de la Sierra and may have continued to less than ten thousand years ago.Шаблон:Sfn The positions of the exact vents are controlled by recent fault systems in the region.Шаблон:Sfn

Since about 10 million years ago, the area has been subject to reverse faulting which has disrupted the basement along north–south lines,Шаблон:Sfn forming a rift valley that also stretches from north to south.Шаблон:Sfn The magma erupted by the Galán system was likewise channelled along such fault systems,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn and neighbouring volcanoes were similarly influenced by them;Шаблон:Sfn the fault systems at Galán proper are known as the Diablillos-Galán faults.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Another major lineament in the area is the Archibarca lineament, which is formed by a strike-slip fault that extends from the northwest to the southeast in the regionШаблон:Sfn and which intersects the Diablillos-Galán faults at the location of the caldera.Шаблон:Sfn

Composition

Galán has erupted mainly potassium-rich dacitic to rhyolitic rocks that are often called rhyodacitic,Шаблон:Sfn and which reflect a calc-alkaline suite.Шаблон:Sfn Each ignimbrite has usually a uniform composition but there is some variation between individual ignimbrites;Шаблон:Sfn for example older rocks contain amphibole and younger rocks instead sanidine.Шаблон:Sfn Minerals contained in the eruption products include allanite, apatite, biotite, hornblende, ilmenite, magnetite, orthopyroxene, plagioclase, quartz, sanidine and zircon. Hydrothermal alteration has left calcite in some rocks.Шаблон:Sfn Trace element patterns are distinct in the Galán ignimbrite in comparison to the Toconquis Group rocks.Шаблон:Sfn

The formation of the Galán magma has been explained with melting of lower crustal rocks under the influence of rising basaltic magmas that supplied the heat needed for the melting processes, and which also directly contributed to magma formation through mixing events.Шаблон:Sfn Further metasomatism in the crust and fractional crystallization processes completed the magma genesis process.Шаблон:Sfn Probably under the influence of larger scale tectonics, magma that accumulated into a mid-crustal mush zone is eventually transferred into shallow magma chambers at depths of Шаблон:Convert;Шаблон:Sfn recharge events where deep magma entered the shallow magma bodies may have triggered eruptions at Galán.Шаблон:Sfn After eruption, a leftover pluton would have been generated inside the crust.Шаблон:Sfn

Based on the presence of two separate populations of pumice in the Galán ignimbrite it has been inferred that there were two types of magma in the magmatic system during the Galán eruption, a larger volume of so-called "white" magma and a "grey" magma which was injected into the "white" magma pool and eventually rose above the latter.Шаблон:Sfn More generally, it appears that before each eruption there were two batches of magma present beneath the volcanoШаблон:Sfn which however were very similar owing perhaps to a homogenization process that took place deep in the crust.Шаблон:Sfn Before the eruption, the magma is estimated to have been Шаблон:Convert hot.Шаблон:Sfn

Climate and biology

Galán lies in a region of arid climate, with annual precipitation amounting to about Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn Frosts occur year-round.Шаблон:Sfn Climate data are known for Salar de Hombre Muerto north of Galán; average temperatures there are Шаблон:Convert in summer and winter, respectively. Precipitation occurs mostly during the summer months.[9]

At high elevations there is no vegetation.Шаблон:Sfn Between Шаблон:Convert elevation, vegetation consists of high altitude steppe dominated by Poaceae (grasses) such as Festuca (fescue) and Stipa (feather grass). At lower altitudes, wetlands have their own vegetation.[11] In sheltered areas birds like ducks and flamingos can be observed.[13]

Eruptive history

Volcanic activity at Galán occurred in two separate stages,Шаблон:Sfn which are separated by an erosional unconformityШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn during which the ignimbrite apron of the Toconquis group was incised by deep valleys.Шаблон:Sfn Mechanistically, the onset of the eruptions has been explained with delamination events during which parts of the lower crust broke off, asthenospheric material replaced the crust lost by delamination and basaltic magmas penetrated the remaining crust.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

These stages have left an ignimbrite plateau that surrounds the calderaШаблон:Sfn except on its southern side, and which is noticeable on satellite images.Шаблон:Sfn It covers a surface area of about Шаблон:ConvertШаблон:Sfn and is the largest ignimbrite system in the Puna plateau.Шаблон:Sfn

Toconquis Group

The first stage occurred between 5.60 and 4.51 million years ago and consisted of the eruption of large ignimbrites such as theШаблон:Sfn Blanco,Шаблон:Sfn Cueva Negra,Шаблон:Sfn several Merihuaca ignimbritesШаблон:Sfn and Real Grande ignimbrite as well as lava domes, all from north–south trending fractures,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn forming the Toconquis Group (formerly called the Toconquis Formation).Шаблон:Sfn The Real Grande and Cueva Negra ignimbrites were considered to be homologous, as are the easterly Leon Muerto and several Merihuaca ignimbrites,Шаблон:Sfn but it was later found that the Leon Muerto and Merihuaca ignimbrites probably were erupted from distinct vent systems and have distinct compositions,Шаблон:Sfn and the Cueva Negra ignimbrite was later considered to be a separate formation from the other Toconquis group ignimbrites.Шаблон:Sfn The later classifications established a 6.5 Шаблон:Endash 5.5 million-year-old Blanco/Merihuaca ignimbrites, 4.8 million-year-old Pitas, 4.7 million-year-old Real Grande, 4.5 million-year-old Vega and 3.8 million-year-old Cueva Negra ignimbrite.Шаблон:Sfn

The formation is fairly heterogeneous, with some ignimbrites separated by sharp contacts and the degree of welding and crystal content of pumices varies from one ignimbrite to the other.Шаблон:Sfn Generally the ignimbrites are rich in crystals and pumice, are unwelded and contain few flow structures,Шаблон:Sfn with the exception of the welded Cueva Negra ignimbrite.Шаблон:Sfn Some ignimbrite eruptions were preceded by the formation of Plinian eruption columns that generated ash fallout, and there is evidence for pulsating flow in the ignimbrites.Шаблон:Sfn

On the northern side of the Galán complex, ignimbrites extend up to Шаблон:Convert away from the caldera and may have reached even larger distances prior to erosion,Шаблон:Sfn and they have thicknesses of Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn The ignimbrites have a total volume of about Шаблон:Convert, with the Real Grande ignimbrite comprising over half of its volume.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn The volume of the individual ignimbrites increases the younger they areШаблон:Sfn with the initial Blanco and Merihuaca ignimbrites having a volume of about Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn

The last eruption may have generated a caldera that was later obliterated.Шаблон:Sfn Emission of lava flows occurred during the Toconquis phase as well,Шаблон:Sfn in general there was vigorous volcanic activity between the eruptions that formed the main ignimbrites.Шаблон:Sfn The Cueva Negra ignimbrite was emplaced after the Toconquis Group, and small lava domes and pyroclastic flows continued to be erupted until the Galán ignimbrite proper.Шаблон:Sfn The magmatic system shallowed during this time, resulting in composition changes of the erupted ignimbritesШаблон:Sfn and a general increase of elevations in the region.Шаблон:Sfn

Galán ignimbrite

2.08 ± 0.02 million years agoШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn the rhyodaciticШаблон:Sfn Galán ignimbrite proper was emplaced. Aside from a facies that remained inside the caldera and is minimally Шаблон:Convert thick,Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn ignimbrites extend outside of the caldera to distances of Шаблон:ConvertШаблон:Sfn but with an average runout distance of Шаблон:ConvertШаблон:Sfn and have thicknesses of Шаблон:Convert;Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn closer to the caldera it has been largely eroded away and there are more complete exposures farther away from Galán.Шаблон:Sfn A contrary view is that the Galán ignimbrite was largely eroded only on its northern side by wind action, forming yardangs.Шаблон:Sfn The resurgent dome consists of Galán ignimbrite material, along with basement rocks.Шаблон:Sfn The "Toba Dacitica" Шаблон:Convert outcrop away from the volcano was once considered part of the Galán eruption but later compositional differences were found.Шаблон:Sfn

The Galán ignimbrite is fairly homogeneous and has a high crystal content;Шаблон:Sfn overall it appears that the eruption commenced and reached large dimensions fairly quickly without leaving time for an eruption column or distinct flow units to form, except in some places.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Conversely, the produced flows were relatively slow flowsШаблон:Sfn that had little capacity to pass above topographic obstacles or to move rocks around.Шаблон:Sfn It nevertheless spread over large distances, since the topography of the region had been flattened by the previous Toconquis ignimbrites,Шаблон:Sfn and was still hot by the time it came to a standstill.Шаблон:Sfn Pumice is scarce and usually present in only small fragments, and lithic fragments are also uncommon except at the bases of the deposit. Fiamme structures on the other hand are fairly common especially where the ignimbrite crossed river valleys. The ignimbrite displays varying degrees of welding but has often spectacular columnar joints.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

At first it was assumed that this ignimbrite crops out over a surface of Шаблон:Convert but later it was found that it covers a surface closer to Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn Between the intracaldera ignimbrite, the parts of the ignimbrite that extend away from the caldera and outcrops at large distance, the volume is about Шаблон:Convert,Шаблон:Sfn down from earlier estimated of volumes exceeding Шаблон:ConvertШаблон:Sfn but the Galán eruption is still one of the biggest known volcanic eruptionsШаблон:Sfn and the volcano has produced almost half of the volume of ignimbrites in the southern Puna.Шаблон:Sfn The Galán ignimbrite is the largest ignimbrite erupted by this centre;Шаблон:Sfn there is a tendency of the volume of individual ignimbrites to increase as the volcanoes grow younger, not only at Galán but also at other Puna ignimbrite centres, and this may be a consequence of progressive changes in the crust.Шаблон:Sfn Such giant eruptions have not been observed during historical time and are considered to be among the most dangerous volcanic phenomena known.Шаблон:Sfn

Kay et al. proposed that the Galán ignimbrite consisted of three separate units, an intracaldera one emplaced 2.13 million years ago and two extracaldera ones 2.09 and 2.06 million years ago.Шаблон:Sfn

Post-Galán volcanism

The main Galán caldera formed during the Galán ignimbrite eruption,Шаблон:Sfn and it is possible that the collapse of the magma chamber roof actually started the eruption.Шаблон:Sfn Later it was found that a trapdoor collapse is a more plausible interpretation of the caldera structureШаблон:Sfn and that the caldera appears to be much smaller than its present-day topographic expression.Шаблон:Sfn Most likely a lake formed within the caldera after its eruption.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

Later volcanic activity resulted in lava flows of dacitic composition being erupted along the ring fault of the caldera, as well as the formation of the resurgent dome by about Шаблон:Convert uplift along the eastern caldera margin fault.Шаблон:Sfn This uplift encompasses both Galán ignimbrite rocks but also parts of the basement, the latter especially in the southern part of the dome.Шаблон:Sfn Post-caldera volcanism occurred on the northern margin of the caldera 2.01 ± 0.28 million years ago,Шаблон:Sfn and several small ignimbrites were emplaced after the main Galán eruption until less than 2 million years ago.Шаблон:Sfn These ignimbrites have similar compositions to the Galán ignimbriteШаблон:Sfn and were formed from magma left over by the main Galán eruption.Шаблон:Sfn The onset of resurgence within the caldera may have been triggered by the same magma that is responsible for the post-caldera volcanism along the eastern caldera rims.Шаблон:Sfn The post-caldera volcanic systems appear to be rather ill-defined, however. The most recent activity was of tectonic nature and consists of movements along the faults and mafic volcanism ("Incahuasi Formation"Шаблон:Sfn) farther west.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn Seismic tomography indicates that there is still a melt zone under Galán,Шаблон:Sfn the "Cerro Galán Mush Body".Шаблон:Sfn An earthquake swarm was recorded on the 25 January 2009 mainly under the resurgent dome, and may reflect hydrothermal or magmatic activity.[15]

See also

Шаблон:Portal

Notes

Шаблон:Notelist

References

Шаблон:Reflist

Bibliography

Шаблон:Refbegin

Шаблон:Refend

Further reading

Шаблон:Andean volcanoes

  1. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок WilliamsVillegas2017 не указан текст
  2. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок OliveraTchilinguirian2023 не указан текст
  3. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок PérezClur2023 не указан текст
  4. 4,0 4,1 Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок Sancho-Tomás2020 не указан текст
  5. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок DelphWard2017 не указан текст
  6. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок CasWright1987 не указан текст
  7. 7,0 7,1 Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок Belluscio2010 не указан текст
  8. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок Rascovan2016 не указан текст
  9. 9,0 9,1 Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок GodfreyJordan2003 не указан текст
  10. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок VinanteAlonso2006 не указан текст
  11. 11,0 11,1 Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок Grant2016 не указан текст
  12. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок Paoli2002 не указан текст
  13. 13,0 13,1 Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок CatamarcaTourism не указан текст
  14. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок CondeSierra2016 не указан текст
  15. Ошибка цитирования Неверный тег <ref>; для сносок Mulcahy2014 не указан текст