Melt inclusions from volcan de Colima, Mexico: complex examples of magmatic differentiation

Melt inclusions are minute magma bodies trapped within growing crystals. Their chemical compositions are useful in deciphering pre-eruptive conditions and magma evolution. The present study examined melt inclusions trapped in phenocrysts from the 3rd and 4th magmatic cycles (1869-1988) at Volcan de Colima, Mexico. Melt inclusions have highly evolved chemical compositions: 65-77% SiO2, >12% A12O3, 3-6% Na2O and K20 and less than 5.5% Fe and Mg. Major element compositions suggest that they are strongly differentiated magmas controlled by fractionation of plagioclase, opx, cpx and hornblende. Water concentrations were measured to be 2.7-3.5 wt. % in cpx hosted inclusions and 0.3-0.7 wt % in opx and plagioclase. Trace element compositions are anomalously low and inversely correlate with water. From this we deduce that Colima lavas and scorias simultaneously differentiate and degas. Moreover, hornblende rim growth rates constrain the ascent of the Colima magmas to -100 days for passive eruptions and >4 days for plinian eruptions.

Petrologic and geochemical study of crustal xenoliths from Calbuco Volcano, Chile (latitude 41°20ʹS)

Twenty Four samples of xenoliths and country rocks from the 1961 lava flow of Calbuco volcano have been studied. Fourteen samples have been analyzed for major elements and P, Ni, Ba, Cr, V, Zr, Sc, Y, and Sr. Five of these samples were further analyzed for Sm, Nd, Sr, and Pb isotope ratios. Seventeen samples were studied under the microscope and three samples were analyzed by microprobe for their pyroxene compositions. Based on petrographic studies xenoliths were divided into three groups. Fine grained xenoliths (groups I and II) probably formed from metamorphosed MORB-like basalts, whereas coarse grained xenoliths (group III) were apparently derived from cumulate minerals that crystallized from the Calbuco magma. The fine grained xenoliths were probably entrained in magma at intermediate levels of the crust, near the stability limit of amphibole to form pyroxene and plagioclase. In the coarse grained xenoliths amphibole that formed at depth dehydrated as the xenoliths were brought to the surface. The country rocks are apparently unrelated to the xenoliths.