Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of China

Weizhou island, located in the north margin of the South China Sea (SCS), is characterized by multi-stage volcanism, several eruption styles and eruption craters, and is also the youngest Quaternary volcanic island in China. An eruption on this island may pose high risk to life and property. However...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hongmei Yu, Wenjian Yang, Bo Zhao, Zhengquan Chen, Bin Zhou, Guanjun Nie, Hao Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Earth Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.713444/full
_version_ 1828917519301214208
author Hongmei Yu
Hongmei Yu
Wenjian Yang
Wenjian Yang
Bo Zhao
Bo Zhao
Zhengquan Chen
Zhengquan Chen
Bin Zhou
Guanjun Nie
Hao Luo
author_facet Hongmei Yu
Hongmei Yu
Wenjian Yang
Wenjian Yang
Bo Zhao
Bo Zhao
Zhengquan Chen
Zhengquan Chen
Bin Zhou
Guanjun Nie
Hao Luo
author_sort Hongmei Yu
collection DOAJ
description Weizhou island, located in the north margin of the South China Sea (SCS), is characterized by multi-stage volcanism, several eruption styles and eruption craters, and is also the youngest Quaternary volcanic island in China. An eruption on this island may pose high risk to life and property. However, the eruptive history of Weizhou island, the craters number and location, and their eruptive sequence and characteristics are still being debated, which are important for potential volcanic hazard assessment. In the present study, field surveys, 40Ar/39Ar and 14C geochronological studies and whole rock composition analysis of volcanic rock are used to investigate the eruption sequences associated with Weizhou island and the characteristics of each period. Four volcanoes were discovered at Henglushan, Hengling, Nanwan and Daling. The Henglushan and Hengling volcanoes were produced by early weak explosive and late effusive eruptions, and lavas from these volcanoes represent the foundation of island. Conversely, the Nanwan and Daling volcanoes are linked to multiple explosive eruption phases, with hydromagmatic eruptions in the first and last phase and a magmatic explosive eruption in the second phase. The pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) deposits of the Nanwan and Daling volcanoes virtually cover the entire island. Volcanic activity in Weizhou island started in Early Pleistocene and ended in Late Pleistocene. This can be divided into the following distinct periods: 1,420–1,260, 870–740, 600–480, 283–222 ka, and 33.7–13 ka. The first four periods were dominated by effusive eruptions associated with the Henglushan and Hengling volcanoes, which peaked between 870 and 740 ka. After this period, explosive eruptions began at around 33.7 ka because of magma–water interactions. These explosive eruptions then created the Nanwan and Daling volcanoes. Early effusive lava flows in Weizhou island are characterized by basaltic compositions and are linked with a small amount of fractional crystallization. Magmas in later eruptions contained slightly lower SiO2 and involved some basanite. Fractional crystallization was also less pronounced in these lavas because of their rapid ascent.
first_indexed 2024-12-13T20:53:07Z
format Article
id doaj.art-f8dd8278bcc44dabaf1723ad857741c4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2296-6463
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-13T20:53:07Z
publishDate 2021-10-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Earth Science
spelling doaj.art-f8dd8278bcc44dabaf1723ad857741c42022-12-21T23:31:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-10-01910.3389/feart.2021.713444713444Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of ChinaHongmei Yu0Hongmei Yu1Wenjian Yang2Wenjian Yang3Bo Zhao4Bo Zhao5Zhengquan Chen6Zhengquan Chen7Bin Zhou8Guanjun Nie9Hao Luo10National Observation and Research Station of Jilin Changbaishan Volcano, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Seismic and Volcanic Hazards, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaNational Observation and Research Station of Jilin Changbaishan Volcano, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Seismic and Volcanic Hazards, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaNational Observation and Research Station of Jilin Changbaishan Volcano, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Seismic and Volcanic Hazards, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaNational Observation and Research Station of Jilin Changbaishan Volcano, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaKey Laboratory of Seismic and Volcanic Hazards, China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, ChinaGuangxi Earthquake Agency, Nanning, ChinaGuangxi Earthquake Agency, Nanning, ChinaChina Earthquake Disaster Prevention Center, Beijing, ChinaWeizhou island, located in the north margin of the South China Sea (SCS), is characterized by multi-stage volcanism, several eruption styles and eruption craters, and is also the youngest Quaternary volcanic island in China. An eruption on this island may pose high risk to life and property. However, the eruptive history of Weizhou island, the craters number and location, and their eruptive sequence and characteristics are still being debated, which are important for potential volcanic hazard assessment. In the present study, field surveys, 40Ar/39Ar and 14C geochronological studies and whole rock composition analysis of volcanic rock are used to investigate the eruption sequences associated with Weizhou island and the characteristics of each period. Four volcanoes were discovered at Henglushan, Hengling, Nanwan and Daling. The Henglushan and Hengling volcanoes were produced by early weak explosive and late effusive eruptions, and lavas from these volcanoes represent the foundation of island. Conversely, the Nanwan and Daling volcanoes are linked to multiple explosive eruption phases, with hydromagmatic eruptions in the first and last phase and a magmatic explosive eruption in the second phase. The pyroclastic density currents (PDCs) deposits of the Nanwan and Daling volcanoes virtually cover the entire island. Volcanic activity in Weizhou island started in Early Pleistocene and ended in Late Pleistocene. This can be divided into the following distinct periods: 1,420–1,260, 870–740, 600–480, 283–222 ka, and 33.7–13 ka. The first four periods were dominated by effusive eruptions associated with the Henglushan and Hengling volcanoes, which peaked between 870 and 740 ka. After this period, explosive eruptions began at around 33.7 ka because of magma–water interactions. These explosive eruptions then created the Nanwan and Daling volcanoes. Early effusive lava flows in Weizhou island are characterized by basaltic compositions and are linked with a small amount of fractional crystallization. Magmas in later eruptions contained slightly lower SiO2 and involved some basanite. Fractional crystallization was also less pronounced in these lavas because of their rapid ascent.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.713444/fulleruption sequenceeffusive eruptionexplosive eruptionbase-surge depositsWeizhou Island volcano
spellingShingle Hongmei Yu
Hongmei Yu
Wenjian Yang
Wenjian Yang
Bo Zhao
Bo Zhao
Zhengquan Chen
Zhengquan Chen
Bin Zhou
Guanjun Nie
Hao Luo
Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of China
Frontiers in Earth Science
eruption sequence
effusive eruption
explosive eruption
base-surge deposits
Weizhou Island volcano
title Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of China
title_full Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of China
title_fullStr Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of China
title_full_unstemmed Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of China
title_short Eruption Sequences and Characteristics of Weizhou Island Volcano, Guangxi Province, South of China
title_sort eruption sequences and characteristics of weizhou island volcano guangxi province south of china
topic eruption sequence
effusive eruption
explosive eruption
base-surge deposits
Weizhou Island volcano
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2021.713444/full
work_keys_str_mv AT hongmeiyu eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT hongmeiyu eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT wenjianyang eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT wenjianyang eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT bozhao eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT bozhao eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT zhengquanchen eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT zhengquanchen eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT binzhou eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT guanjunnie eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina
AT haoluo eruptionsequencesandcharacteristicsofweizhouislandvolcanoguangxiprovincesouthofchina