The evolution of the Silver Hills volcanic center, and revised 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, with implications for island arc volcanism

Hatter, S.J., Palmer, M.R., Gernon, T.M., Taylor, R.N., Cole, P.D., Barfod, D.N. and Coussens, M. (2018) The evolution of the Silver Hills volcanic center, and revised 40Ar/39Ar geochronology of Montserrat, Lesser Antilles, with implications for island arc volcanism. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 19(2), pp. 427-452. (doi: 10.1002/2017GC007053)

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Abstract

Studying the older volcanic centers on Montserrat, Centre Hills and Silver Hills, may reveal how volcanic activity can change over long time periods (≥1 Myr), and whether the recent activity at the Soufrière Hills is typical of volcanism throughout Montserrat's history. Here, we present the first detailed mapping of the Silver Hills, the oldest and arguably least studied volcanic center on Montserrat. Volcanism at the Silver Hills was dominated by episodic andesite lava dome growth and collapse, produced Vulcanian style eruptions, and experienced periodic sector collapse events, similar to the style of volcanic activity that has been documented for the Centre Hills and Soufrière Hills. We also present an updated geochronology of volcanism on Montserrat, by revising existing ages and obtaining new 40Ar/39Ar dates and palaeomagnetic ages from marine tephra layers. We show that the centers of the Silver, Centre, and Soufrière Hills were active during at least ∼2.17–1.03 Ma, ∼1.14–0.38 Ma, and ∼0.45 Ma–present, respectively. Combined with timings of volcanism on Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe these ages suggest that ∼0.5–1 Ma is a common lifespan for volcanic centers in the Lesser Antilles. These new dates identify a previously unrecognized overlap in activity between the different volcanic centers, which appears to be a common phenomenon in island arcs. We also identify an older stage of Soufrière Hills activity ∼450–290 ka characterized by the eruption of hornblende-orthopyroxene-phyric lavas, demonstrating that the petrology of the Soufrière Hills eruptive products has changed at least twice throughout the volcano's development.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Barfod, Dr Dan
Authors: Hatter, S.J., Palmer, M.R., Gernon, T.M., Taylor, R.N., Cole, P.D., Barfod, D.N., and Coussens, M.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
Journal Name:Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Publisher:American Geophysical Union
ISSN:1525-2027
ISSN (Online):1525-2027
Published Online:01 February 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 American Geophysical Union
First Published:First published in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 19(2):427-452
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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