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Understanding magmatic processes at Telica volcano, Nicaragua: Crystal size distribution and textural analysis

  • Molly Witter EMAIL logo , Tanya Furman , Peter Lafemina and Maureen Feineman
Published/Copyright: April 30, 2016
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American Mineralogist
From the journal American Mineralogist Volume 101 Issue 5

Abstract

Telica volcano in Nicaragua currently exhibits persistent activity with continuous seismicity and degassing, yet it has not produced lava flows since 1529. To provide insight into magma chamber processes including replenishment and crystallization, crystal size distribution (CSD) profiles of plagioclase feldspar phenocrysts were determined for Quaternary Telica basalts and basaltic andesites. Textural analysis of 14 highly crystalline lavas (>20 vol% phenocrysts) indicates that the samples are dominated by sieve-textured plagioclase feldspar phenocrysts whose origin requires thermochemical disequilibrium within the magmatic system. The CSD curves display an inverse relationship between phenocryst length and population density. Concave-up patterns observed for the Telica lava samples can be represented by linear segments that define two crystal populations: a steeply sloping segment for small crystals (<1.5 mm) and a gently sloping segment for crystals >1.5 mm in length. The two crystal populations may be explained by magma replenishment and a mixing model in which a mafic magma is introduced to a stable chamber that is petrologically and geochemically evolving. Residence times calculated using the defined linear segments of the CSD curves suggest these magmatic processes occur over timescales on the order of decades to centuries. The crystal size distribution and textural analysis advocate for the current persistent activity as being consistent throughout Telica’s historic and prehistoric eruptive periods and driven by replenishment of mafic magma.

Keywords: Crystal size distribution; magma mixing; persistent volcanoes; sieve texture; disequilibrium; Telica volcano; plagioclase feldspar

Special collection papers can be found online at http://www.minsocam.org/MSA/AmMin/special-collections.html.

Present address: Department of Geological Sciences, Stanford University, 397 Panama Mall, Stanford, California 94305, U.S.A

Acknowledgments

Fieldwork in Nicaragua was supported by NSF EAR 0911366 awarded to LaFemina and completed with assistance from Halldor Geirsson and Mel Rodgers. Analytical support came from the WISER program (NASA PA Space Grant) at The Pennsylvania State University. Whole rock analysis was completed by Gary Dwyer at Duke University. Furman gratefully acknowledges support from NSF DUE 0962792.

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Received: 2015-4-16
Accepted: 2015-11-30
Published Online: 2016-4-30
Published in Print: 2016-5-1

© 2016 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston

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https://doi.org/10.2138/am-2016-5379
Keywords for this article
Crystal size distribution; magma mixing; persistent volcanoes; sieve texture; disequilibrium; Telica volcano; plagioclase feldspar

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  2. (FeH)1–xTixO2: A new water carrier to the mantle transition zone
  3. Highlights and Breakthroughs
  4. Dissecting a volcano
  5. Highlights and Breakthroughs
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  19. Research Article
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