Late Pleistocene subglacial fissure-related volcanism at Caviahue-Copahue Volcanic Complex (37° 51° S, 71° 05’ W), South Volcanic Zone

Abstract

The Caviahue-Copahue Volcanic Complex (CCVC, 37° 51’ S-71° 05′ W) is located in the central segment of the South Volcanic Zone, ~30 km eastward from the main Andean volcanic arc. Within a complex tectonic setting, it has developed under the influence of the northern transtensional Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault Zone, to the south and the Copahue-Antiñir Fault Zone to the northeast. The onset of volcanic activity within Caviahue volcano-tectonic depression has been dated at Ar/Ar 125 ± 9 ka and it is represented by lava flows and ignimbrites of Las Mellizas Formation. Copahue volcano has a very well documented historical eruptive record, encompassing 13 eruptive cycles in the last 260 years. On the contrary, volcano stratigraphy during Late Pleistocene and pre-historic times is poorly constrained, mainly due to the lack of reliable radiometric data. Based on the peculiar morphology and cooling-fracture systems, lavas that crop out along Dulce, Jara and NE Agrio river valleys have been included in a new stratigraphic unit, here named as Río Dulce Formation. A subglacial emplacement is proposed taking into account the evidence of ice-confinement, provided by the flat-topped and steep-sided lava domes/flows and dammed lava flows. In addition, melt water-magma interaction is supported by conspicuous fine columnar-jointing and closely spaced curved bands with plumose structures, well-developed pseudopillow fracture systems, platy and hackly fractures and cube-jointed entablature-bearing lava flows. The basaltic andesites (SiO2= 55–57%) are porphyritic, with ~30–40% of sieved plagioclase, two pyroxenes and olivine, set in a glassy groundmass. Lava vent distribution and primary anisotropy planes orientation, in coincidence with WNW-ESE and NE-SW trending faults, lineaments and fault scarps, document a first-order structural control on the volcanic emplacement. Although undated, this study can contribute to understanding the timing of glacial fluctuations during Late Pleistocene. Furthermore, it has implications on hazard assessment since it highlights that the evolution of the CCVC has experienced alternating fissure and central eruptive style, likely related to the dynamics of the magma-plumbing system, as suggested by geophysical evidence of unrest.