Recurrence rate is often used to describe volcanic activity. There are numerous documented ex- amples of non-constant recurrence rate (e.g. Dohrenwend et al., 1984; Condit and Connor, 1996; Cronin et al., 2001; Bebbington and Cronin, 2011; Bevilacqua, 2015), but current techniques for calculating recurrence rate are unable to fully account for temporal changes in recurrence rate. A local–window recurrence rate model, which allows for non-constant recurrence rate, is used to calculate recurrence rate from an age model consisting of estimated ages of volcanic eruption from a Monte Carlo simulation. The Monte Carlo age assignment algorithm utilizes paleomagnetic and stratigraphic information to mask invalid ages from the radiometric date, represented as a Gaussian probability density function. To verify the age assignment algorithm, data from Heizler et al. (1999) for Lathrop Wells is modeled and compared. Synthetic data were compared with expected results and published data were used for cross comparison and verification of recurrence rate and volume flux calculations. The latest recurrence rate fully constrained by the data is reported, based upon data provided in the referenced paper: Cima Volcanic Field, 33 +55/-14 Events per Ma (Dohren- wend et al., 1984), Cerro Negro Volcano, 0.29 Events per Year (Hill et al., 1998), Southern Nevada Volcanic Field, 4.45 +1.84/-0.87 (Connor and Hill, 1995) and Arsia Mons, Mars, 0.09 +0.14/-0.06 Events per Ma (Richardson et al., 2015). The local–window approach is useful for 1) identifying trends in recurrence rate and 2) providing the User the ability to choose the best median recurrence rate and 90% confidence interval with respect to temporal clustering.

Marion Island is a sub-Antarctic volcanic island with a cold, wet climate. Much of the interior of the island is bare, with vegetation only found at lower altitudes. No soil classification has yet been undertaken for the Island, and literature on its soils and pedogenesis is sparse. As part of a broader research project on Geomorphology and Climate Change the morphological, physical, chemical, mineralogical and biological properties of soils from seven terrestrial habitats on Marion Island were analysed. It was determined that pedogenesis has taken place on Marion Island. A relationship was observed between soils and terrestrial habitats. Soils were classified according to the World Reference Base (WRB) soil classification system as Histosols, Histic Andosols, Andosols and Regosols. Generalised soil profiles were constructed for each of the seven terrestrial habitats. The spatial distributions of soil types for the Island were predicted with the use of a GIS model and are presented, together with the implications of climate change for pedogenesis and soil distribution on Marion Island. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology / MSc / Unrestricted

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The construction of earth walls can be a significant response to prevent the next landslides from reaching the road and avoid accidents. Therefore, a material of the same slope was used and reinforced with mixtures of lime and cement, with this same reinforced material a mechanically stabilized hypothetical earth wall (MSE) was developed. An analysis of the original slope was developed to check if there was a possible failure through its safety factor. Then, a hypothetical wall was developed with a floor reinforced with mixtures, in order to assess its overall safety factor and its maximum landslides. According to the results, in principle it was determined that the dosage M-3 / C-4-4 improves in a range of 30% to 37% the friction angle. In addition, it was found that a reinforced wall, that is to say with Lime and cement additions, presents a better behaviour. In its effect, its displacements are about 8 mm and have a global factor of 1.23.

Thesis advisor: Rudolph Hon / Pleistocene-age terra rossa paleosols are situated on and are intercalated with eolianite and marine carbonate units across the Bermuda Islands. These clay-rich soils were originally thought to the derived from weathering of the volcanic seamount and/or from dissolution of the carbonate units, the paleosols are now believed to be primarily the result of atmospheric dust deposition from Saharan North Africa and the Sahel via long range transport, with some local inputs. If so, these soil units are mixtures of atmospheric deposition during one or more glacial- interglacial cycles. Previous investigations have been conducted on the paleosols to determine their provenance, age, and to identify unique characteristics for island wide mapping. We conducted comprehensive geochemical analyses to determine the degree of chemical weathering and diagenesis, and to identify processes responsible for their formation and development. The paleosols were found to be geochemically similar across all ages, and to show an increased degree of alteration with age rather than with their duration of subaerial exposure, indicating diagenesis by infiltrating meteoric waters as well subaerial weathering. Evidence of paleosol diagenesis suggests vadose flow across the island may not be limited to preferential pathways and that while flow through the limestones is complex, infiltrating waters appear to have allowed for additional alteration of the soils. In addition to the paleosols, clay-rich deposits with paleosol-like textures were identified during coring operations in Harrington Sound and Hungry Bay, beneath present-day sea level. The source and development histories of these materials were previously unknown. Since these clay deposits are situated beneath present-day sea level it is likely that they were deposited and chemically weathered exclusively during glacial low-sea level climate conditions. Geochemical analyses were conducted on the submarine clay samples to determine if they were related to the above-sea level paleosol and to identify their sources. Major and trace element signatures showed the submarine clay deposits to be chemically similar to the paleosols and to be derived from a similar upper continental crust-like parent. Trace element fingerprinting showed the samples to be derived from a parent similar to that of the paleosols; primarily atmospheric dust with some volcanic contributions. These findings provide additional evidence that trade wind vectors for dust transport were present during Pleistocene glacial climate conditions. Weathering indicators reveal the submarine clay samples to be somewhat less weathered than paleosols of similar age and comparable periods of exposure. Like the paleosols, the submarine clays underwent an initial period of rapid subaerial weathering which suggests warm humid climate conditions during glacial low sea level periods. However, the submarine clays did not experience extended periods of diagenesis, which may explain the somewhat lower degree of weathering. Evidence of inputs from the volcanic platform to the paleosols was limited, but comparisons with shallow volcanic rock and highly weathered volcanic residual known as the Primary Red Clay showed some similarities, suggesting that in-situ chemical weathering of the volcanic platform could produce a laterite with some characteristics similar to the Bermuda paleosols. Geochemical analysis of volcanic sands collected at Whalebone Bay showed the igneous fragments to be a result of mechanical weathering and sorting of heavy refractory minerals and we interpret these sediments to be best described as a beach placer deposit. These materials are enriched in insoluble trace elements and REE, and their contribution to the paleosols is limited. / Thesis (MS) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Earth and Environmental Sciences.

Explosive volcanic eruptions are propelled to the surface by the exsolution of vapour bubbles from magma due to decompression. A long-held view is that the amount of H₂O dissolved in the magma at depth controls the intensity of an explosive eruption. Growing evidence from studies reporting H₂O concentrations of melt inclusions (MIs) do not support this view. Instead, the rate at which magma ascends to the surface may play an important role in modulating the eruption style. Slow magma ascent allows the vapour bubbles to rise ahead of the magma, thereby diffusing the driving force for an explosive eruption, whereas for fast magma ascent, the bubbles remain essentially trapped within the magma, causing acceleration and the potential for an explosive eruption. Chapter 1 presents a new modelling approach to constrain magma decompression rate based on the incomplete diffusive re-equilibration of H₂O in olivine-hosted melt inclusions. We apply this chronometer to two contrasting eruptions at Cerro Negro volcano in Nicaragua: the 1992 VEI 3 and 1995 VEI 2 eruptions. Both eruptions have the same basaltic composition (SiO₂ ∼ 50 wt%) and maximum volatile concentrations (H₂O ∼ 4.7 wt%). However, MIs from the less explosive 1995 eruption appear to have experienced more water loss compared to those from the 1992 eruption, which is consistent with slower magma ascent. We present a parameterization of the numerical diffusion model in chapter 2, which significantly reduces the calculation time, facilitating the use of Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate uncertainties. We use this parameterization to create a regime diagram that can be used to guide when melt inclusions may be used as magma hygrometers and when they are better suited to act as magma speedometers. We develop diagnostic tools to recognize where and when water loss has occurred in a magma’s ascent history, and we outline quantitative tools that may be used to restore the primary and/or pre-eruptive water content. We find that one of the largest sources of uncertainty in modelling diffusive re-equilibration of H₂O in MIs and olivines is the diffusivity of H+ in olivine. We present new experimental constraints on H+ diffusivity in olivines from Cerro Negro (1992 eruption) and Etna (3930 BP ‘Fall Stratified’ eruption) (chapters 1 and 3, respectively). Our results show that H+ diffusion is highly anisotropic with the diffusivity along the [100] direction more than an order of magnitude faster than along [010] or [001], implying a large role for the ‘proton-polaron’ diffusion mechanism, which shares this anisotropy. We also find that the lower forsterite (Fo ~ 80) olivines from Cerro Negro have significantly faster H+ diffusivity than higher forsterite (Fo ~ 90) olivines from Etna. The results for Etna agree well with other estimates on high forsterite olivines from San Carlos and Kilauea, suggesting that the Fe content of the olivine strongly affects the H+ diffusivity. In chapter 4, we apply the methods from the first three chapters to an unusually explosive eruption of picritic magma at Etna, Sicily in 3930 BP (termed the ‘Fall Stratified’ eruption). MIs from this eruption show limited evidence for water loss and so cannot be modelled to determine decompression rate. Instead, we model H+ diffusion profiles within the olivine crystals themselves and determine rapid ascent rates of ~15 m/s. We perform rehomogenization experiments on the MIs to accurately assess their pre-eruptive CO₂ concentrations, and find nearly 1 wt.% CO₂. Solubility modelling indicates that these MIs must have been trapped at near Moho depths (24–30 km). The magma’s high CO₂ concentration and deep initial pressures may have been responsible for the magma’s rapid ascent, which ultimately led to its great eruption intensity.

The Kelton, Utah, area has numerous, isolated basaltic outcrops of probable Tertiary age mostly in the form of cuestas with steep faces displaying columnar joints. One ash-flow tuff is located in the southeastern part of the study area. Basaltic fragments in the tuff indicate that pyroclastic activity was preceded by extrusion of basalt. Effects of Lake Bonneville on the basaltic outcrops include wave­cut terraces, scarps, and other wave-built forms in low lying areas. Massive carbonate deposits formed at levels of former shorelines of Lake Bonneville. Tertiary and Quaternary deposits cover the low- lying areas between basaltic flows, and consist of materials primarily derived from the Raft River Mountains to the northwest. The study area lies in a transitional zone between the Great Basin and the Snake River Plain to the north where the crustal thickness increases from 25 to 30 km. The basaltic lavas range from aphanitic to hypocrystalline with su bophitic, intergranular, and pilotaxitic textures. Glass shards, axiolites, and pumice fragments are present in the ash-flow tuffs. Petrographic, mineralogic, and chemical studies were completed on selected samples of both basaltic and pyroclastic rocks to determine genetic relationships. Tholeiitic basalt, BV81-24, is distinguished from other basalts in the area by the presence of three pyroxenes in the groundmass and distinctive chemistry: high Si02, Al203, and Mg0; and low Ti02 and total iron. The remaining basaltic rocks may be related to a common parent, BV81-11, by a process of crystal fractionation. The parental magma, in turn, may be derived by partial melting of a hypothetical mantle material, such as pyrolite or garnet peridotite. The intrusion of basaltic magma into the crust is thought to cause partial melting of crustal material, generating magma of rhyolitic composition. Violent extrusion of rhyolitic magma has produced ash-flow tuffs, represented by BV81-17 and BV81-18. Thus these basalts and ash­flow tuffs are considered to be members of a bimodal suite as is common in the Basin and Range Province.

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