O mapeamento detalhado de uma área de ocorrência de rochas vulcânicas na borda sul da Provincia Magmática Paraná Etendeka (PMPE), entre as cidades de Gramado Xavier e Barros Cassal, RS, permitiu estabelecer a relação estratigráfica de três sequências vulcânicas ácidas geradas por eventos eruptivos associados a magmas-tipo quimicamente distintos. A sequência Caxias do Sul corresponde à primeira manifestação de vulcanismo ácido e é formada por diversos fluxos de lava e lava-domos, emitidos de forma continua, sem intervalos significativos entre as erupções, o que resultou em um espesso pacote de até 140 m de espessura. O final do magmatismo se deu de forma intermitente, com a deposição de arenito entre os últimos derrames. Estas rochas têm composição dacítica (68-70% SiO2) e textura inequigranular hipohialina afanítica a fanerítica fina, sendo compostas por microfenocristais (<2,3 mm) e micrólitos de plagioclásio (\'An IND.55-67\"), piroxênios (hiperstênio, pigeonita e augita) e Ti-magnetita imersos em matriz vítrea ou desvitrificada. Modelos de fracionamento sugerem que seu magma parental pode ter evoluído a partir de um líquido fracionado de basaltos tipo Gramado. As assinaturas geoquímicas e isotópicas (\'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\'IND.(i)\' 0,7192-0,7202) indicam que a evolução pode ter ocorrido em um sistema fechado, com participação, ao menos localmente, de um contaminante crustal mais oxidado. Estima-se que, previamente à erupção, apresentavam temperaturas próximas ao liquidus, de 980-1000ºC, 2% de H2O, fO2 \'10 POT.10,4\' bar, e devem ter residido em reservatórios localizados na crosta superior, a P~3 kbar. Um evento de recarga na câmara pode ter disparado o início da ascensão, que ocorreu com um gradiente dP/dT de 100bar/ºC e velocidades de 0,2 a 0,5 cm \'s POT.-1\' , propiciando a nucleação e crescimento de feno e microfenocristais. O magma teria alcançado a superfície a temperaturas de ~970ºC e viscosidades de \'10 POT.4\' a \'10 POT .5\' Pa.s. A segunda sequência vulcânica, aqui denominada Barros Cassal, é composta por diversos fluxos de lavas andesito basálticas, andesíticas e dacíticas (54-56; 57-58 e 64-66% SiO2, respectivamente), com frequentes intercalações de arenito, que atestam o comportamento intermitente deste evento. Estas rochas apresentam uma textura hipohialina a hipocristalina afanítica a fanerítica fina, cor preta a cinza escura e proporções variadas de vesículas e amígdalas. Todas são compostas por microfenocristais (<0,75 mm) de plagioclásio, augita e Ti-magnetita subédricos, anédricos ou esqueléticos, imersos em matriz vítrea ou desvitrificada. As assinaturas isotópicas das rochas que compõem esta sequência (e.g., \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\' IND.(i)\' = 0,7125-0,7132) encontram-se dentro do campo dos basaltos toleíticos tipo Gramado, que pode ter sido o magma parental a partir do qual derivaram por cristalização fracionada. Estimativas baseadas nas condições de equilíbrio cristal-líquido indicam que os magmas mais evoluídos da sequência Barros Cassal, de composição dacítica, apresentavam temperaturas de 990 a 1010 ºC, 1,4 a 1,8% de H2O e viscosidades de \'10 POT.4\' Pa.s. As pequenas dimensões dos cristais e cálculos barométricos indicam que a cristalização se deu durante a ascensão, entre 2 e 3 km de profundidade (0,5 a 0,7 kbar de pressão), enquanto o magma ascendia a uma velocidade de 0,12 cm \'s POT.-1\' . Com o fim deste evento vulcânico, desenvolveu-se regionalmente uma expressiva sedimentação imatura (espessura >10 m) de arenitos arcosianos e conglomerados. O último evento vulcânico corresponde à sequência Santa Maria, composta por fluxos de lava e formação de lava domos de composição riolítica (70-73% SiO2), que atingiram espessuras totais de 150 a 400 m. Na base ocorrem feições de interação lava-sedimento (peperitos) e autobrechas (formadas na base e carapaça dos derrames, que constituem lobos nas porções mais distais). Obsidianas bandadas e outras feições indicativas de fluxo coerente são características da unidade. No centro da pilha, a sequência de riolitos constitui uma camada mais monótona de rochas dominantemente cristalinas com marcante disjunção vertical que correspondem à parte central de corpos de lava-domos, no topo predominam as disjunções horizontais. Estas rochas contém < 6% de fenocristais e microfenocristais (<1,2 mm) de plagioclásio (An40-60), Ti- magnetita e pigeonita imersos em matriz vítrea ou cristalina (maciça ou bandada) com até 20% de micrólitos. Modelos de fracionamento são consistentes com modelos em que o magma parental do riolito Santa Maria teria composição similar ao dacito Barros Cassal. As variações nas razões \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\'ind.(i)\' (0,7230-0,7255) sugerem evolução em sistema aberto, envolvendo contaminação crustal. O magma teria evoluído em câmaras magmáticas localizadas a <12 km de profundidade (<3 kbar), a temperaturas entre 970 e 1000ºC, com fO 2 de ~\'10 POT.10-11\' bar e até 1% de H2O. A cristalização, que se iniciou dentro do reservatório, teria prosseguido durante a ascensão, que ocorreu em gradientes dP/dT de 100 bar/ºC e velocidades médias de 0,2 cm \'s POT.-1\' . O processo de nucleação de micrólitos ocorreu quando o magma ultrapassou o limite de solubilidade a 200 bar de pressão, apresentando temperaturas de 940-950ºC e viscosidades de \'10 POT.5\' a \'10 POT.7\' Pa.s. A alimentação por condutos fissurais, associada a altas taxas de extrusão, teriam elevado a tensão cisalhante próximo às paredes do conduto, gerando bandamentos com distintas concentrações de água. As bandas hidratadas funcionaram como superfícies de escorregamento, diminuindo a viscosidade efetiva, favorecendo a desgaseificação e aumentando a eficiência do transporte do magma desidratado até a superfície. A identificação de estruturas associadas à efusão de lavas, como dobras de fluxo, fluxos lobados, auto-brechas, além da identificação de estruturas de lava domos, contraria interpretações que propõem origem dominantemente piroclástica para o vulcanismo ácido na região, a partir de centros efusivos localizados em Etendeka, na África. / The detailed mapping of an area in the southern edge of the Paraná Etendeka Magmatic Province (PEMP), between the cities of Gramado Xavier and Barros Cassal, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, revealed three stratigraphic sequences generated by silicic volcanic eruptions associated to chemically distinct magma-types. The Caxias do Sul sequence corresponds to the first volcanic manifestation of silicic magmatism in the PMPE. It consists of several lava flows and lava domes which erupted continuously, without significant gaps between the events, and resulted in a thick deposit of up to 140 m. The deposition of layers of sandstone between the last lava flows show the intermittent ending of this volcanic event.. These rocks present dacitic composition (~68 wt% SiO2) and hipohyaline to phaneritic texture with microphenocrysts (<2.3 mm) and microlites of plagioclase (\'An IND.55-67\'), pyroxene (hypersthene, pigeonite and augite) and Ti-magnetite surrounded by vitreous or devitrified matrix. The fractionation models suggest that their parental magma may have evolved from a liquid which fractionated from Gramado-type basalts. Geochemical and isotopic signatures ( \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\' IND.(i)\' 0.7192 to 0.7202) indicate that evolution may have occurred in a closed system, with the participation, at least locally, of a more oxidized crustal contaminant. It is estimated that prior to the eruption the magma might have reached a near-liquidus temperature (980-1000°C), with 2%H2O, fO2 \'10 POT.10.4\' bar, in the reservoirs located in the upper crust, at P~3 kbar. A recharge event in the camera may have triggered the ascension, which occurred with a dP/dT gradient of 100bar/°C and speeds from 0.2 to 0.5 cm.\'s POT.-1\' , leading to nucleation and growth of pheno and microphenocrysts. The magma may have reached the surface at a temperature of ~970 °C and viscosity of \'10 POT.4\' -\'10 POT.5\' Pa.s. The second volcanic sequence, Barros Cassal, is composed of several andesite basaltic, andesitic and dacitic lava flows (54-56, 57-58 and 64-66% SiO2, respectively), with frequent intercalations of sandstone, proving the intermittent behavior of this event. These rocks present aphanitic hipohyaline to hipocrystaline phaneritic texture, black to dark gray color and varied proportions of vesicles. They are all composed of microphenocrysts (<0.75 mm) of plagioclase, augite and subhedral, anhedral or skeletal Ti-magnetite, immersed in glassy or devitrified matrix. The isotopic signatures of the rocks that make up this sequence (eg. \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'86 ANTPOT. \'Sr IND.(i)\' = 0.7125 to 0.7132) are within the field of tholeiitic Gramado- type basalts, which may have been the parental magma from which they derived by fractional crystallization. Estimates based on the conditions of crystal-liquid equilibrium indicate that the most evolved magmas of the Barros Cassal Sequence, of dacitic composition, reached a temperature of 990-1010°C, 1.4 to 1.8% H2O, and viscosity of \'10 POT.4\' Pa.s. The small size of the crystals and the barometric models indicate that crystallization occurred during the rise, between 2 and 3 km depth (0.5 to 0.7 kbar pressure), while the magma ascended at a speed of 0.12 cm \'s POT.-1\' . With the end of this volcanic event, a significant immature sedimentation (thickness> 10 m) of feldspathic sandstone and conglomerates developed regionally. The last sequence corresponds to Santa Maria, composed of lava flows and lava domes of rhyolitic composition (70-73% SiO2). These deposits can be 150-400 m thick. Features as lava-sediment interaction (peperites) and autobreccias (formed at the base of the flows, which are lobated in the more distal portions) are common in the base of the volcanic pile. banded obsidian and other distinctive features of effusive flows are common in this unit. In the center of the stack, a more monotonous body flow predominates, with hipocrystalline textures and vertical disjunction (corresponding to the central portion of the lava dome). on the top, horizontal disjunctions predominate. These rocks contain <6 % of microphenocrysts and phenocrysts (<1.2 mm) of plagioclase (\'An IND.40-60\'), Ti-magnetite and up to 20% of pigeonite microlites. all these mineral phases occur immersed in glassy or crystalline (massive or banded) matrix. The fractionation models are consistent with models in which the parental magma of the Santa Maria rhyolite and the dacites of Barros Cassal Sequence have similar composition. Variations in \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86\'Sr IND.(i)\' (0.7230 to 0.7255) suggest open-system evolution, involving crustal contamination. The magma might have evolved into dacitic composition in magma chambers located at a depth of <12 km (< 3 kbar), at temperatures between 970 and 1000°C, fO2 of ~\'10 POT.10\'-\'10 POT.11\' bar and 1% of H2O. The crystallization began in the reservoir and might have continued during the ascent, which occurred in dP/dT gradients of 100 bar/°C, with average speeds of 0.2 cm s -1 . The microlites nucleation process occurred when the magma exceeded the solubility limit at 200 bar and displayed a temperature of 940-950°C and viscosity of 10 5 -10 7 Pa.s. The feeding through fissure conduits, associated to high- rate extrusion, might have increased the shear stress near the conduit walls, generating banding with different concentrations of water. Hydrated bands acted as slip surfaces, decreasing the effective viscosity, favoring degassing and increasing the efficiency of transport of dry magma to the surface. The identification of structures associated with lava effusion - like folds of flow, lobed flows, autobreccias, as well as lava dome structures - contradicts the current interpretation, which proposes one single pyroclastic origin, eruptive centers located in Etendeka, Africa, for all deposits of silicic composition in the PEMP.

No description available.

L’objectif de la thèse est de créer une collection de roches et minéraux analogues pour calibrer et tester les futurs (et existants) instruments de vol, en accord avec la géologie de Mars afin de préparer les futures missions in situ (MSL-2011 et ExoMars-2018). Les échantillons sont caractérisés avec des instruments de laboratoire (microscope, Raman, IR, DRX, MEB, microsonde électronique, et ICP-MS), mais aussi avec des instruments de vol en développement (Mössbauer MIMOS II, les spectromètres ExoMars Raman et IR (MicroOmega)). L’ensemble des échantillons sont décrits sur une base de données en ligne à l’adresse : www.isar.cnrs-orleans.fr. Une partie de cette thèse est dédiée au développement d’un instrument de cathodoluminescence, qui peut être adapté au spatial. L’étude des processus d’altération des basaltes sur Terre montrant des similarités avec les processus de surface et de subsurface présent sur Mars, permet d’aider à mieux comprendre et interpréter les objets sur Mars. Pour cela, et pour compléter la collection, des basaltes altérés dans des conditions hydrothermales et acides ont été collecté dans la mine de Skouriotissa à Chypre. L’évolution minéralogique des basaltes à travers les différents facies d’altération a été étudiée. Parce que les basaltes terrestres sont plus pauvres en Fe et Mg que les basaltes martiens, deux basaltes artificiels ont été synthétisé. Ces deux échantillons sont différents en terme de refroidissement (~110°C/h et trempé). On note que le basalte refroidi lentement montre des textures spinifex similaires aux komatiites. Si ce type de basalte est présent sur Mars, et altéré en présence d’eau, ceci peut avoir d’importantes implications exobiologiques. / In order to prepare for the next in situ missions to Mars (MSL-2011 and ExoMars-2018), the objective of mythesis is to create a collection of relevant analogue rocks and minerals for calibrating and testing future (and existing) space flight instruments, in accordance with the geology of Mars. They were characterized using standard laboratory instrumentation (optical microscopy, Raman, IR, XRD, SEM, electron microprobe and ICP-MS), as well as by flight instrumentation in development (Mössbauer MIMOSII, ExoMars Raman and IR (MicrOmega) spectrometers). All the samples are described in an online database in the following web site: www.isar.cnrs-orleans.fr. A part of this thesis is dedicated to the development of a cathodoluminescence (CL) instrument that could potentially be adapted for space flight. Study of alteration processes of basalts on Earth that show some similarities to surface and subsurface processes occurring on Mars may help understand and interpret martian features. Therefore, to complete the collection, samples of hydrothermal and acidic weathered basalts were collected from the Skouriotissa mine in Cyprus. The mineralogical evolution of the basalt through different alteration facies was studied. Because terrestrial basalts are poorer in Fe and Mg than martian basalts, I synthesized two artificial martian basalts. The two artificial basalts are different in terms of cooling rate (~110°C/h and drop-quenched, >1200°C/h). Interestingly, the more slowly-cooled sample exhibits a spinifex texture, similar to that of komatiites. If similar basalts occur on Mars, such rocks when altered by aqueous processes may have astrobiological implications.

O mapeamento detalhado de uma área de ocorrência de rochas vulcânicas na borda sul da Provincia Magmática Paraná Etendeka (PMPE), entre as cidades de Gramado Xavier e Barros Cassal, RS, permitiu estabelecer a relação estratigráfica de três sequências vulcânicas ácidas geradas por eventos eruptivos associados a magmas-tipo quimicamente distintos. A sequência Caxias do Sul corresponde à primeira manifestação de vulcanismo ácido e é formada por diversos fluxos de lava e lava-domos, emitidos de forma continua, sem intervalos significativos entre as erupções, o que resultou em um espesso pacote de até 140 m de espessura. O final do magmatismo se deu de forma intermitente, com a deposição de arenito entre os últimos derrames. Estas rochas têm composição dacítica (68-70% SiO2) e textura inequigranular hipohialina afanítica a fanerítica fina, sendo compostas por microfenocristais (<2,3 mm) e micrólitos de plagioclásio (\'An IND.55-67\"), piroxênios (hiperstênio, pigeonita e augita) e Ti-magnetita imersos em matriz vítrea ou desvitrificada. Modelos de fracionamento sugerem que seu magma parental pode ter evoluído a partir de um líquido fracionado de basaltos tipo Gramado. As assinaturas geoquímicas e isotópicas (\'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\'IND.(i)\' 0,7192-0,7202) indicam que a evolução pode ter ocorrido em um sistema fechado, com participação, ao menos localmente, de um contaminante crustal mais oxidado. Estima-se que, previamente à erupção, apresentavam temperaturas próximas ao liquidus, de 980-1000ºC, 2% de H2O, fO2 \'10 POT.10,4\' bar, e devem ter residido em reservatórios localizados na crosta superior, a P~3 kbar. Um evento de recarga na câmara pode ter disparado o início da ascensão, que ocorreu com um gradiente dP/dT de 100bar/ºC e velocidades de 0,2 a 0,5 cm \'s POT.-1\' , propiciando a nucleação e crescimento de feno e microfenocristais. O magma teria alcançado a superfície a temperaturas de ~970ºC e viscosidades de \'10 POT.4\' a \'10 POT .5\' Pa.s. A segunda sequência vulcânica, aqui denominada Barros Cassal, é composta por diversos fluxos de lavas andesito basálticas, andesíticas e dacíticas (54-56; 57-58 e 64-66% SiO2, respectivamente), com frequentes intercalações de arenito, que atestam o comportamento intermitente deste evento. Estas rochas apresentam uma textura hipohialina a hipocristalina afanítica a fanerítica fina, cor preta a cinza escura e proporções variadas de vesículas e amígdalas. Todas são compostas por microfenocristais (<0,75 mm) de plagioclásio, augita e Ti-magnetita subédricos, anédricos ou esqueléticos, imersos em matriz vítrea ou desvitrificada. As assinaturas isotópicas das rochas que compõem esta sequência (e.g., \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\' IND.(i)\' = 0,7125-0,7132) encontram-se dentro do campo dos basaltos toleíticos tipo Gramado, que pode ter sido o magma parental a partir do qual derivaram por cristalização fracionada. Estimativas baseadas nas condições de equilíbrio cristal-líquido indicam que os magmas mais evoluídos da sequência Barros Cassal, de composição dacítica, apresentavam temperaturas de 990 a 1010 ºC, 1,4 a 1,8% de H2O e viscosidades de \'10 POT.4\' Pa.s. As pequenas dimensões dos cristais e cálculos barométricos indicam que a cristalização se deu durante a ascensão, entre 2 e 3 km de profundidade (0,5 a 0,7 kbar de pressão), enquanto o magma ascendia a uma velocidade de 0,12 cm \'s POT.-1\' . Com o fim deste evento vulcânico, desenvolveu-se regionalmente uma expressiva sedimentação imatura (espessura >10 m) de arenitos arcosianos e conglomerados. O último evento vulcânico corresponde à sequência Santa Maria, composta por fluxos de lava e formação de lava domos de composição riolítica (70-73% SiO2), que atingiram espessuras totais de 150 a 400 m. Na base ocorrem feições de interação lava-sedimento (peperitos) e autobrechas (formadas na base e carapaça dos derrames, que constituem lobos nas porções mais distais). Obsidianas bandadas e outras feições indicativas de fluxo coerente são características da unidade. No centro da pilha, a sequência de riolitos constitui uma camada mais monótona de rochas dominantemente cristalinas com marcante disjunção vertical que correspondem à parte central de corpos de lava-domos, no topo predominam as disjunções horizontais. Estas rochas contém < 6% de fenocristais e microfenocristais (<1,2 mm) de plagioclásio (An40-60), Ti- magnetita e pigeonita imersos em matriz vítrea ou cristalina (maciça ou bandada) com até 20% de micrólitos. Modelos de fracionamento são consistentes com modelos em que o magma parental do riolito Santa Maria teria composição similar ao dacito Barros Cassal. As variações nas razões \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\'ind.(i)\' (0,7230-0,7255) sugerem evolução em sistema aberto, envolvendo contaminação crustal. O magma teria evoluído em câmaras magmáticas localizadas a <12 km de profundidade (<3 kbar), a temperaturas entre 970 e 1000ºC, com fO 2 de ~\'10 POT.10-11\' bar e até 1% de H2O. A cristalização, que se iniciou dentro do reservatório, teria prosseguido durante a ascensão, que ocorreu em gradientes dP/dT de 100 bar/ºC e velocidades médias de 0,2 cm \'s POT.-1\' . O processo de nucleação de micrólitos ocorreu quando o magma ultrapassou o limite de solubilidade a 200 bar de pressão, apresentando temperaturas de 940-950ºC e viscosidades de \'10 POT.5\' a \'10 POT.7\' Pa.s. A alimentação por condutos fissurais, associada a altas taxas de extrusão, teriam elevado a tensão cisalhante próximo às paredes do conduto, gerando bandamentos com distintas concentrações de água. As bandas hidratadas funcionaram como superfícies de escorregamento, diminuindo a viscosidade efetiva, favorecendo a desgaseificação e aumentando a eficiência do transporte do magma desidratado até a superfície. A identificação de estruturas associadas à efusão de lavas, como dobras de fluxo, fluxos lobados, auto-brechas, além da identificação de estruturas de lava domos, contraria interpretações que propõem origem dominantemente piroclástica para o vulcanismo ácido na região, a partir de centros efusivos localizados em Etendeka, na África. / The detailed mapping of an area in the southern edge of the Paraná Etendeka Magmatic Province (PEMP), between the cities of Gramado Xavier and Barros Cassal, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, revealed three stratigraphic sequences generated by silicic volcanic eruptions associated to chemically distinct magma-types. The Caxias do Sul sequence corresponds to the first volcanic manifestation of silicic magmatism in the PMPE. It consists of several lava flows and lava domes which erupted continuously, without significant gaps between the events, and resulted in a thick deposit of up to 140 m. The deposition of layers of sandstone between the last lava flows show the intermittent ending of this volcanic event.. These rocks present dacitic composition (~68 wt% SiO2) and hipohyaline to phaneritic texture with microphenocrysts (<2.3 mm) and microlites of plagioclase (\'An IND.55-67\'), pyroxene (hypersthene, pigeonite and augite) and Ti-magnetite surrounded by vitreous or devitrified matrix. The fractionation models suggest that their parental magma may have evolved from a liquid which fractionated from Gramado-type basalts. Geochemical and isotopic signatures ( \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86 \'Sr\' IND.(i)\' 0.7192 to 0.7202) indicate that evolution may have occurred in a closed system, with the participation, at least locally, of a more oxidized crustal contaminant. It is estimated that prior to the eruption the magma might have reached a near-liquidus temperature (980-1000°C), with 2%H2O, fO2 \'10 POT.10.4\' bar, in the reservoirs located in the upper crust, at P~3 kbar. A recharge event in the camera may have triggered the ascension, which occurred with a dP/dT gradient of 100bar/°C and speeds from 0.2 to 0.5 cm.\'s POT.-1\' , leading to nucleation and growth of pheno and microphenocrysts. The magma may have reached the surface at a temperature of ~970 °C and viscosity of \'10 POT.4\' -\'10 POT.5\' Pa.s. The second volcanic sequence, Barros Cassal, is composed of several andesite basaltic, andesitic and dacitic lava flows (54-56, 57-58 and 64-66% SiO2, respectively), with frequent intercalations of sandstone, proving the intermittent behavior of this event. These rocks present aphanitic hipohyaline to hipocrystaline phaneritic texture, black to dark gray color and varied proportions of vesicles. They are all composed of microphenocrysts (<0.75 mm) of plagioclase, augite and subhedral, anhedral or skeletal Ti-magnetite, immersed in glassy or devitrified matrix. The isotopic signatures of the rocks that make up this sequence (eg. \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'86 ANTPOT. \'Sr IND.(i)\' = 0.7125 to 0.7132) are within the field of tholeiitic Gramado- type basalts, which may have been the parental magma from which they derived by fractional crystallization. Estimates based on the conditions of crystal-liquid equilibrium indicate that the most evolved magmas of the Barros Cassal Sequence, of dacitic composition, reached a temperature of 990-1010°C, 1.4 to 1.8% H2O, and viscosity of \'10 POT.4\' Pa.s. The small size of the crystals and the barometric models indicate that crystallization occurred during the rise, between 2 and 3 km depth (0.5 to 0.7 kbar pressure), while the magma ascended at a speed of 0.12 cm \'s POT.-1\' . With the end of this volcanic event, a significant immature sedimentation (thickness> 10 m) of feldspathic sandstone and conglomerates developed regionally. The last sequence corresponds to Santa Maria, composed of lava flows and lava domes of rhyolitic composition (70-73% SiO2). These deposits can be 150-400 m thick. Features as lava-sediment interaction (peperites) and autobreccias (formed at the base of the flows, which are lobated in the more distal portions) are common in the base of the volcanic pile. banded obsidian and other distinctive features of effusive flows are common in this unit. In the center of the stack, a more monotonous body flow predominates, with hipocrystalline textures and vertical disjunction (corresponding to the central portion of the lava dome). on the top, horizontal disjunctions predominate. These rocks contain <6 % of microphenocrysts and phenocrysts (<1.2 mm) of plagioclase (\'An IND.40-60\'), Ti-magnetite and up to 20% of pigeonite microlites. all these mineral phases occur immersed in glassy or crystalline (massive or banded) matrix. The fractionation models are consistent with models in which the parental magma of the Santa Maria rhyolite and the dacites of Barros Cassal Sequence have similar composition. Variations in \'ANTPOT.87 Sr\'/\'ANTPOT.86\'Sr IND.(i)\' (0.7230 to 0.7255) suggest open-system evolution, involving crustal contamination. The magma might have evolved into dacitic composition in magma chambers located at a depth of <12 km (< 3 kbar), at temperatures between 970 and 1000°C, fO2 of ~\'10 POT.10\'-\'10 POT.11\' bar and 1% of H2O. The crystallization began in the reservoir and might have continued during the ascent, which occurred in dP/dT gradients of 100 bar/°C, with average speeds of 0.2 cm s -1 . The microlites nucleation process occurred when the magma exceeded the solubility limit at 200 bar and displayed a temperature of 940-950°C and viscosity of 10 5 -10 7 Pa.s. The feeding through fissure conduits, associated to high- rate extrusion, might have increased the shear stress near the conduit walls, generating banding with different concentrations of water. Hydrated bands acted as slip surfaces, decreasing the effective viscosity, favoring degassing and increasing the efficiency of transport of dry magma to the surface. The identification of structures associated with lava effusion - like folds of flow, lobed flows, autobreccias, as well as lava dome structures - contradicts the current interpretation, which proposes one single pyroclastic origin, eruptive centers located in Etendeka, Africa, for all deposits of silicic composition in the PEMP.

Mafic eruptions have been the dominant form of volcanic activity in central Oregon throughout the Holocene. These eruptions have produced cinder cones, extensive lava flows, and tephra blankets. In most cases, the extent and volume of the tephra blankets has not been determined, despite the fact that future tephra production would pose considerable hazards to transportation, infrastructure, and public health. The economy of the region, which is largely based in tourism, would also be negatively impacted. For this reason, developing a better understanding of the extent and dynamics of tephra production at recent mafic vents is critical, both in terms of mitigating the hazards associated with future eruptions and in improving our scientific understanding of explosive mafic activity. Here I present detailed field and laboratory studies of tephra from recent mafic vents at Newberry Volcano and in the central Oregon High Cascades. Studies of Newberry vents show that eruption style is strongly correlated with eruptive volume, that extensive magma storage and assimilation occurred prior to the eruption of these vents, and that minimum pre-magmatic water content as recorded by plagioclase was 2.5 wt.%. Detailed mapping and physical studies of tephra deposits from High Cascades vents show that several recent eruptions produced extensive tephra deposits. These deposits are physically similar to well-documented historic eruptions that have been characterized as violent strombolian. At least one Cascade cinder cone (Sand Mountain) produced a tephra deposit that is unusually large in volume and characterized by uniformly fine-grained clasts, which is interpreted as evidence for syn-eruptive interaction with external water. Microtextural characteristics of tephra, along with an evaluation of possible water sources, support this interpretation. These investigations demonstrate that magma storage and eruption style at mafic vents is both variable and complex. Additionally, these studies show that cinder cones in central Oregon have the potential to erupt much more explosively than previously assumed. The results of this study will be an important tool for developing comprehensive regional hazard assessments. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material.

The composition of the atmosphere has changed substantially over Earth's history, with important implications for past climate. A number of case studies will be presented which employ coupled climate model simulations to assess the strength of these chemical feedbacks on the climate. The eruption of Mount Samalas in 1257 led to the largest stratospheric volcanic injection of aerosol precursor gases in the Common Era, however climate model simulations of the last millennium typically overestimate the resulting climatic cooling when compared with tree-ring proxy records. A novel configuration of the Met Office UM-UKCA climate model is presented which couples an atmosphere-ocean general circulation model to a rigorous treatment of the relevant atmospheric chemistry and microphysical aerosol processes. This permits the climate response to a particular stratospheric injection of reactive volatile gases to be quantified and for the first time to date applied to a historical volcanic eruption. This model configuration compares favourably to observational data for simulations of the 1991Mount Pinatubo eruption. Results from an ensemble of model simulations are presented, with different assumptions about the sulfur dioxide and halogen loadings based on a recent geochemical reconstruction. These show a muted climate response, in reasonable agreement with tree ring records. Emissions of halogenated compounds lead to an increase in the sulfur dioxide lifetime, widespread ozone depletion and a prolonged climatic cooling. Strong increases in incident ultraviolet radiation at Earth's surface also occur. Oxygen levels may have varied fromas little as 10% to as high as 35% in the Phanerozoic (541Ma - Present). An increase in atmospheric oxygen increases atmospheric mass which leads to a reduction in incident shortwave radiation at Earth's surface due to Rayleigh scattering. However, this is offset by an increase in the pressure broadening of greenhouse gas absorption lines. Dynamical feedbacks also lead to increased meridional heat transport, warming polar regions and cooling tropical regions. An increase in oxygen content using the HadCM3-BL and HadGEM3-AO climate models leads to a global mean surface air temperature increase for a pre-industrial Holocene base case, in agreement with idealised 1D and 2D modeling studies. Case studies from past climates are investigated using HadCM3-BL which show that in the warmest climates, increasing oxygen may lead to a temperature decrease, as the equilibrium climate sensitivity is lower. For the Maastrichtian (72.1 - 66.0Ma), increasing oxygen content leads to a better agreement with proxy reconstructions of surface temperature at that time irrespective of the carbon dioxide content. There is considerable uncertainty in the timing of the rise in atmospheric oxygen content from values around 1% in the Neoproterozoic (1000 Ma - 541 Ma) to the 10- 35% values inferred in the Phanerozoic with respect to two global glaciation episodes (717-635Ma). Results of simulations with HadCM3-BL which investigate the impact of oxygen content on the Neoproterozoic Snowball Earth glaciations are presented. These demonstrate that a smaller reduction in carbon dioxide content is required to initiate a Snowball Earth at low oxygen content. Geological evidence suggests the presence of a basaltic large igneous province before the Sturtian Snowball Earth episode. This could have caused episodes of paced explosive volcanism, injecting sulfate aerosol precursors into the stratosphere. Results of simulations to investigate the impact of different volcanic aerosol emission scenarios are presented. 500 Tg SO2 is investigated with a range of aerosol sizes. For aerosol size distributions consistent with the aerosol evolution in the aftermath of the Mount Pinatubo eruption, the Earth enters a Snowball Earth in between 30 and 80 years. Using a larger size of aerosols, consistent with a larger eruption, does not lead to a Snowball Earth. These simulations show that changes to the chemical composition of the atmosphere, whether reactive gases or bulk chemical composition may have played an important role in the past climate of Earth.

A series of late Tertiary rhyolitic and dacitic flows, domes, and minor pyroclastic rocks form an elongate volanic mass along the northwestern Utah-northeastern Nevada border . The structure of the flow banding and the linear arrangement of vents indicate that the mass represents a multi-sourced extrusive complex which erupted through many fissure-type conduits. A 39 km2 area at the southern end of the mass was studied in detail in order to gain a better understanding of the eruptive nature and history of these Tertiary volcanic rocks. Age dating reveals that volcanism in the study area was episodic, and covered a period of at least 4 to 5 million years. The silicic volcanic rocks in the study area are similar chemically and mineralogically to other eruptive units within the Rhyolite Mts., which range from dacite (Si0 2 69%) to high-silica rhyolite (SiOz 75-77%). They also exhibit chemical characteristics similar to other silicic volcanic rocks of bimodal association in the western United States. Two-feldspar high-K rhyolite is the dominant volcanic rock in the study area, commonly found overlying rhyolitic vitric tuffs and agglomerates. Rhyolite from the southern portion of the study area is dated at 7.6 to 8.6 m.y.b.p. Dacitic samples contain phenocrysts of plagioclase, quartz, biotite, hornblende, and orthopyroxene. Dacitic volcanism is dated at 12.4 m.y.b.p. By analogy with other "bimodal" volcanic fields in the western U.S., it is assumed that these si 1 icic magmas are products of partial melting of crustal rocks. Evidence from a least squares differentiation model, along with the overall geochemical characteristics, indicates crystal fractionation as the dominant mechanism for the transition from dacite to rhyolite, with plagioclase as the dominant fractionating phase.

Large-volume silicic eruptions are often evacuated from magma reservoirs which display gradients in composition, temperature, crystallinity, and volatile content. The 9.7 Ma Devine Canyon Tuff (DCT) of eastern Oregon represents such an eruption, with >300 km³ of compositionally zoned pyroclastic material deposited as a variably-welded ignimbrite. The ignimbrite displays homogenous bulk tuff major element compositions with a wide range of trace element compositions, allowing for the investigation of how these magmas were generated, stored, and modified in the magma reservoir by studying pumices which represent the primary magmas composing the DCT. Five pumices ranging from dacite to rhyolite bulk compositions were selected across the range of trace element compositions and were crushed and sieved to measure how crystallinity and mineral abundances change within each pumice at different particle size fractions. Single alkali feldspar and clinopyroxene crystals were analyzed using EMP and LA ICP-MS from each pumice. Physical results yielded a systematic decrease in crystallinity from 22% to 3% going from the dacite to the most evolved rhyolite composition, with the highest crystallinity occurring between <991-425 microns for all pumices analyzed. The dacite pumices displayed a glomerocrystic texture not observed in rhyolite pumices. Two populations of crystals were distinguished using single crystal chemical data, one belonging to the rhyolitic magmas and another belonging to the dacitic magma. Acquired mineral data have relevance for how strongly zoned with regard to trace elements the rhyolitic magmas of the DCT were, how these magmas were generated, and how they were stored within the magma reservoir. Applying melt extraction models to explain observed patterns in trace element compositions between pumices is problematic. In this model, the observed range of trace elements in rhyolite pumices would be attributed to two separate melt extraction events from an intermediate crystal mush where the first expulsion of melt from the mush produced the most evolved rhyolite composition and a second expulsion coupled with partial melting produced a second rhyolite with an indistinguishable major element composition but less evolved trace element composition. Mixing of these two rhyolite end members would then be needed for generating the range of intermediate rhyolite compositions. Magma mixing modeled using a mixing equation produced a poor fit for trace elements, suggesting the range of observed trace element compositions cannot be solely generated through the mixing of the extracted rhyolite melts but require processes that subsequently modify the mixed rhyolite compositions. The occurrence of crystal aggregates in the dacite may represent fragments of the crystal mush. However, the dacite was unlikely produced by partial remelting of the crystal mush, generating a less evolved, more intermediate bulk composition. In summary, mush extraction combined with partial melting of the crystal mush and mixing of compositional end members cannot fully explain the trace element patterns observed in the DCT pumices thus warranting further study.

The Dinner Creek Tuff erupted during a period of rhyolitic volcanism coeval to the flood volcanism associated with the Columbia River Basalt Group. The High Rock Caldera Complex, Lake Owyhee and McDermitt volcanic fields account for ~90% of the rhyolites erupted between 16.7-15.0 Ma. Situated at the northern end of the Lake Owyhee volcanic field, the Dinner Creek Tuff was originally mapped as a ~2,000 km2 single ignimbrite confined to the Malheur Gorge. Streck et al. (2015) correlated tuff outcrops previously mapped as generic Miocene welded tuff as well as local units such as the "Mascall" or "Pleasant Valley" tuff of eastern Oregon to individual cooling units that comprise the newly redefined Dinner Creek Tuff, enclosing an area of ~25,000 km2. Areal extents defined in this study show that all outcrops now determined to be Dinner Creek Tuff enclose an area of ~31,800 km2 not including any fallout deposits that likely extended beyond the defined area. Although Dinner Creek Tuff rhyolites have nearly identical compositions, different ages and subtle geochemical and mineralogical differences exist and were used to divide the Dinner Creek Tuff into four discrete cooling units. Except for unit 4, the units are lithologically very similar. Unit 1 is the Dinner Creek Tuff unit associated with the Malheur Gorge type section. The four cooling units have ages of 16.15-16 Ma (unit 1), 15.6-15.5 Ma (unit 2), 15.46 Ma (unit 3) and 15.0 Ma (unit 4). Areal extents were established for all four cooling units based on feldspar compositions along with lithological and bulk rock geochemical data. Minimal extents of individual units are as follows: ~22,590 km2 (unit 1), ~17,920 km2 (unit 2), ~14,170 km2 (unit 3) and ~8,370 km2 (unit 4). Using conservative thicknesses, determined erupted tuff volumes are ~170 km3 (unit 1), ~125 km3 (unit 2), ~99 km3 (unit 3) and ~46 km3 (unit 4), totaling ~440 km3 and dense rock equivalents are ~152 km3 (unit 1), ~96 km3 (unit 2), ~76 km3 (unit 3) and ~31 km3 (unit 4), totaling ~356 km3. These extents and volumes are the absolute minimum based solely on the locations of exposed tuff sections and the inclusion of the source. Centering eruptive units on source areas where they are known, expands the tuff extents into a more radial pattern as would be expected for low-aspect ratio, high energy ash-flow tuff eruptions. These probable extents increase the areal extents of the individual units to: ~36,900 km2 (unit 1), ~31,660 km2 (unit 2), ~17,290 km2 (unit 3) and ~10,150 km2 (unit 4) distributed over a ~43,490 km2 area. Likewise, erupted tuff volume and dense rock equivalents also increase: volume-- ~277 km3 (unit 1), ~222 km3 (unit 2), ~121 km3 (unit 3) and ~56 km3 (unit 4); DRE-- ~248 km3 (unit 1), ~170 km3 (unit 2), ~93 km3 (unit 3) and ~38 km3 (unit 4). New mapping confirms previous hypotheses that the Castle Rock caldera erupted unit 1 and identified the new Ironside Mountain caldera as the source for unit 2 while precise source areas for unit 3 and 4 are not yet known but are thought to lie within the Dinner Creek Eruptive Center. Minimal calculated caldera volumes for units 1 and 2 are ~98.5 km3 (unit 1) and ~31.1 km3 (unit 2). Adding the thick ponded intra caldera tuff volume to the determined and probable erupted tuff volumes determined in this study, increases the erupted volumes to ~268 km3 (determined) and ~375 km3 (probable) for unit 1 along with ~157 km3 (determined) and ~253 km3 (probable) for unit 2. DREs increase to ~251 km3 (determined) and ~347 km3 (probable) for unit 1 along with ~128 km3 (determined) and ~202 km3 (probable) for unit 2.

The Wildcat Creek Tuff is a thin (~3-12 m), rhyolite to andesitic ash-flow tuff with a minimal extent of 1500 km2 in Malheur county, eastern Oregon. The previously undated tuff yielded a single crystal, anorthoclase 40Ar/39Ar age of 15.49±0.02 Ma and thus is closely related to mafic and silicic volcanism of the Columbia River Province. The tuff texturally stands out by its high proportion of co-mingled mafic inclusions appearing as dark, scoriaceous, and phenocryst-poor fragments, and their proportion dictate bulk tuff compositions ranging from rhyolite (74% SiO2) to andesite (59% SiO2). Glass analyses confirm rhyolite end member at 74-75 wt.% SiO2 and two mafic members, one at 59-60 wt.% SiO2 and the other at 56-57 wt.% SiO2. Rare plagioclase and even rarer pyroxene phenocrysts with compositions clustering at An60-74 and An35-45, and Mg17-19 and Mg80-84, respectively, similarly suggest two andesitic magmas with the 60% member being the dominant mafic composition. It has distinctly lower TiO2 and CaO, slightly lower FeO, and comparable Al2O3, MgO, and alkalis. Eruption of crystal-poor dacitic to basaltic-andesitic cognate components is also observed in other Miocene ash-flow tuffs from eastern Oregon, like the Rattlesnake, Dinner Creek, and the Devine Canyon Tuffs, as well as other less voluminous tuffs. However, the high proportion of mafic components in the Wildcat Creek tuff seems currently unrivaled. The co-eruption of intermediate magmas with rhyolite implies that mafic magmas were tapped from a common reservoir, and these magmas increased in proportion during the course of the eruption(s). This continued up to the point where nearly all deposited tuff material consisted of andesite. This is consistent with progressively deeper magma withdrawal, in turn implying that mafic magmas resided below the rhyolites as a discrete magma batch. Dacitic components of voluminous rhyolitic tuffs have been recently interpreted as remelted samples of a crystal mush after crystal-poor rhyolites where extracted. Dacitic Wildcat Creek Tuff samples do not bear any evidence of this. To the contrary, small negative Eu anomalies, normal Ba and Sr concentrations, and nearly aphyric nature are consistent with a large portion of mixing between Wildcat Creek Tuff rhyolites and regional mid Miocene, Fe-rich, and crystal poor basaltic andesite magmas that occur ubiquitously as lava flows.