[1] Recent geophysical observations on basaltic composite volcanoes in Izu-Bonin arc reveal the process of long-distance lateral magma transport within arc crust. To clarify a long-distance magma transport system of the basaltic arc volcano from geological and petrological aspects, we investigated 20-km-long submarine volcanic chains (Hachijo NW chain and Hachijo-kojima chain) and cones on the northeastern slope (NE edifices) as well as subaerial satellite cones nested Hachijo Nishiyama volcano in the northern Izu arc front. Basalts from Hachijo NW chain have more primitive composition than those from other edifices. The composition of the Hachijo NW chain basalts is controlled by fractional crystallization, while plagioclase accumulation occurred in NE edifices and subaerial satellite cones. Trace element and isotopic characteristics indicate that the same basaltic primary magma is involved in all sections of the volcano. This leads us to consider that magma was transported long distances between the Nishiyama volcano and the Hachijo NW chain. Primitive magma was laterally transported NNW for at least 20 km in the middle to lower crust (10-20 km deep) from Nishiyama volcano with only minimal crustal level modifications and formed Hachijo NW chain. On the other hand, magmas experienced crystal fractionation and accumulation at shallow magma chamber beneath Nishiyama volcano seems to have been transported in a short distance (<5 km) and formed NE trending edifices and subaerial satellite cones. The long-distance magma transport seems to be controlled by a regional extensional stress regime, while short-distance transport may be controlled by local stress regime affected by load of main volcanic edifice.

The total mass discharged by the phreatic eruption of Ontake Volcano, central Japan, on September 27, 2014, was estimated using several methods. The estimated discharged mass was 1.2 × 10 6 t (segment integration method), 8.9 × 10 5 t (Pyle's exponential method), and varied from 8.6 × 10 3 to 2.5 × 10 6 t (Hayakawa's single isopach method). The segment integration and Pyle's exponential methods gave similar values. The single isopach method, however, gave a wide range of results depending on which contour was used. Therefore, the total discharged mass of the 2014 eruption is estimated at between 8.9 × 10 5 and 1.2 × 10 6 t. More than 90 % of the total mass accumulated within the proximal area. This shows how important it is to include a proximal area field survey for the total mass estimation of phreatic eruptions. A detailed isopleth mass distribution map was prepared covering as far as 85 km from the source. The main ash-fall dispersal was ENE in the proximal and medial areas and E in the distal area. The secondary distribution lobes also extended to the S and NW proximally, reflecting the effects of elutriation ash and surge deposits from pyroclastic density currents during the phreatic eruption. The total discharged mass of the 1979 phreatic eruption was also calculated for comparison. The resulting volume of 1.9 × 10 6 t (using the segment integration method) indicates that it was about 1.6-2.1 times larger than the 2014 eruption. The estimated average discharged mass flux rate of the 2014 eruption was 1.7 × 10 8 kg/h and for the 1979 eruption was 1.0 × 10 8 kg/h. One of the possible reasons for the higher flux rate of the 2014 eruption is the occurrence of pyroclastic density currents at the summit area.

We analysed major and trace elements and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope ratios of Himeshima, Futagoyama and Aso volcanoes, northern Kyushu, Japan. The purpose of the study was to investigate the petrogenesis of Quaternary arc magmas of the northern Kyushu arc, Japan, through along-strike variations. The northern Kyushu arc is underlain by the Philippine Sea Plate, which is divided by the Kyushu–Palau Ridge into the Palaeogene West Philippine Basin segment (60–40 Ma) and the Miocene Shikoku Basin segment (26–15 Ma). The Sr/Y ratios of the arc lavas decrease from north to south along the volcanic front. Mixing relations in Sr–Nd–Pb isotope space suggest recycling of the subducted slab materials from the Philippine Sea Plate to the arc. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios decrease with increasing Sr/Y and SiO2, which argues against a genetic link of fractional crystallization between adakites and basaltic magmas. The observations further suggest that partial melting of the hot and young Shikoku Basin slab produces the high Sr/Y component visible in the arc magmas in the north, whereas dehydration of the older West Philippine Basin slab produces the low Sr/Y arc magmas in the south.