Contrasting Origins of the Eastern and Western Islands of the Canarian Archipelago

The 2011–2012 submarine eruption off El Hierro, Canary Islands: New lessons in oceanic island growth and volcanic crisis management

“…In fact, the link between the frothy sedimentary xenoliths on Lanzarote and the uplifted sediments on Fuerteventura was already suggested some forty years ago by petrological pioneers (e.g. Rothe and Schmincke, 1968 …”

“…Rothe and Schmincke, 1968;Hansteen and Troll, 2003;Schmincke and Graf, 2000;Klügel et al, 1999;Aparicio et al, 2006Aparicio et al, , 2010. However, this interpretation was not discussed by the authorities in any official statement (see also next section).…”

Recurrent large‐scale landsliding on the west flank of La Palma, Canary Islands

“…The islands are built on the continental slope and rise of the passive continental margin of northwest Africa, partly overlying extended continental crust (east of Fuerteventura) and partly overlying oceanic crust (west of Gran Canaria) [Rothe and Schmincke, 1968]. The Canary Islands are believed to result from volcanism above a hot spot [Morgan, 1972], although structural controls on the distribution of volcanism have also been proposed [Anguita and Hemtin, 1975].…”

Heterogeneous vesiculation of 2011 El Hierro xeno-pumice revealed by X-ray computed microtomography

“…For example, sedimentary silica-rich xenoliths with occasional interlayered clay and carbonates, as well as fossil-bearing limestones and shales have been reported from Gran Canaria, La Palma, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, and from the submarine volcanic edifice of Hijo de Tenerife (e.g. Rothe and Schmincke 1968;Arãna and Ibarrola 1973;Hoernle 1998;Steiner et al 1998;Klügel et al 1999;Schmincke and Graf 2000;Hansteen and Toll 2003;Aparicio et al 2006Aparicio et al , 2010. Furthermore, frothy sedimentary xenoliths often tend to occur in association with explosive eruptive events.…”