Mt. Niragongo: renewed activity of the lava lake

Tazieff, Haroun

doi:10.1016/0377-0273(84)90043-x

Cited by 42 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Lava drainback is evidenced by benches and lava pillars, and suggest a close connection with an underlying magma reservoir, which we infer corresponded to the melt body imaged by Singh et al [2006]. We have found no evidence that this lake was active for months to decades, as lava lakes at terrestrial volcanoes [Tazieff, 1984;Tilling, 1987]. It may instead have formed as a lava pond, with successive lava flows covering the eruptive vents, as proposed for similar features at the EPR.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Recent volcanic events and the distribution of hydrothermal venting at the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field, Mid‐Atlantic Ridge

Ondréas

Cannat

Fouquet

et al. 2009

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

128

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[1] We present new high-resolution bathymetry and backscatter data acquired in 2006 with the ROV Victor 6000 over the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. As long-term monitoring of the Lucky Strike area (MoMAR project) is being implemented, these new high-resolution data offer an unprecedented view of the distribution of hydrothermal edifices, eruptive facies, and small-scale tectonic features in the Lucky Strike vent field. We show that vents located in the NW and NE correspond with wide expanses of lumpy seafloor which we interpret as primarily made of broken chimneys and sulfide edifices. They are found above scarps with relief >50 m or on associated mass wasting deposits. By contrast, the SE and SW vents correspond with small expanses of lumpy seafloor and are located near smaller scarps which we interpret as more recent faults. Hydrothermal edifices in the SW venting area appear very recent, postdating the emplacement and faulting of the most recent lava. We propose that this difference in the age of hydrothermal edifices does not mean that hydrothermal venting itself is more recent in the southern part of the Lucky Strike field because preexisting sulfide deposits there may have been buried by recent volcanic deposits. Instead, the older edifices in the northern part of the hydrothermal field may have been allowed more time to grow because they are set above the level of recent lava flows. The formation of a lava lake is the most recent eruptive event detected at Lucky Strike. Lava drainback is evidenced by benches and lava pillars, suggesting a close connection with an underlying magma reservoir, which probably corresponds to the melt body imaged by Singh et al. (2006). We have found no evidence that this lake was active for months to decades, as lava lakes at terrestrial volcanoes. It may instead have formed as a lava pond, with successive lava flows covering the eruptive vents, as proposed for similar features at the EPR. The horizontal surface of the lake is deformed only near its southwestern shore, along a NNEtrending set of faults and fissures, which appear to control the distribution of hydrothermal chimneys.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Recent volcanic events and the distribution of hydrothermal venting at the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field, Mid‐Atlantic Ridge

Ondréas

Cannat

Fouquet

et al. 2009

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

128

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“…Past activities have shown rapid ascents of the lava lake level, followed by slower ascents (e.g., between 1953 and 1965), with quiescent periods during which no lava lake activity was visible and the crust eventually solidified (e.g., 1965-1966, 1983-1994, and 1995-2001) [Tazieff, 1984;Le Guern, 1987;Durieux, /2003]. Such quiescent time periods have been followed by periods of recrudescence in the activity that led to lava fountaining and rapid ascent of the lava lake level (e.g., between 1970and 1972and between 1994[Global Volcanism Network (GVN), 1995Durieux, /2003).…”

Section: Lava Lake Level and Depthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rising lava lake levels, along with seismic/tectonic events, likely triggered the N-S trending lateral 1977 and fissural 2002 eruptions that extend between Mount Nyiragongo and the city of Goma [Carn, /2003Komorowski et al, 2002Komorowski et al, /2003Poland, 2006;Tedesco et al, 2007a;d'Oreye et al, 2011]. The sequential increase in lava lake volume and rapid fissural eruptions are likely responsible for Mount Nyiragongo's peculiar crater morphology [Tazieff, 1984;Durieux, /2003] that includes three distinct volcanic platforms (P1 (prior to 1977), P2 (1995-2002), and P3 (2003 to present)) ( Figure 3a). The sustained magma filling through the plumbing system ( Figure 2) and active convection continues within this lava lake through the present [Durieux, /2003Platz et al, 2004;Tedesco et al, 2007a; Smithsonian Institution/U.S.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamics of the Mount Nyiragongo lava lake

et al. 2014

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The permanent and presently rising lava lake at Mount Nyiragongo constitutes a major potential geological hazard to the inhabitants of the Virunga volcanic region in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda. Based on two field campaigns in June 2010 and 2011, we estimate the lava lake level from the southeastern crater rim (~400 m diameter) and lava lake area (~46,550 m 2 ), which constrains, respectively, the lava lake volume (~9 × 10 6 m 3 ) and volume flow rate needed to keep the magma in a molten state (0.6 to 3.5 m 3 s À1

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“…Some pit craters contain long-lived lava lakes, notably those of Erta'ale (Ethiopia; Le Guern et al 1978), Nyiragongo (Zaire; Tazieff 1977Tazieff , 1984 and Kilauea prior to 1924 (Macdonald et al 1983). Their depth varies as periods of infilling by lava alternate with subsidence or drainback events.…”

Section: Craters Caideras and Pit Cratersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A catastrophic escape of lava from the Nyiragongo lake in 1977 produced an exceptionally fast-moving lava flow on the volcano flanks that overwhelmed many people and elephants (Tazieff 1977).…”

Section: Craters Caideras and Pit Cratersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Basaltic-volcano systems

Walker

1993

194

124

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This review and personal account of basaltic volcanism concentrates on the geological aspects and physical controls, unlike most others which concentrate on geochemistry. It serves as an update to reviews by Wentworth & Macdonald 20 to 40 years ago. The concept of volcanic systems is developed, a system including the plumbing, intrusions, and other accoutrements of volcanism, as well as the volcanic edifice. Five types of systems are described, namely lava-shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, flood-basalt fields, monogenetic-volcano fields, and central volcanoes (having silicic volcanics as well as basaltic). It is postulated that the system-type depends on (a) the magma-input rate and (b) the frequency with which magma-batches enter the system (or modulation frequency). These controls determine whether a hot pathway is maintained from the source to the high-level magma chamber, and hence if eruptions are concentrated in the central-vent system. Reviews are given on many aspects: the different kinds of rift zones that volcanoes exhibit, and their controls; the mostly small intrusions, including coherent-intrusion complexes, that occur in and under the volcanic edifices; the great sill swarms that are an alternative to flood basalts; the origin of the craters and calderas of basaltic volcanoes; high-level magma chambers, their locations, and cumulate prisms; the positive Bouguer gravity anomalies that are attributed to cumulates and intrusion complexes; the structures of basaltic lava flows; the characteristics of basaltic explosive volcanism and the consequences of participation by nonvolcanic water; the products of underwater volcanism; the origin and significance of joints, formed either by contraction or expansion, in volcanic rocks; and the distribution of vesicles in basaltic rocks. A fairly extensive bibliography is included. This is in part a review; it takes stock of changes in concepts since the publications by Wentworth & Macdonald (1953) and Macdonald (1967), which were models of clear description of basaltic volcanics, and since the publication 12 years ago of the landmark Basaltic Volcanism Study Project (1981). It also incorporates new ideas, new interpretations, and new ways of looking at the subject. The scope of basaltic volcanism is too broad to cover all aspects, and petrology and geochemistry are specifically omitted.More than half of the world's volcanoes are basaltic or include basalt among their products; and about one third of known eruptions, involving about 20 volcanoes per year erupt basaltic magma. Basaltic volcanoes occur in all tectonic settings. Basaltic volcanism is associated with both divergent and convergent plate boundaries; it characterizes spreading ridges mostly concealed beneath the ocean; it characterizes hotspot volcanism which, in oceanic settings, is almost exclusively basaltic and, in continental settings, is commonly bimodal (basaltic plus rhyolitic); and it is widespread associated with andesitic and more silicic magmas in subduction-zone settings, particula...

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Mt. Niragongo: renewed activity of the lava lake

Cited by 42 publications

References 6 publications

Recent volcanic events and the distribution of hydrothermal venting at the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field, Mid‐Atlantic Ridge

Recent volcanic events and the distribution of hydrothermal venting at the Lucky Strike hydrothermal field, Mid‐Atlantic Ridge

Dynamics of the Mount Nyiragongo lava lake

Basaltic-volcano systems

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