Antarctic Science
- Antarctic Science / Volume 24 / Issue 02 / April 2012, pp 173-182
- Copyright © Antarctic Science Ltd 2011
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0954102011000794 (About DOI), Published online: 28 October 2011
Biological Sciences
The fracture system and the melt emplacement beneath the Deception Island active volcano, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica
Antonio Pedreraa1 c1, Ana Ruiz-Constána2, Nemesio Herediaa1, Jesús Galindo-Zaldívara2a3, Fernando Bohoyoa1, Carlos Marín-Lechadoa1, Patricia Ruanoa2a3 and Luis Somozaa1
a1 Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Rios Rosas 23, 28003 Madrid, Spain
a2 Departamento de Geodinámica, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
a3 Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra, (CSIC-Univ. Granada), 18071 Granada, Spain
Abstract
A new magnetotelluric (MT) survey, along with new topographic parametric sonar (TOPAS) profiles and geological field observations, were carried out on the Deception Island active volcano. 3-D resistivity models reveal an ENE–WSW elongated conductor located at a depth between two and ten kilometres beneath the south-eastern part of the island, which we interpret as a combination of partial melt and hot fluids. The emplacement of the melt in the upper crust occurs along the ENE–WSW oriented, SSE dipping regional normal fault zone, which facilitates melt intrusion at shallower levels with volcanic eruptions and associated seismicity. Most of the onshore and offshore volcanic rocks are deformed by high-angle normal and sub-vertical faults with dominant dip-slip kinematics, distributed in sets roughly parallel and orthogonal to the major ENE–WSW regional tectonic trends. Faults development is related to perturbations of the regional stress field associated with magma chamber overpressure and deflation in a regional setting dominated by NW–SE to NNW–SSE extension.
(Received January 31 2011)
(Accepted September 07 2011)
(Online publication October 28 2011)
Key words
Correspondence:
