Evolution of the Lower Permian Rochlitz volcanic system, Eastern Germany: reconstruction of an intra-continental supereruption
Repstock, Alexander
Pietranik, Anna
Lapp, Manuel
Heuer, Franziska
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-021-02053-5
Persistent URL: http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/10824
Persistent URL: http://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gldocs-11858/10824
Hübner, Marcel; Breitkreuz, Christoph; Repstock, Alexander; Schulz, Bernhard; Pietranik, Anna; Lapp, Manuel; Heuer, Franziska, 2021: Evolution of the Lower Permian Rochlitz volcanic system, Eastern Germany: reconstruction of an intra-continental supereruption. In: International Journal of Earth Sciences, Band 110, 6: 1995 - 2020, DOI: 10.1007/s00531-021-02053-5.
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Extensional tectonics in the Late Paleozoic Central Europe was accompanied by rift magmatism that triggered voluminous intracontinental caldera-forming eruptions. Among these, the Lower Permian Rochlitz Volcanic System (RVS) in the North Saxon Volcanic Complex (Eastern Germany, Saxony) represents a supereruption (VEI 8, estimated volume of 1056 km3) of monotonous rhyolites followed by monotonous intermediates. Mapping, petrography, whole-rock geochemistry along with mineral chemistry and oxygen isotopes in zircon display its complex eruption history and magma evolution. Crystal-rich (> 35 vol%), rhyolitic Rochlitz-α Ignimbrite with strong to moderate welding compaction erupted in the climactic stage after reheating of the magma by basaltic injections. Due to magma mixing, low-volume trachydacitic-to-rhyolitic Rochlitz-β Ignimbrite succeeded, characterized by high Ti and Zr-values and zircon with mantle δ18O. Randomly oriented, sub-horizontally bedded fiamme, and NW–SE striking subvolcanic bodies and faults suggest pyroclastic fountaining along NW–SE-oriented fissures as the dominant eruption style. Intrusion of the Leisnig and the Grimma Laccoliths caused resurgence of the Rochlitz caldera forming several peripheral subbasins. In the post-climactic stage, these were filled with lava complexes, ignimbrites and alluvial to lacustrine sediments. Significant Nb and Ta anomalies and high Nb/Ta ratios (11.8–17.9) display a high degree of crustal contamination for the melts of the RVS. Based on homogenous petrographic and geochemical composition along with a narrow range of δ18O in zircon Rochlitz-α Ignimbrite were classified as monotonous rhyolites. For the Rochlitz-β Ignimbrites, underplating and mixing with basic melts are indicated by Mg-rich annite–siderophyllite and δ18O < 6.0 in zircon. The wide spectrum of δ18O on zircon suggests an incomplete mixing process during the formation of monotonous intermediates in the RVS.