Evolution from magmatic to hydrothermal activity beneath the Cerro Escorial volcano (NW Argentina) as sampled by erupted quartz and brines

Large quartz pebbles erupted with the Escorial ignimbrite provide insight into the late-magmatic evolution of the shallow, cooling magmatic-hydrothermal system below the Cerro Escorial volcano of the Southern Central Volcanic Zone in the Argentine Andes. The ignimbrite is of relatively small volume, crystal-rich, dacitic in composition, and not particularly water-rich, as amphibole is absent. Eruption temperature was estimated to be close to 850 °C. The quartz pebbles provide insight into the magmatic-hydrothermal transition beneath the volcano. Based on textures, trace element composition (analyzed by laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry), and inclusion content, the pebbles can be separated into pegmatite-like megacrysts and lower-temperature, epithermal microcrystalline quartz. Both types are distinct from magmatic phenocrysts present in porphyritic clasts ejected by the ignimbrite. The megacrysts show a wide range of trace element concentrations, with elevated Al concentrations and Al/Ti and Ge/Ti ratios compared to quartz phenocrysts. Although some contamination by submicroscopic inclusions and cooling to near-solidus temperatures may perturb the signal in some cases, the range of trace element concentrations in quartz crystals from this system may reflect a change in crystallization conditions from initial precipitation from typical evolved silicate melt to fast growth from residual melt and/or fluid in pegmatitic pockets or coarse-grained hydrothermal “veins” at locally variable precipitation conditions. Abundant primary and secondary silicate melt inclusions and a variety of secondary fluid inclusions are present within the megacrysts. In particular, brine inclusions are densely packed with salt crystals, sometimes anhydrite and/or a silicate crystal, but no visible liquid at room temperature, and co-existing vapor inclusions are of very low density. Heating experiments of brine inclusions reveal last salt and vapor bubble dissolution temperatures around 600–700 °C, but an immiscible silicate melt surrounding the homogenized salt globule remains even at unreasonably high temperature. The co-existence of silicate melt and fluid inclusions reinforces the magmatic nature of the fluids, while boiling trails of brine (with Cu concentrations of several percent) and vapor point to relatively low pressures (
Lithos, 374-375
ISSN:0024-4937