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The architecture of submarine monogenetic volcanoes – insights from 3D seismic data

Reynolds, P.; Schofield, N.; Brown, R.J.; Holford, S.P.

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Authors

P. Reynolds

N. Schofield

S.P. Holford



Abstract

Many prospective sedimentary basins contain a variety of extrusive volcanic products that are ultimately sourced from volcanoes. However, seismic reflection-based studies of magmatic rift basins have tended to focus on the underlying magma plumbing system, meaning that the seismic characteristics of volcanoes are not well understood. Additionally, volcanoes have similar morphologies to hydrothermal vents, which are also linked to underlying magmatic intrusions. In this study, we use high resolution 3D seismic and well data from the Bass Basin, offshore southern Australia, to document 34 cone- and crater-type vents of Miocene age. The vents overlie magmatic intrusions and have seismic properties indicative of a volcanic origin: their moderate–high amplitude upper reflections and zones of “wash-out” and velocity pull-up beneath. The internal reflections of the vents are similar to those found in lava deltas, suggesting they are composed of volcaniclastic material. This interpretation is corroborated by data from exploration wells which penetrated the flanks of several vents. We infer that the vents we describe are composed of hyaloclastite and pyroclasts produced during submarine volcanic eruptions. The morphology of the vents is typical of monogenetic volcanoes, consistent with the onshore record of volcanism on the southern Australian margin. Based on temporal, spatial and volumetric relationships, we propose that submarine volcanoes can evolve from maars to tuff cones as a result of varying magma-water interaction efficiency. The morphologies of the volcanoes and their links to the underlying feeder systems are superficially similar to hydrothermal vents. This highlights the need for careful seismic interpretation and characterization of vent structures linked to magmatic intrusions within sedimentary basins.

Citation

Reynolds, P., Schofield, N., Brown, R., & Holford, S. (2018). The architecture of submarine monogenetic volcanoes – insights from 3D seismic data. Basin Research, 30(s1), 437-451. https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12230

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 16, 2016
Online Publication Date Jan 20, 2017
Publication Date Feb 1, 2018
Deposit Date Feb 7, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Basin Research
Print ISSN 0950-091X
Electronic ISSN 1365-2117
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 30
Issue s1
Pages 437-451
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12230

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Copyright Statement
This is the accepted version of the following article: Reynolds, P., Schofield, N., Brown, R.J. & Holford, S.P. (2018). The architecture of submarine monogenetic volcanoes – insights from 3D seismic data. Basin Research 30(S1): 437-451 which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/bre.12230. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.





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