IAVCEI 2023

’Hidden by super-eruptions’; small-volume volcanism of the central Taupo Volcanic Zone

Leaders: Szabolcs Kosik, Karoly Nemeth

Duration: 3 days (2 nights)

Fitness level: low to moderate

Summary: This field trip will take the participants to explore small volume mafic to silicic volcanoes and their products along the central Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ). While the TVZ is most famous for its super active nature of caldera-forming silicic eruptions (many of them classified as super-eruptions), the region is also rich in various small-volume, commonly monogenetic volcanoes that formed in the last 350 ka. The field trip will provide an opportunity to explore these volcanoes, understand their volcano geology, eruption mechanism and potential volcanic hazard aspects.

Topic areas include, but are not limited to:

1. Silicic calderas: polygenetic volcanoes or volcanic fields?

2. Understanding the evolution of mush system through small to medium sized eruptions

3. Evaluation of magmatic/volcanic flux variations through spatio-temporal and volumetric distribution of volcanic events

4. Topography and stratigraphy of silicic caldera systems; erosion versus landscape forming (VEI 7-8) eruptions

5. Lava dome morphometry

6. The role of hydrovolcanism within the central TVZ

For further details, please email to Szabolcs Kosik (szabolcs.kosik@horizons.govt.nz).