Abstract
This study shows the stratigraphy, petrography, whole-rock chemistry and paleomagnetic polarity of pyroclastic flow deposits during the latest Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene in the southeastern foot area of the Hakkoda Caldera, Northeast Japan. Six pyroclastic flow deposits are identified in this area : Kumanosawa Pyroclastic Flow Deposits (Ks), Takatoge Pyroclastic Flow Deposits (Tk), Osegawa Pyroclastic Flow Deposits (Os), Hakkoda-Ose Pyroclastic Flow Deposits (Hto), Hakkoda 1st-stage Pyroclastic Flow Deposits (Ht1) and Hakkoda 2nd-stage Pyroclastic Flow Deposits (Ht2), in order of decreasing age. These pyroclastic flow deposits have dacitic to rhyolitic compositions, and show distinct modal compositions and whole-rock major element chemistry in each. Based on stratigraphy, topography and paleomagnetic polarity, eruptive ages of the pyroclastic flow deposits are estimated to be as follows : Ks, 1.95-1.77 Ma; Tk, 1.77-1.07 Ma ; Os and Hto, 0.99-0.78 Ma ; Ht1, 0.76 Ma ; Ht2, 0.40 Ma. The source calderas of the Ks, Tk, Os, and Hto can be estimated from petrological features. The source of the Ks is neither the Hakkoda Caldera nor Okiura Caldera, and is probably an unidentified caldera. The source of the Tk may be a low gravity anomaly area “Nenokuchi Caldera” located northeast of Towada Caldera. The source of the Os is not the Okiura Caldera. The source of the Hto is the Hakkoda Caldera. This study suggests that the two large-scale pyroclastic flow deposits during 1-2 Ma erupted from previously unidentified calderas (one is possibly Nenokuchi Caldera). This proposes a revised volcanic history in which the activities of caldera volcanoes overlap each other in the Hakkoda-Towada Volcanic Region.
