Deposits, character and timing of recent eruptions and gravitational collapses in Tatun Volcanic Group, Northern Taiwan: Hazard-related issues

Taipei City, with a population of around 8 million, as well as two nuclear power plants is located in close proximity to the Quaternary, dominantly andesitic Tatun Volcanic Group (TVG) of Northern Taiwan. We have investigated the stratigraphy of the youngest volcaniclastic deposits, as well as the morphology of lava flows and domes of the TVG in order to reconstruct the character and timing of the most recent eruptions and related hazardous events in the area. Our data indicate that recent eruptions of the group were dominated by long-term, voluminous extrusions of crystal-rich, very viscous lavas. These eruptions formed closely spaced monogenetic domes and lava flows. Based on morphological parameters of the lava flows (thicknesses 80-150 m, lengths up to 5.6 km, and volumes up to 0.6 km(3)), average rates of magma effusion ranged from 1 to 10 m(3)/s, eruption durations from 500 to 1800 days, and lava front speeds from 0.5 to 6 m/h. Explosive activity of TVG was diverse, ranging from weak phreatic to highly explosive (VEI 4) Plinian eruptions; vulcanian activity with deposition of lithic ashes was most common. Interaction of rising magma with ground water frequently occurred during the eruptions. This study presents the first radiocarbon dates of various volcaniclastic deposits of the TVG, which indicate that Cising, Siaoguanyin, and possibly Huangzuei volcanoes had magmatic eruptions in the period 13,000-23,000 years ago. In addition, Mt. Cising had a phreatic eruption 6000 years ago, and possibly an effusive eruption just before that. Gravitational collapses of volcanic edifices with volumes 0.01-0.1 km(3) and H/L 0.16-0.25 were also common. They occurred on intersections with tectonic faults and may have been triggered by seismic activity. The youngest collapses occurred at Mt. Siaoguanyin (23,000 BP) and Mt. Cising (6000 BP). It is concluded that the TVG should be considered volcanically active. The results of this study provide a basis for volcanic hazard assessment and mitigation in the area. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.