Ankaramite from Tenerife: a novel geothermobarometric approach to gain insights into the depth of a magma plumbing system

Abstract. This study investigates the magma plumbing system of the Miocene volcano shield stage of Tenerife (Canary Islands) through a geothermobarometric analysis of clinopyroxenes in ankaramite dykes and lavas from the Teno and Roque del Conde massifs. Ankaramites, characterized by a high phenocryst content of olivine and clinopyroxene, provide valuable insights into magma storage and transport processes. Two different methods have been applied to estimate the pressure and temperature of crystallization of clinopyroxenes: (i) a novel machine learning geothermobarometer and (ii) a geobarometer that uses their structural parameters (Vcell and VM1 polyhedron). The results yielded a pressure distribution between 0 and 8 kbar with a difference between clinopyroxene cores and rims, reflecting a multi-level plumbing system with evidence for the progressive ascent and crystallization of magmas. Further considerations of aluminium incorporation into the tetrahedral site and zonation patterns of clinopyroxene cores revealed three groups with distinct P–T paths, which are Low-T, High-T, and Low-P clinopyroxenes. Low-T clinopyroxenes are the largest ones (up to few centimetres in size) and exhibit resorbed and patchy zonation. This group represents a relatively cold crystal mush formed from a more hydrated magma, accumulated during a long residence time in disequilibrium conditions, as testified by crystal habits. High-T clinopyroxenes show normal zonation pattern and consist of small crystals (1–2 mm in size) directly crystallized from a less hydrated carrier magma during its ascent from depth (> 20 km b.s.l.). This magma, which tore away part of the crystal mush bodies, acted as the transport agent of these two suites of crystals up to the shallower crustal reservoirs (0–7 km). At these depths, clinopyroxene cores of the Low-P group crystallized in the same P–T conditions as those of the rim domain, in a chemical disequilibrium regime, proved by resorbed and patchy textures. In this scenario, ankaramites witness the occurrence of a heterogeneous cargo of clinopyroxenes that formed at different depths in the plumbing system of the Teno and Roque del Conde massifs during the volcano shield stage. The results of our research extend previous geothermobarometric studies and refine the understanding of the ankaramite plumbing system of Tenerife. Our data are consistent with the plumbing systems of other shield volcanoes of the Canary Islands and Hawaii and boost the application of machine learning approaches in revealing the anatomy of volcano plumbing systems.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
European Journal of Mineralogy
Published
2025-10-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-37-747-2025
Primary Topic
Geological and Geochemical Analysis
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Ankaramite from Tenerife: a novel geothermobarometric approach to gain insights into the depth of a magma plumbing system

Luca Bindi, Simone Tommasini, Riccardo Avanzinelli, Tiziano Catelani et al.
European Journal of Mineralogy
Geological and Geochemical Analysis
article

Ankaramite from Tenerife: a novel geothermobarometric approach to gain insights into the depth of a magma plumbing system

Luca Bindi, Simone Tommasini, Riccardo Avanzinelli, Tiziano Catelani, Marta Morana, Lorenzo Barni
article en

Abstract

Abstract. This study investigates the magma plumbing system of the Miocene volcano shield stage of Tenerife (Canary Islands) through a geothermobarometric analysis of clinopyroxenes in ankaramite dykes and lavas from the Teno and Roque del Conde massifs. Ankaramites, characterized by a high phenocryst content of olivine and clinopyroxene, provide valuable insights into magma storage and transport processes. Two different methods have been applied to estimate the pressure and temperature of crystallization of clinopyroxenes: (i) a novel machine learning geothermobarometer and (ii) a geobarometer that uses their structural parameters (Vcell and VM1 polyhedron). The results yielded a pressure distribution between 0 and 8 kbar with a difference between clinopyroxene cores and rims, reflecting a multi-level plumbing system with evidence for the progressive ascent and crystallization of magmas. Further considerations of aluminium incorporation into the tetrahedral site and zonation patterns of clinopyroxene cores revealed three groups with distinct P–T paths, which are Low-T, High-T, and Low-P clinopyroxenes. Low-T clinopyroxenes are the largest ones (up to few centimetres in size) and exhibit resorbed and patchy zonation. This group represents a relatively cold crystal mush formed from a more hydrated magma, accumulated during a long residence time in disequilibrium conditions, as testified by crystal habits. High-T clinopyroxenes show normal zonation pattern and consist of small crystals (1–2 mm in size) directly crystallized from a less hydrated carrier magma during its ascent from depth (> 20 km b.s.l.). This magma, which tore away part of the crystal mush bodies, acted as the transport agent of these two suites of crystals up to the shallower crustal reservoirs (0–7 km). At these depths, clinopyroxene cores of the Low-P group crystallized in the same P–T conditions as those of the rim domain, in a chemical disequilibrium regime, proved by resorbed and patchy textures. In this scenario, ankaramites witness the occurrence of a heterogeneous cargo of clinopyroxenes that formed at different depths in the plumbing system of the Teno and Roque del Conde massifs during the volcano shield stage. The results of our research extend previous geothermobarometric studies and refine the understanding of the ankaramite plumbing system of Tenerife. Our data are consistent with the plumbing systems of other shield volcanoes of the Canary Islands and Hawaii and boost the application of machine learning approaches in revealing the anatomy of volcano plumbing systems.

European Journal of MineralogyVol. 37(5)
Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (IT), University of Florence (IT)
Openalex Percentile: Top 70%
Geological and Geochemical Analysis
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.