CatVolc: A Comprehensive Database of Geochemical and Geochronological Data from the Catalan Volcanic Zone, Spain

The Catalan Volcanic Zone (CVZ) in northeastern Spain is an intraplate alkaline volcanic region linked to the Western Mediterranean's opening and the European Rift System's development. Volcanic activity began in L’Empordà (>12–8 Ma), progressed to La Selva (7.9–1.7 Ma), and culminated in the Garrotxa Volcanic Field (<0.7–0.01 Ma). Despite centuries of research, key aspects remain unclear, including the evolution of magma plumbing systems, ascent mechanisms, and a detailed chronology of volcanism. Addressing these gaps requires consolidated geochemical, petrological, and geochronological data, which have remained scattered and unintegrated. This study presents the CatVolc (Catalan Volcanism) database, unifying existing geochemical and geochronological data for volcanic materials in the CVZ. The database includes analyses of 405 rock samples (296 juvenile magmatic rocks, 109 xenoliths), dating data from 57 rocks, 4 paleosols, and 1 sediment sample. Each entry provides information on sampling sites, lithology, whole-rock compositions, isotopic ratios, mineral chemistry, and radiometric/thermoluminescence dating. Preliminary analyses of CatVolc reveal critical knowledge gaps and suggest future research directions. The database is essential for understanding magmatic systems and volcanic activity in the CVZ, particularly in the Garrotxa Volcanic Field, aiding volcanic hazard assessment and improving insights into potential future eruptions. This work has been developed under the financial support of the Institut Cartogràfic i Geològic de Catalunya, the Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de La Garrotxa, the Fundación General CSIC's ComFuturo programme and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 101034263, the collaboration grant 2021 COLAB 00367 funded by the MEFP, and the grant PID2022-139047NA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe”.