Abstract
Tenerife is the largest of the seven Tertiary to Recent volcanic islands that make up the Canary Archipelago. The island is composed of volcanics belonging to the basanitetrachyte-phonolite assemblage that characterises many Atlantic islands. The most voluminous development of intermediate and salic volcanics has been in the centre of the island where the Las Canadas volcanoes arose upon a basement shield composed mainly of basanite and ankaramite flows, tuffs and agglomerates. The initial post-shield activity built the Vilaflor volcanic complex (Lower and Upper Canadas Series) that originally covered much of the underlying shield volcanics. A vast collapse of the complex, probably during post-Pleistocene times, in the centre of the island has left a large semi-circular wall, and provides an excellent vertical section through the complex. Quaternary volcanism within the collapsed area has built the twin, central-type volcanoes, Viejo and Teide, both of which have attendant satellite vents. That part of the Vilaflor Complex exposed in Las Canadas, together with the Viejo and Teide volcanoes, comprise the Las Canadas volcanoes.
Four distinct rock types can be recognised in these volcanoes, basanite, trachybasanite, plagioclase phonolite, and phonolite. Each rock type can be recognised chemically and mineralogically, but there is essentially a gradational series from basanite to phonolite that includes both aphyric and glomerophyric rocks. The volcanics are strongly undersaturated and sodic, and some of the phonolites are mildly peralkaline. Variations in degree of undersaturation, and trace element abundances indicate a number of cycles of activity which would be consistent with the known field relations.
Forsteritic olivine occurs in the basanites and trachybasanites but is not a stable phase in the more salic volcanics. Clinopyroxene is ubiquitous, varying in composition from titanaugite in the basanites to slightly sodic augite in the phonolites. Strongly sodic pyroxene is restricted to the groundmass of the microcrystalline phonolites along with aenigmatite and a kataphoritic amphibole. Plagioclase is found only in the groundmass of the basanites, but andesine and potash-oligoclase are common phenocryst minerals in the trachybasanites and plagioclase phonolites respectively, whereas the characteristic feldspar of the phonolites is anorthoclase.
The relatively smooth curves of major and trace element variation, the presence of accumulative volcanics at all stages of differentiation, zoning of the mineral phases, and the clustering of the phonolites around the low temperature trough in Petrogeny's Residua System, all indicate that the descent from basanite to phonolite has resulted from fractional crystallisation of a basanite parent magma. The trend of pyroxene crystallisation, and the fairly constant FeO/Fe2O3 ratio during fractionation indicate crystallisation under low PO2 conditions.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abbott, M. J.: Petrology of the Nandawar volcano, N.S.W. Australia. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 20, 115–134 (1969).
Abdel-Monem, A., Watkins, N. D., Gast, P. W.: Volcanic stratigraphy and magnetic polarity history of the Canary Islands. (Abstract.) Int. Ass. Volc. Tenerife (1968).
Aoki, K. I.: Clinopyroxenes from alkaline rooks of Japan. Am. Mineralogist 19, 1199–1223 (1964).
Bailey, D. K., Schairer, J. F.: Feldspar-liquid equilibria in peralkaline liquids-the Orthoclase Effect. Am. Sci. 262, 1198–1206 (1964).
Baker, I.: Petrology of the volcanic rocks of St. Helena Island, South Atlantic. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 80, 1283–1310 (1969).
Baker, P. E., Gass, I. G., Harris, P. G., Le Maitre, R. W.: The volcanological report of the Royal Society Expedition to Tristan da Cunha 1962. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London, Ser. A 256, 439–578 (1964).
Berlin, R., Henderson, C. M. B.: A reinterpretation of Sr and Ca fractionation trends in plagioclases from basic rocks. Earth and Plan. Sci. Letters 4 (1), 79–83 (1968).
Binns, R. A.: High pressure megacrysts in basanite lavas noar Armidale New South Wales. Am. J. Sci. 267, A. Schairer Vol. 33–49 (1969).
Borley, G. D., Suddaby, P., Scott, P. W.: Xenoliths from the alkalic rocks of Tenerife. (Abstract.) Int. Assoc. Volc. Oxford (1969).
Boudette, E. L., Ford, A. B.: Physical properties of anorthoclase from Antarctica. Am. Mineralogist 51, 1374–1387 (1966).
Bowen, N. L.: Phase equilibria bearing on the origin and differentiation of the alkaline rocks. Am. J. Sci. 243, A. Daly Vol. 75–89 (1945).
Bravo, T.: Estudio geologico y petrographico de la isla de la Gomera. Est. Geol. (Inst. “Lucas Mallada”) Madrid 20, 1–57 (1964).
Bultitude, R. J., Green, D. H.: Experimental study at high pressure on the origin of olivine nephelinite and olivine melilite nephelinite magmas. Earth and Plan. Sci. Letters 3 (4), 325–337 (1968).
Burnham, C. W.: Lattice constant refinement. Carniegie Inst. Wash. Yb. 61 (1962).
Carmichael, I. S. E.: Pantelleritic liquids and their phenocrysts. Mineral. Mag. 33, 86–113 (1962).
—: Natural liquids and the phonolitic minimum. Geol. J. 4, 55–60 (1964).
—: The iron-titanium oxides of salic volcanic rocks and their associated ferromagnesian silicates. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 14, 36–64 (1967).
—, Mackenzie, W. S.: The lattice parameters of high temperature triclinic sodic feldspars. Mineral. Mag. 33, 949–962 (1964).
Dash, B. P., Bosshard, E.: Crustal studies around the Canary Islands. Int. Geol. Cong. Prague. Proc. Sect. 1 (Upper mantle) 1968.
Donnay, G., Donnay, J. D. H.: The symmetry changes in the high temperature alkali feldspar series. Am. J. Sci. Bowen Vol. 115–132 (1952).
Frisch, T., Schmincke, H.-U.: Petrology of pyroxene-amphibole inclusions from the Roque Nublo volcanics, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands. (Abstract.) Intern. Ass. Volc. Tenerife (1968).
Fuster, J. M., Ibarrola, E., Lobato, M. P.: Analyses quimicos de rocas espanolas publicados hasts 1952. Inst. “Lucas Mallada”, Monog. 14, 139 (1954).
- Arana, V., Brandle, J. L., Navarro, M., Alonso, U., Aparicio, A.: Geology and volcanology of the Canary Islands. Tenerife. Inst. “Lucas Mallada”, Madrid (1968).
- Cendrero, A., Gastesi, P., Ibarrola, E., Lopez Ruiz, J.: Geology and volcanology of the Canary Islands. Fuertaventura. Inst. “Lucas Mallada”, Madrid (1968c).
- Fernandes Santin, S., Segredo, J.: Geology and volcanology of the Canary Islands, Lanzarote. Inst. “Lucas Mallada”, Madrid (1968d).
Fuster, J. M.: Hernandes-Pacheco, A., Munoz, M., Rodriguez Badiola, E., Garcia Cacho, L.: Geology and volcanology of the Canary Islands. Gran Canaria. Inst. “Lucas Mallada”, Madrid (1968b).
Green, D. H., Ringwood, A. E.: The genesis of basaltic magmas. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 15, 103–190 (1967).
Haggerty, S. E., Borley, G. D., Abbott, M. J.: Intern. Mineral. Assoc. (Abstract), Cambridge (1966).
Hamilton, D. L., Mackenzie, W. S.: Phase equilibrium studies in the system NaAlSiO4-(nepheline)-KAlSiO4(kalsilite)-SiO2-H2O. Mineral. Mag. 34, Tilley Vol. 214–231 (1965).
Hausen, H.: Contributions to the geology of Tenerife. Soc. Sci. Fennica Commentationes Phys.-Math. 18 (1), 247 (1956).
—: On the geology of Fuertaventura (Canary Islands). Fennica, Commentationes Phys.-Math. 22 (1), 211 (1958).
- On the geology of Lanzarote. Fennica, Commentations Phys.-Math. 23 (4) (1959).
—: New contributions to the geology of Gran Canary. Fennica, Commentationes Phys.-Math. 27 (1), 1–418 (1962).
Katsura, T.: Peles hair as a liquid of Hawaiian tholeiitic basalt. Geoch. J. 1 (4), 157–168 (1967).
Le Maitre, R. W.: Petrology of volcanic rocks, Gough Island, South Atlantic. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 73, 1309–1340 (1962).
Macdonald, G. A., Katsura, T.: Chemical composition of Hawaiian lavas. J. Petrol. 5, 82–133 (1964).
Macfarlane, D. J., Ridley, W. I.: An interpretation of gravity data for Tenerife, Canary Islands. Earth and Plan. Sci. Letters 4 (6), 481–486 (1968).
- - An interpretation of gravity data for Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Sci. Letters (in press).
- - Gravity data for some Canary Islands. Proc. Geol. Soc. Lond. (Volc. studies) (in press).
Mackenzie, W. S., Smith, J. V.: The alkali feldspars. III. An optical and X-ray study of high temperature feldspars. Am. Mineralogist 41, 405–427 (1956).
Mason, B.: Kaersutite from San Carlos, Arizona, with comments on the paragenesis of this mineral. Mineral. Mag. 36, 997–1002 (1968).
Muir, I. D., Tilley, C. E.: Mugearites and their position in alkali igneous rock series. J. Geol. 69, 189–203 (1961).
Nicholls, G. D.: Basalts from the deep ocean floor. Mineral. Mag. 34, Tilley Vol. 373–388 (1965).
Nichols, J., Carmichael, I. S. E.: Peralkaline acid liquids: A petrological study. Contrib. Mineral. and Petrol. 20, 3 (1969).
O'Hara, M. J.: The bearing of phase equilibria studies in synthetic and natural systems on the origin and evolution of basic and ultrabasic rocks. Earth sci. Reviews 4, 69–133 (1968).
Orville, P. M.: Feldspar investigations. Carnegic Inst. Wash. Yb. 56, 206–209 (1957).
Osborn, E. F.: Role of oxygen partial pressure in the crytallisation and differentiation of basaltic magma. Am. J. Sci. 257, 609–647 (1959).
Oxburgh, E. R.: Petrological evidence for the presence of amphibole in the Upper mantle and its petrological and geophysical implications. Geol. Mag. 101, 1 (1964).
Ridley, W. I.: The geology of the Las Canadas volcanoes, Tenerife, Canary Islands. Part. 1. Field relations. (Submitted for publication.)
- The volumetric abundance of rock types on Tenerife, Canary Islands and its petrogenetic sygnificance. Bull. Volcanol. 34 (1) (in press).
Smulikowski, K., Polansky, A., Tonkiewicz, M.: Contribution à la petrographie des Iles Canaries. Arch. Mineral. Soc. Sci. Varsovie 15, 57–145 (1946).
Tilley, C. E., Muir, I. D.: Intermediate members of the basalt-trachyte association. Geol. Foren. Stockholm Fork. 85, 434–443 (1964).
Tilley, C. E., Yoder, H. S., Schairer, J. F.: Melting relations of volcanic tholeiite and alkali rock series. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Yb. 64, 69–82 (1965).
—: Melting relations of volcanic rock series. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Yb. 65, 260–269 (1966).
Tuttle, O. F.: Optical studies on alkali feldspars. Am. J. Sci. 250A, Rowen Vol. 553–567 (1952).
—, Bowen, N. L.: Origin of granite in the light of experimental studies in the system NaAlSi3O8-KAlSi3O8-SiO2-H2O. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 74, 1–153 (1958).
Varet, J.: Les pyroxenes des phonolites du Cantal (Auvergne, France). Neues Jahrb. Mineral. Monatsh. 4, 174–184 (1969).
Wilkinson, J. F. G.: Clinopyroxenes from the Square Top Intrusion, Nundle, New South Wales. Mineral. Mag. 35, 1061–1070 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ridley, W.I. The petrology of the Las Canadas volcanoes, Tenerife, Canary islands. Contr. Mineral. and Petrol. 26, 124–160 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371260
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371260