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Article

Origin of Compositional Diversity of Marine Tephra during the Late Middle Pleistocene B-KY1 Baekdusan Volcanic Eruption

1
Petroleum & Marine Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience & Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 34132, Korea
2
Department of Geology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24235, Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(13), 4469; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134469
Submission received: 22 May 2020 / Revised: 22 June 2020 / Accepted: 23 June 2020 / Published: 28 June 2020
(This article belongs to the Section Earth Sciences)

Abstract

:

Featured Application

Explosive volcanic eruption, Marine tephra.

Abstract

The focus of this study was the Baekdusan-Kita 1 (B-KY1) eruption during the late Middle Pleistocene. We identified B-KY1 tephra between the Toya and Aso-1 tephras in the ODP 794A core from the Japan Basin of the East Sea/Japan Sea. The stratigraphic position of the B-KY1 tephra correlated exactly with the first B-KY1 to be identified, in the 20EEZ-1 core from the Kita–Yamato Trough. However, B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core showed a wide range of geochemical compositions. The textural characteristics of B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core was characterized by higher content of fine-grained bubble-wall shards than that of the B-KY1 tephra in the 20EEZ-1 core. The difference in B-KY1 tephra between the two coring sites may reflect shifts in wind direction during volcanic eruptions. We refined the eruption age of the B-KY1 tephra by examining distinct sedimentary facies related to the start of the penultimate deglaciation of this region at ca. 135 ka. The findings of this study suggest that the compositional diversity of B-KY1 tephra may have been influenced by subsequent mixing of comendite and comenditic trachyte magma with injected pantelleritic magma during the late Middle Pleistocene Baekdusan volcanic eruption.

Graphical Abstract

1. Introduction

In the mid-10th century, Baekdusan (also known as Changbaishan in Chinese) experienced a VEI-7 explosive volcanic eruption, which produced large amounts of B-Tm tephra [1,2]. Only a few terrestrial pyroclastic deposits found on Baekdusan have been dated to within 17,000 years [3]. Many studies of the Millennium Eruption, as B-Tm eruption that occurred in 946 CE, have focused on defining the date of this eruption due to its major historical, chronological, and climatic implications [4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. Recently, B-Tm tephra was found in Lake Ichi-no-Megata and Lake Suigetsu in Japan [8,9,15] (Figure 1). No studies have reported terrestrial pyroclastic deposits intercalated with effusive Baitoushan I–III trachyte or comendite lava flows during the last Pleistocene and Pliocene. However, distal tephras transported by explosive volcanic eruptions of Baekdusan have been identified in marine sediments of the East Sea/Japan Sea and Pacific Ocean, as well as in terrestrial sedimentary deposits on the islands of Japan (Figure 2). B-Tm and B-Og (ca. 448 ka) tephras [16,17] were first identified in sedimentary deposits from Tomakomai and the Oga Peninsula in Japan, respectively (Figure 1). Alkali Baekdusan tephras are easily distinguished from sub-alkali tephras derived from Japanese volcanoes (Figure 1). The distribution patterns of 946 CE B-Tm tephra have been well documented in marine sediments collected from the East Sea using piston corers with a barrel length of <7 m. A Middle Pleistocene B-Og tephra layer [16] has been identified only in the ODP 794A long-core sediments collected at about 14 m below the seafloor (Figure 1). B-V (ca. 24.5 ka) and B-J (ca. 51.5 ka) tephra layers constructed by millennial-scale interstadial paleoclimatic fluctuation records are distinguished by their dark/light sediment patterns [18,19,20] (Figure 2). The distribution pattern of B-J tephra suggests that seasonal westerly winds influenced atmospheric transport of the eruption plume through the stratosphere during the eruption [18,21]. The trajectory of the B-J eruption plume extended further southward than that of the B-Tm eruption (Figure 1).
B-Sado (ca. 67.6 ka) and B-Ym (ca. 85.8 ka) tephras were identified by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) of marine sediments [20,22], revealing an invisible tephra layer of micro-sized cryptotephra (Figure 2). B-KY1 (ca. 130 ka) and B-KY2 (ca. 196 ka) tephras have been reported in marine sediments from a flat hill in the Kita–Yamato Trough [23]; these represent the southernmost visible Baekdusan tephras identified (Figure 2). Many marine cores obtained from the Ulleung Basin and South Korea Plateau in central to southern East Sea contain no visible Baekdusan tephra layers [23,24,25,26]. Recently, analysis of the zircon age (U-Th) distribution of terrestrial pyroclastic deposits from the Millennium Eruption revealed multiple age components at 11.3 ± 1.3 ka, ca. 110 ka, and 230 ka [27]. Other zircons (U-Th) from 0.3 ka pyroclastic deposits have been dated to 2.6 ± 1.8 ka, ca. 130 ka, and >230 ka [11,28]. Based on the zircon isochron ages of terrestrial pyroclastic deposits on Baekdusan, episodic magma generation may have occurred at 110–130 ka and ca. 230 ka during the Pleistocene.
The main objective of this study was to report the identification of a newly discovered Middle Pleistocene B-KY1 tephra from ODP 794A core about 900 km from Baekdusan, which is the most northerly tephra identified to date. Other cores cannot be used to identify Middle Pleistocene Baekdusan tephras due to their short core length (<7 m). A previous study reported the stratigraphic positions of Toya (ca. 106 ka) and Aso-1 (ca. 255 ka) tephras in the ODP 794A core [16,29]. We analyzed the major elements and backscattered electron images (BSEIs) of the Toya, B-KY1, and Aso-1 tephras, and sedimentary facies related to millennial scale paleoclimatic fluctuation or eustatic sea level change records [23,25,26,29]. The major element data provide a geochemical fingerprint for the tephras, and BSEIs allow their textural characteristics to be determined, reflecting the explosive eruption and long-range transportation distance from source volcanoes. Precise stratigraphic correlation with chronologic marine events was used to refine the age of B-KY1 tephra. The findings of this study will contribute to reconstruction of the eruption history of Baekdusan during the late Middle Pleistocene.

2. Geological and Physiographical Settings

Baekdusan (elevation 2774 m) and its caldera lake (Lake Cheonji) straddle the border between North Korea and China. Baekdusan is affected by intraplate volcanism due to large mantle wedge within the upper mantle above the stagnant subducting Pacific slab [30,31,32,33,34,35]. P-wave velocity tomography has revealed upwelling of hot and wet asthenospheric materials beneath the Baekdusan volcano; these materials originated from the flattened stagnant Pacific slab between the mantle transition zone (>400 km) and lower mantle (<660 km) beneath northeastern Asia [32,36,37]. The stratigraphy of the Baekdusan stratovolcano is divided into a gentle effusive basaltic shield-forming stage, steep effusive trachytic cone construction stage, and explosive volcanic eruption stage (Figure 2) [3,5,38]. The effusive shield-forming stage [3] began with the deposition of Naitoushan basalt (22.64–15.6 Ma), followed by the deposition of Toudao basalt (5.02–2.35 Ma) and Baishan basalt (1.66–1.48 Ma). The gentle slope (<4º) of Baishan basalt contributed <2000 m to the elevation of Baekdusan [38]. Cyclic effusive eruptions of trachyte and comendite cone material [3] led to the deposition Xianbaishan trachyandesite and trachyte (1.49–1.0 Ma), Baitoushan I trachyte (0.61–0.53 Ma), Baitoushan II trachyte with Laohudong basalt (0.44–0.25 Ma), Baitoushan III trachyte and comendite lava (0.22–0.02 Ma). However, explosive volcanic eruptions of Baekdusan formed distant pyroclastic deposits (Qixiangzhan comendite lava and pyroclasts) dated to within 17 ka [3]. Yellow rhyolitic ignimbrite near the caldera Lake Cheonji has been dated to within 4–5 ka, during a pre-caldera eruption [3]. The massive Millennium Eruption of Baekdusan in 946 CE [8,9,12] produced large amounts of B-Tm, and the most recent volcanic eruption was a comendite phreatomagmatic eruption in 1903 CE [3,13,38].
Studies using marine tephras in the East Sea have reconstructed the explosive volcanic history of Baekdusan (Figure 2). B-Tm (946 CE), B-V (ca. 24.5 ka), B-J (ca. 51.5 ka), B-Sado (ca. 67.6 ka), B-Ym (ca. 85.8 ka), 20EEZ-1 core B-KY1 (ca. 130 ka), B-KY2 (ca. 196 ka), and B-Og (ca. 448 ka) tephras were produced by explosive eruptions of Baekdusan [1,2,16,18,19,20,23]; their distribution patterns were influenced by eruption intensity and the strength of westerly winds [18,21]. The preservation of tephra layers within marine sediments in is controlled by prevailing bottom currents and bioturbation by benthic organisms. Bottom water circulation and the oxygen level are higher at highstand than at lowstand in the East Sea [26]; thus, marine tephras deposited during lowstand (“dark laminated deposits”) are better preserved [18,19].

3. Materials and Methods

Between the Toya (ca. 106 ka) and Aso-1 (ca. 255 ka) tephras, which have been identified stratigraphically, a visible B-KY1 tephra layer was identified in the ODP 794A core (Figure 3). The major elements (SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, FeO*, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, and K2O) of the three tephras were identified using an electron microprobe analyzer (JXA8900; JEOL Co.) at the Geological Survey of Japan (GSJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Subsamples of fine-grained hemipelagic particles were removed from tephra samples by submersion in an ultrasonic bath. Dried tephra grains were mounted on glass using epoxy resin, which solidified after 3 days at room temperature. Thin sections were polished using increasingly fine diamond paste (300 mesh to 1 μm). Electron microprobe analyses were performed at an acceleration voltage of 15 kV, beam current of 12 nA, and beam size of 10 μm. The peak counting time of all major elements was 10 s, and that for the background was 5 s. Prior to analysis of the three tephras, the microprobe was calibrated to major elements using GSJ standard samples and well-known working standards (sub-alkali AT and alkali U-Oki tephras). Geochemical elements of B-KY1 tephra were plotted against well-known Aso-4, Toya, Aso-1, B-J, B-Sado, B-Ym, B-KY1 (20EEZ-1 core), B-KY2, B-Og tephras using major elements normalized to 100 wt.%. BSEIs of tephras were used to measure grain size and textural characteristics based on the classification of glass shards [39,40]. The grain size and constituent composition of the tephra were used to characterize the explosiveness, transport distance, and type of eruption of the source volcanoes. Photographs and X-radiographs of the ODP 794A and 20EEZ-1 cores were interpreted by comparing the sedimentary facies to records of East Sea eustatic sea-level variation [41]. Distinct sedimentary facies related to the B-KY1 tephra were interpreted for stratigraphic correlation and age model construction.

4. Results

4.1. Late Pleistocene Toya Tephra

Stratigraphically identified Toya tephra was found within thick-bedded, light-colored bioturbated mud (LBM) at an interval of 428.2–429.3 cm below the seafloor (cmbsf; 1H-4, 14.2–15.3 cm) in the ODP 794A core (Figure 4B). Gray Toya tephra mainly consisted of pumice shards, with minor bubble-wall shards and phenocrysts (Figure 5A; Table 1). The maximum grain sizes of the pumice shards, bubble-wall shards, and phenocrysts ranged from 90 to 120 μm, and the degree of vesicularity and stretching of the pumice shards ranged from low to moderate (Figure 5A; Table 1).
The SiO2 content ranged from 78.25 to 79.10 wt.% and total alkali content (Na2O + K2O) ranged from 5.35 to 7.17 wt.% (Table 2). Toya tephra plotted within sub-alkali rhyolite in the total alkalis versus silica (TAS, [42]) diagram (Figure 6). FeO* content was <1 wt.% (0.72–0.95 wt.%). The CaO content was low (0.28–0.60 wt.%) (Table 2).

4.2. Late Middle Pleistocene B-KY1 Tephra between Toya and Aso-1 Tephras

B-KY1 tephra was newly identified between the Toya and Aso-1 tephras in ODP 794A core at an interval of 585.6–587.2 cmbsf (1H-5, 21.6–23.2 cm) (Figure 4). A pale brownish B-KY1 tephra was observed to directly overlie dark laminated mud (DLM), with a sharp boundary (Figure 4C). The upper boundary of the B-KY1 tephra diffused into the overlying LBM (Figure 4). The stratigraphic position and color of B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core correlated exactly with the B-KY1 tephra in the 20EEZ-1 core [23]. B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core consisted of pumice shards and bubble-wall shards, with minor phenocrysts (Figure 5B; Table 1). The compositions of pumice shards and bubble-wall shards were similar in B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core. The maximum grain size of bubble-wall shards (180 μm) was larger than those of pumice shards (130 μm) and phenocrysts (130 μm) (Figure 5B; Table 1). The degree of vesicularity and stretching in pumice shards ranged from moderate to high, without compositional bands (Figure 5B; Table 1). Coarse-grained B-KY1 tephra (maximum bubble-wall shard grain size, 210 μm) in the 20EEZ-1 core mainly comprised pumice shards, with fewer bubble-wall shards and phenocrysts (Table 1). SiO2 was widely scattered, from 66.59 to 75.36 wt.% (Figure 6; Table 2). The total alkali content (8.59–10.64 wt.%) was slightly lower at higher SiO2 values (Figure 6). B-KY1 tephra ranged from alkaline trachyte to sub-alkaline rhyolite in the TAS diagram (Figure 6; Table 2). SiO2 content (66.59–75.36 wt.%) in the ODP 794A core was similar among the other Baekdusan tephras, including B-Tm tephras (bimodal; 67.4–69.3 and 75.3–76.2 wt.%), B-J (69.33–73.49 wt.%), B-Sado (68.86–72.44 wt.%), B-Ym (66.66–67.30 wt.%), 20EEZ-1 core B-KY1 (66.39–70.0 wt.%), B-KY2 (68.26–71.31 wt.%), and B-Og (65.2–65.3 wt.%) (Figure 6). High SiO2 content (>72 wt.%) in B-KY1 tephra of the ODP 794A core was correlated with lower Al2O3 (9.17–11.86 wt.%), MgO (0.04 wt.% to none detected), CaO (0.21–0.63 wt.%), Na2O (3.90–5.21 wt.%), and K2O (4.18–4.50 wt.%) content (Figure 7B,E–H; Table 2). The FeO* content (5.48–6.05 wt.%) of B-KY1 tephra was slightly higher when SiO2 content was high (>72 wt.%; Figure 7C). However, FeO* content in B-Tm (4.1–4.7 wt.%) and B-J (4.64–5.10 wt.%) tephras was slightly lower at high SiO2 content (Figure 7C). TiO2, MnO, and Na2O compositions showed no clear relationship with SiO2 content (Figure 7A,D,G; Table 2). The CaO content of B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core was slightly lower than that of B-KY1 in the 20EEZ-1 core when FeO* content was similar between the cores (Figure 8A). Based on the peralkaline classification diagram [43], B-J tephra plotted with comendite magma, whereas B-Og and B-Ym tephras plotted with comenditic trachyte magma (Figure 8B). B-Tm, B-Sado, B-KY1 (20EEZ-1 core), and B-KY2 tephras plotted with both comendite and comenditic trachyte magmas (Figure 8B). B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core was widely scattered among comenditic trachyte, and comendite, as well as pantelleritic magmas (Figure 8B).

4.3. Middle Pleistocene Aso-1 Tephra

Stratigraphically identified Aso-1 tephra was found within LBM at an interval 802.9–803.7 cmbsf (ODP 794A 2H-2, 16.9–17.7 cm) in the ODP 794A core (Figure 4D). Pale brown Aso-1 tephra mainly consisted of bubble-wall shards, with fewer phenocrysts and minor pumice shards (Figure 5C; Table 1). The maximum grain size of bubble-wall shards (250 μm) was larger than those of pumice shards (140 μm) and phenocrysts (140 μm) (Figure 5C; Table 1). The degree of stretching in bubble-wall shards ranged from moderate to high, whereas the degree of vesicularity ranged from low to moderate (Figure 5C; Table 1). The SiO2 content ranged from 69.68 to 70.62 wt.% and total alkali content (Na2O + K2O) ranged from 7.34 to 8.65 wt.% (Table 2). Aso-1 tephra plotted with sub-alkali rhyolite in the TAS diagram (Figure 6). The FeO* content was relatively high (2.59–2.93 wt.%), and CaO content was also enriched (1.73–1.96 wt.%) (Table 2).

5. Discussion

In this study, we characterized the B-KY1 tephra between the Toya (ca. 106 ka) and Aso-1 (ca. 255 ka) tephras in the ODP 794A core, which was collected from the Japan Basin of the East Sea/Japan Sea. Stratigraphically, the B-KY1 tephra is located between underlying DLM and overlying LBM (Figure 4C), in exactly the same stratigraphic position as the B-KY1 tephra that was first identified in the 20EEZ-1 core from the Kita–Yamato Trough (Figure 9). A pale brown B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core showed a wide range of SiO2 (66.59–75.36 wt.%), Al2O3 (9.17–15.76 wt.%), CaO (0.21–1.09 wt.%), Na2O (4.23–5.47 wt.%), and K2O content (4.18–5.35 wt.%), and high FeO* content (5.20–6.05 wt.%). In the B-KY1 tephra, high SiO2 content was correlated with less Al2O3, CaO, and Na2O, and slightly more FeO* (Figure 7C). The elevated FeO* content remains open to interpretation. However, the geochemical characters of B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core distinguished it from Aso-4 (88 ka; Figure 5D), Toya, and Aso-1 tephras, which erupted from Japanese volcanoes (Figure 6). The B-KY1 tephras from the ODP 794A and 20EEZ-1 cores showed different textural characteristics (Table 1). To the south of Baekdusan, mixtures of coarse-grained pumice shards and bubble-wall shards were transported to the 20EEZ-1 coring site of the Kita–Yamato Trough. In the B-KY1 tephra layer of the ODP 794A core, relatively fine-grained bubble-wall shards were dominantly transported to the north of Baekdusan, perhaps reflecting changing wind patterns during the late Middle Pleistocene B-KY1 Baekdusan volcanic eruption. Shifts in wind direction can influence the distribution of tephra during its long-range transportation by explosive volcanic eruption [44]. Density separation due to greater distance from Baekdusan may also have contributed to the distribution pattern of B-KY1 tephra in the East Sea. Previous studies have concluded that explosive volcanic eruptions of Baekdusan are caused by comendite or comenditic trachyte magma [1,2,8,18], whereas B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core originated from comendite, comenditic trachyte, and pantelleritic magmas (Figure 8B). The high SiO2 content (>72 wt.%) of B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core was correlated with lower Al2O3 content (9.17–11.86 wt.%), indicating the presence of pantelleritic magma. However, B-KY1 tephra in the 20EEZ-1 core was composed of comendite and comenditic trachyte magma, without pantelleritic magma (Figure 8B). This wide range of magma types may be the results of a compositionally zoned magma chamber [44,45] or magma mixing/mingling [44,46,47]. Pumices in the Upper Pollara eruption in Italy showed a heterogeneous SiO2 composition (61–76 wt.%) due to mixing/mingling of andesite and rhyolite [46]. Even magma mixing between two andesite magmas can cause light and dark volcanic glass, the former having greater SiO2, K2O, and FeO* content, and less CaO and Al2O3 [47]. Recently, zircon isochron ages from Holocene pyroclastic deposits on Baekdusan suggested the occurrence of episodic magma generation at 110–130 ka and > 230 ka [11,27,28]. This indicates subsequent mixing of comendite and comenditic trachyte magma with injected pantelleritic magma during the late Middle Pleistocene Baekdusan volcanic eruption.
In the present study, we compared sedimentary facies against eustatic sea level fluctuation records to refine the eruption age of B-KY1 tephra. X-radiographs of DLMs in the 20EEZ-1 core reflect euxinic bottom water conditions during lowstand (Figure 9). The B-KY1 tephra directly overlies DLM sedimentary facies, with a sharp lower boundary. Overlying a pyritized LBM (pLBM) has been interpreted to indicate deglaciation, consistent with restricted bottom water circulation [26]. SKP-IV tephra was found within LBM in both cores examined in this study, 20EEZ-1 and ODP 794A (Figure 9), suggesting that the B-KY1 tephra was synchronously deposited in marine sediment at the start of the penultimate deglaciation at ca. 135 ka. Further marine tephrochronological studies should facilitate further reconstruction of the explosive eruption history of Baekdusan. Bidirectional research linking Baekdusan pyroclastic deposits and distal marine tephras may improve our understanding of explosive volcanic eruptions and their climatic implications.

6. Conclusions

The B-KY1 tephra, located between the Toya (ca. 106 ka) and Aso-1 (ca. 255 ka) tephras in the ODP 794A core from the Japan Basin of the East Sea, was transported about 900 km from Baekdusan at ca. 135 ka. The stratigraphic position of the B-KY1 tephra correlates exactly with the first B-KY1 tephra identified in the 20EEZ-1 core from the Kita–Yamato Trough. The B-KY1 tephra is characterized by diverse comendite, comenditic trachyte, and pantelleritic magmas, reflecting magma generation during late Middle Pleistocene Baekdusan volcanic eruptions. Differences in geochemical and textural characteristics between the B-KY1 tephras from the ODP 794A and 20EEZ-1 cores indicate that wind directional shift influenced tephra distribution during its long-range transportation. Plinian explosive volcanic eruptions from Baekdusan may have occurred frequently during the effusive cone construction stage during the Pliestocene. Further research linking proximal terrestrial pyroclastic deposits and distal marine sediment tephras should allow us to reconstruct the explosive volcanic history of Baekdusan.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, Formal analysis, writing–original draft, writing-review and editing, J.-H.C.; data curation, writing-review and editing, D.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), Korea (project entitled “International Ocean Discovery Program”, by Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources).

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the K-IODP project (International Ocean Discovery Program) funding from Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Korea. The tephra analysis was supported by project “Tephrochronology on ODP Site 794A and explosive volcanic activity of the Baekdusan” of the Kangwon National University. We thank Lee, Y.S. and Kim, B.C. for their assistance of tephra sampling from the ODP 794A core. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for improving the manuscript with their valuable comments.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Map of coring sites and source volcanoes in the East Sea/Japan Sea. Solid black line: trajectory of the B-Tm tephra (Adapted from [1]), Dotted red line: trajectory of the B-J tephra (Adapted from [18]), Solid black triangles: Source volcanoes in this study, Solid red circles: Coring sites in this study. Blue squares: Sampling sites in Japanese island. T: Tomakomai, OG: Oga Peninsular, LI: Lake Ichi-no-Megata, LS: Lake Suigetsu.
Figure 1. Map of coring sites and source volcanoes in the East Sea/Japan Sea. Solid black line: trajectory of the B-Tm tephra (Adapted from [1]), Dotted red line: trajectory of the B-J tephra (Adapted from [18]), Solid black triangles: Source volcanoes in this study, Solid red circles: Coring sites in this study. Blue squares: Sampling sites in Japanese island. T: Tomakomai, OG: Oga Peninsular, LI: Lake Ichi-no-Megata, LS: Lake Suigetsu.
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Figure 2. Volcanic history of Baekdusan. The shield-forming and cone construction stages originated from effusive eruptions of Baekdusan (Data from [3]). Eight tephra layers in East Sea marine sediments and two tephra layers in Japanese island sediments caused by Plinian eruptions of Baekdusan (Data from [1,2,3,8,9,10,16,17,18,20,22,23]). Toya and Aso-1 tephra layers (green arrows) in the ODP 794A core were transported by explosive volcanic eruptions of Japanese volcanoes (Data from [29]).
Figure 2. Volcanic history of Baekdusan. The shield-forming and cone construction stages originated from effusive eruptions of Baekdusan (Data from [3]). Eight tephra layers in East Sea marine sediments and two tephra layers in Japanese island sediments caused by Plinian eruptions of Baekdusan (Data from [1,2,3,8,9,10,16,17,18,20,22,23]). Toya and Aso-1 tephra layers (green arrows) in the ODP 794A core were transported by explosive volcanic eruptions of Japanese volcanoes (Data from [29]).
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Figure 3. Stratigraphic position of the B-KY1 tephra layer between the Toya and Aso-1 tephra layers in the ODP 794A core (Photographs adapted from [41]).
Figure 3. Stratigraphic position of the B-KY1 tephra layer between the Toya and Aso-1 tephra layers in the ODP 794A core (Photographs adapted from [41]).
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Figure 4. Photographs of tephra layers recovered from ODP 794A core in the Japan Basin of the East Sea/Japan Sea. (A): B-J, (B): Toya, (C): B-KY1, and (D) Aso-1 (Photographs adapted from [41]).
Figure 4. Photographs of tephra layers recovered from ODP 794A core in the Japan Basin of the East Sea/Japan Sea. (A): B-J, (B): Toya, (C): B-KY1, and (D) Aso-1 (Photographs adapted from [41]).
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Figure 5. Backscattered electron images of tephra samples from ODP 794A core in the Japan Basin of the East Sea/Japan Sea. (A): Toya, (B): B-KY1, (C): Aso-1, and (D): Aso-4.
Figure 5. Backscattered electron images of tephra samples from ODP 794A core in the Japan Basin of the East Sea/Japan Sea. (A): Toya, (B): B-KY1, (C): Aso-1, and (D): Aso-4.
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Figure 6. Total alkali versus silica (TAS) diagram (Classification diagram adapted from [42]) of Baekdusan tephra samples and other Japanese tephra samples from ODP 794A core (Data from [2,16,17,18,20,23]).
Figure 6. Total alkali versus silica (TAS) diagram (Classification diagram adapted from [42]) of Baekdusan tephra samples and other Japanese tephra samples from ODP 794A core (Data from [2,16,17,18,20,23]).
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Figure 7. Major element variation diagram of selected elements versus silica from B-KY1 tephra and other Baekdusan tephra samples (Data from [2,16,17,18,20,23]). (A) TiO2 versus SiO2, (B) Al2O3 versus SiO2, (C) FeO* versus SiO2, (D) MnO versus SiO2, (E) MgO versus SiO2, (F) CaO versus SiO2, (G) Na2O versus SiO2, (H) K2O versus SiO2.
Figure 7. Major element variation diagram of selected elements versus silica from B-KY1 tephra and other Baekdusan tephra samples (Data from [2,16,17,18,20,23]). (A) TiO2 versus SiO2, (B) Al2O3 versus SiO2, (C) FeO* versus SiO2, (D) MnO versus SiO2, (E) MgO versus SiO2, (F) CaO versus SiO2, (G) Na2O versus SiO2, (H) K2O versus SiO2.
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Figure 8. Major element variation diagram of B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core and other Baekdusan tephra samples (Data from [2,16,17,18,20,23]). (A): Ca versus FeO*, (B): Al2O3 versus FeO* (Peralikine classification diagram adapted from [41]).
Figure 8. Major element variation diagram of B-KY1 tephra in the ODP 794A core and other Baekdusan tephra samples (Data from [2,16,17,18,20,23]). (A): Ca versus FeO*, (B): Al2O3 versus FeO* (Peralikine classification diagram adapted from [41]).
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Figure 9. Improved eruption age estimate (ca. 135 ka) based on B-KY1 tephra and distinct sedimentary facies coinciding with the start of the penultimate deglaciation. (A) Photograph of the 20EEZ-1 core, (B): X-radiograph of the 20EEZ-1 core, (C): Photograph of ODP 794A core, MIS: Marine isotope stage, PD: Penultimate deglaciation, LBM: light bioturbated mud, DLM: dark bioturbated mud, cmbsf: cm below seafloor.
Figure 9. Improved eruption age estimate (ca. 135 ka) based on B-KY1 tephra and distinct sedimentary facies coinciding with the start of the penultimate deglaciation. (A) Photograph of the 20EEZ-1 core, (B): X-radiograph of the 20EEZ-1 core, (C): Photograph of ODP 794A core, MIS: Marine isotope stage, PD: Penultimate deglaciation, LBM: light bioturbated mud, DLM: dark bioturbated mud, cmbsf: cm below seafloor.
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Table 1. Textural characteristics of the three tephras in the ODP 794A core and B-KY1 tephra in the 20EEZ-1 core in the East Sea/Japan Sea. Bs: bubble-wall shards, Ps: pumice shards, Ph: phenocrysts.
Table 1. Textural characteristics of the three tephras in the ODP 794A core and B-KY1 tephra in the 20EEZ-1 core in the East Sea/Japan Sea. Bs: bubble-wall shards, Ps: pumice shards, Ph: phenocrysts.
TephraTextural CompositionDegree of VesicularityDegree of StretchingMaximum Grain Size
(μm)
Toya in the ODP 794A corePs >> Bs > Phlow to moderatelow to moderateBs: 120, Ps: 100, Ph: 90
B-KY1 in the ODP 794A coreBs ≅ Ps > Phmoderate to highmoderate to highBs: 180, Ps: 130, Ph: 130
B-KY1 in the 20EEZ-1 core [23]Ps > Bs >Phmoderate to highmoderate to highBs: 210, Ps:170, Ph: 150
Aso-1 in the ODP 794A coreBs >> Ph > Pslow to moderatemoderate to highBs: 250, Ps: 140, Ph: 140
Table 2. Major elements of Toya, B-KY1, and Aso-1 tephra samples from the ODP 794A core. Normalized to 100 wt.%. FeO*: Total Iron. cmbsf: cm below seafloor.
Table 2. Major elements of Toya, B-KY1, and Aso-1 tephra samples from the ODP 794A core. Normalized to 100 wt.%. FeO*: Total Iron. cmbsf: cm below seafloor.
Depth
(cmbsf)
SiO2TiO2Al2O3FeO*MnOMgOCaONa2OK2OTephra
428.2–429.378.820.0912.990.790.070.040.344.102.75Toya
78.670.1613.180.810.14-0.363.802.88
78.51-13.310.800.080.020.334.172.79
79.060.1113.440.880.050.010.293.222.94
78.550.0813.380.810.060.010.324.112.69
79.830.0713.450.850.090.030.332.652.70
78.090.0213.460.890.090.070.344.392.65
79.020.0913.760.860.070.040.363.012.81
78.780.0712.900.810.120.050.343.733.19
79.370.0812.950.850.090.040.303.842.47
78.250.0913.530.840.12-0.343.443.39
78.310.2013.320.790.08-0.284.172.86
78.250.0513.380.720.09-0.343.943.23
79.10-12.740.950.08-0.283.882.97
585.6–587.275.140.239.175.910.12-0.225.024.18B-KY1
75.080.159.396.000.11-0.214.834.24
73.880.1010.515.790.15-0.354.714.50
72.410.0311.865.480.13-0.485.214.40
73.690.1611.535.610.15-0.443.904.50
70.600.1513.285.200.150.020.625.384.60
73.260.0711.266.050.14-0.634.234.36
74.960.229.245.810.130.040.245.064.29
75.360.129.205.750.13-0.224.904.32
67.530.2215.155.300.160.091.005.345.21
68.630.2015.505.440.140.090.973.675.35
68.470.2715.065.370.190.050.894.375.32
66.590.1615.745.540.150.081.095.475.17
67.680.2215.765.450.130.121.064.305.29
802.9–803.769.910.2316.322.730.080.541.753.634.82Aso-1
70.160.3416.262.640.100.531.853.454.68
69.870.2816.132.590.130.521.923.545.03
69.910.2216.482.730.110.571.862.985.14
69.770.3216.252.850.070.521.793.574.86
69.710.2316.232.730.080.551.853.704.93
69.890.1716.252.640.050.551.823.774.86
70.600.2316.472.830.060.531.932.494.85
70.490.1716.032.590.140.591.773.364.86
70.620.3315.932.680.040.581.733.264.83
70.370.3016.042.710.030.521.773.394.87
70.360.4116.092.470.060.471.893.314.93
69.680.2916.232.620.070.531.943.595.06
69.940.2115.982.830.060.571.903.525.01

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Chun, J.-H.; Cheong, D. Origin of Compositional Diversity of Marine Tephra during the Late Middle Pleistocene B-KY1 Baekdusan Volcanic Eruption. Appl. Sci. 2020, 10, 4469. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134469

AMA Style

Chun J-H, Cheong D. Origin of Compositional Diversity of Marine Tephra during the Late Middle Pleistocene B-KY1 Baekdusan Volcanic Eruption. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10(13):4469. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134469

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Chun, Jong-Hwa, and Daekyo Cheong. 2020. "Origin of Compositional Diversity of Marine Tephra during the Late Middle Pleistocene B-KY1 Baekdusan Volcanic Eruption" Applied Sciences 10, no. 13: 4469. https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134469

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