Facies analysis in volcanic areas – Structural and textural characteristics of lava flows and of pyroclastic fall and flow (ignimbrites, block and ash flow, pyroclastic surges, lahar and debris avalanche) deposits - Stratigraphic problems of pyroclastic rocks – Rock chronology by tephra.
J. McPhie, M. Doyle, R. Allen (1993) - Volcanic Textures - Centre for Ore Deposit and Exploration Studies - University of Tasmania, 196pp.
R. Cas and J. Wright - Volcanic Successions: Modern and Ancient: A Geological Approach to Processes, Products and Successione, Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Fisher R.V. and Schmincke H.U. (1984), Pyroclastic rocks - Springer-Verlag, Berlino, 472pp.
Scandone R. and Giacomelli L. (1998), VULCANOLOGIA - Principi Fisici e Metodi di Immagine, Liguori Editore, Napoli, 642pp.
Encyclopedia of Volcanoes by Bruce Houghton, H. Rymer, J. Stix, S. McNutt, H. Sigurdsson.
Nemet K. and Martin U. (2007). Practical Volcanology. Occasional Papers of the Geological Institute of Hungary, Budapest 2007, vol. 207, 221 pp.
Hardcopy of the slides of the course.
Learning Objectives
Morphological, geological, sedimentological and textural characteristics of the volcanic products in the Earth. Transport and depositional processes related to the volcanic explosive and effusive activity.
Competence acquired:
Reconnaissance of volcanic deposits and igneous rocks in the field. Mapping of volcanic areas. Definition of the eruptive history of active and inactive volcanic areas.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):
Geologic and stratigraphic methods for studying and mapping volcanic areas.
Teaching tools
Blackboard, video-projector for computer
Practice in the field
Further information
Frequency of lectures, practice and lab. Frequency of lessons is highly recommended, but not mandatory; frequency of at least 2/3 of practice and lab is required
Final fieldwork period
Type of Assessment
Written report on the field activity of the final camp. Oral examination with questions on specific topics of the course, and description and interpretation of images related to volcanic deposits and structures.
Course program
Shapes and structures of volcanic systems – Facies analysis of volcanic areas – Structural and textural characteristics of lava flows - Clasts and pyroclastic deposits: components, structures and textures - Subaerial and submarine pyroclastic fall deposits (fallout): thickness, dispersion, volumes and size distribution – Transport and emplacement of pyroclastic flow (pyroclastic density current) and surge (dilute pyroclastic density current) deposits – Characteristics of pyroclastic flow deposits erupted by magmatic and hydromagmatic explosions: deposits of block and ash flow, ignimbrites, welded deposits, deposits of base-surge, ground-surge e ash-cloud surge - Structural and textural characteristics of Lahar e Debris Avalanche. Stratigraphic problems of pyroclastic rocks – Rock chronology by tephra. Some examples from stratigraphic successions in volcanic areas.