Pleistocene volcanoes of the western Papua New Guinea highlands

Abstract

Pleistocene volcanoes in the highlands of Papua New Guinea are located in the S part of the central and W ranges and the adjacent Fly-Purari plains. Some are composite stratovolcanoes, which rise 1000-2000m above basement, and up to 3800m above sea level. Mount Giluwe is a basaltic shield volcano, domes, maars, clusters of cumulodomes and numerous minor eruptive centres are also present. Volcanism began in the Early Pleistocene or Late Pliocene, and was largely complete by approx 200 000yr BP but activity continued in some centres until about 50 000yr BP or perhaps even more recently in 2 or 3 centres. Thermal and solfataric activity continues at both Doma Peaks and Moutn Yelia. Each major volcanic centre is described systematically, in terms of morphology, geology, and petrography, and electon-microprobe analyses of minerals and glass in 31 specimens are listed. Major and trace-element analyses of 173 rock specimens are presented; 116 of these analyses are accompanied by trace-element data, including 26 sets of rare-earth-element data, and 31 sets of isotopic data.-from Authors Show more