Distribution and compositions of magmatic inclusions in the Mount Helen dome, Lassen Volcanic Center, California: Insights into magma chamber processes

Variations in spatial abundances, compositions, and textures of undercooled magmatic inclusions were determined in a glaciated Pleistocene lava dome (Mt. Helen; ~ 0.6 km3) at the Lassen volcanic center (LVC), southernmost Cascades. Spatial variations were determined by point-counting at 86 locations separated by ~ 100 m on the dome. Major and trace element compositions of host rocks and inclusions at 12 locations along the flow length of the dome were obtained.Important results include the following. (1) Inclusion abundances range from 3–19 vol.%, with the highest values generally located along the little eroded northwestern margin and flow front of the dome. (2) Host rock compositions are markedly uniform across the dome (65.4 +/− 0.4 wt.% SiO2) indicating that the degree of inclusion disaggregation was uniform, despite large spatial variations in inclusion abundances. (3) Inclusion sizes range from a maximum of ~ 1 m across to mm-sized crystal clots of phenocrysts plus adhering Ca-rich plagioclase microphenocrysts. (4) Inclusions have variable macroscopic textures indicating that partial undercooling both prior to and following entrapment in cooler dacitic host magma were important processes. (5) Inclusions are variably fractionated magmas with large variations in Ni (79–11 ppm) and Cr (87–7 ppm) contents that are lower than presumed mantle-derived melts. Furthermore, large ranges in incompatible trace elements indicate that inclusion compositions also reflect deep processes involving either melting of variable mantle source rocks or assimilation–fractional crystallization. (6) Inclusions are variably mixed magmas (56–61 wt.% SiO2) that contain up to 50% host dacitic magma. (7) Correlations between Ni and Cr contents in hosts and inclusions from individual outcrops indicate that the effect of inclusion disaggregation and magma mingling on host dacitic magma was local (e.g., < 50 m).These features are interpreted to reflect protracted recharge of diverse composition mafic magmas into the base of a shallow magma reservoir containing a lower layer of compositionally evolving hybrid mafic magma and an upper layer of rhyodacitic magma. Complex interactions among magmas in the upper and lower layers resulted in formation of mafic inclusions by both pre- and post-entrapment undercooling mechanisms, followed by buoyant rise and accumulation near the roof of the reservoir. The main stage of inclusion disaggregation probably occurred in the conduit during eruptive ascent and largely ceased upon surface eruption. We infer that endogenous growth concentrated inclusions along the margins and top of the dome as more inclusion-poor dacite was progressively tapped from deeper regions of the reservoir.