Caracterización de eventos glacivolcánicos en el Complejo volcánico Caviahue-Copahue y en la Formación Hualcupén, provincia del Neuquén

Abstract

Characterization of glacivolcanism in the Caviahue Copahue Volcanic Complex and the Hualcupén Formation, Neuquén province. Glacivolcanism is a relative young discipline that has scarce development in the Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes. The glacivolca-nic and subaerial products only differ in the resultant morphologies and textures due to higher cooling rates. The related hydrovolcanic products form as a consequence of the melted water when the magma interacts with ice or snow. These products are indistinguishable from the hydrovolcanic products not related to ice-magma interactions. The Caviahue Copahue Volcanic Complex is a leading case to study this type of volcanism. Many of the main glacivolcanic types, morphologies and textures form the complex. The hydrovolca-nic products are also common, related to magma interactions with different amounts of surface water. This work provides a detailed description of the glacivoclanic products found, their main morphologies and textures, and the possible paleoambiental conditions for their emplacement. Recently found hydrovolcanic products in pre-plesitocene formations are also described. These glacivolcanic products described in pre-Copahue units has important implications, as they suggest that the climatic conditions during Pleistocene and previous times were cold. These paleoenvironmental conditions probably favoured the development of small volume isolated ice bodies or snow accumulations.