Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Geophysical Model For The Origin Of Volcano Vent Clusters In A Colorado Plateau Volcanic Field, Fanghui Deng, Charles B. Connor, Rocco Malservisi, Laura J. Connor, Jeremy White, Aurélie Germa, Paul H. Wetmore

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

Variation in spatial density of Quaternary volcanic vents, and the occurrence of vent clusters, correlates with boundaries in Proterozoic crust in the Springerville volcanic field (SVF), Arizona, USA. Inverse modeling using 538 gravity measurements shows that vent clusters correlate with gradients in the gravity field due to lateral variation in crustal density. These lateral discontinuities in the crustal density can be explained by boundaries in the North American crust formed during Proterozoic accretion. Spatial density of volcanic vents is low in regions of high‐density Proterozoic crust, high in areas of relatively low density Proterozoic crust, and is greatest adjacent to …