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Mixed magmatic – phreatomagmatic explosions during the formation

of the Joya Honda maar, San Luis Potosı́, Mexico
R. SAUCEDO1*, J. L. MACÍAS2, Y. Z. E. OCAMPO-DÍAZ3, W. GÓMEZ-VILLA1,
E. RIVERA-OLGUÍN1, R. CASTRO-GOVEA4, J. M. SÁNCHEZ-NÚÑEZ5, P. W. LAYER6,
J. R. TORRES HERNÁNDEZ1 & G. CARRASCO-NÚÑEZ7
1
Instituto de Geologı́a, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosı́, Dr M. Nava no. 5,
Zona Universitaria, 78240 San Luis Potosı́, Mexico
2
Instituto de Geofı́sica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad Michoacán,
Antigua carretera a Pátzcuaro 8701, 58190 Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico
3
Facultad de Ingenierı́a, Área de Ciencia de la Tierra UASLP San Luis Potosı́,
Dr M. Nava no. 5, Zona Universitaria, 78240 San Luis Potosı́, Mexico
4
Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas no. 152, San Bartolo
Atepehuacan, Ciudad de México, CP 07730, México
5
Instituto Politécnico Nacional-CIIEMAD, Miguel Othón de Mendizabal s/n. Col. La Escalera.,
07320, 16 Del. Gustavo A. Madero, México D.F., Mexico
6
College of Natural Science and Mathematics, University of Alaska at Fairbanks,
AK 99775, USA
7
Centro de Geociencias, UNAM, Campus Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
*Correspondence: rgiron@uaslp.mx

Abstract: The Joya Honda maar (JHm) is located in central Mexico, 35 km NNE of the city of San
Luis Potosı́. It lies in the Plio-Quaternary alkaline Ventura-Espı́ritu Santo Volcanic Field located in
the eastern part of Mesa Central province. The JHm eruption occurred at 311 + 19 ka (40Ar/39Ar)
along a fissure that formed an elliptical crater (c. 1.3 × 0.9 km wide and c. 270 m deep) with a
major axis oriented to the ENE–WSW. The eruption generated pyroclastic surge deposits that pref-
erentially extended up to a distance of 7 km to the NW–NE of the crater, with a very limited dis-
tribution to the south. At the crater rim, the sequence is 60– 80 m thick on the NE–NW wall and
1– 15 m thick on the south–SW rim. The JHm sequence is divided into five units with different
structures, textures, granulometry and components. The juvenile basanite clasts of these units dis-
play differences in vesicularity, density and morphology under scanning electron microscopy.
These units correspond to the same number of eruptive phases as follows: Phase 1 occurred as a
series of alternating strombolian and phreatomagmatic explosions that dispersed fall deposits
and base surges; Phase 2 began with strombolian activity that emplaced basanite scoria with
low contents of mantle xenoliths; Phase 3 continued with phreatomagmatic explosions that
emplaced wet and dry pyroclastic surges; Phase 4 generated strombolian explosions rich in mantle
xenoliths; and Phase 5 produced a violent strombolian phase that dispersed fallouts rich in mantle
xenoliths and intermixed with discrete phreatomagmatic explosions that emplaced pyroclastic
surges. These eruptive fluctuations during the genesis of JHm are a response to the relative propor-
tions of magma–water interaction through time and complex faulting of the calcareous rocks
underneath the volcano. The distribution and textural characteristics of the deposits suggest that
simultaneous or alternating vents were active during the eruption, possibly following a fissure.
These variations may have been subordinated to factors such as the availability of groundwater,
the velocity of magma ascent, the discharge rate and degassing.

Maars are the second most abundant type of volcano small-volume volcanoes can be produced by highly
on Earth after cinder cones (Lorenz & Kurszlaukis explosive eruptions that occur within days or weeks
2007; Ross et al. 2013; Macorps et al. 2016). These (Vespermann & Schmincke 2000; Németh &

From: Németh, K., Carrasco-Núñez, G., Aranda-Gómez, J. J. & Smith, I. E. M. (eds) Monogenetic Volcanism.
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 446, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP446.11
# 2017 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. All rights reserved.
For permissions: http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/permissions. Publishing disclaimer: www.geolsoc.org.uk/pub_ethics
 Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Colorado Boulder on March 14, 2017
R. SAUCEDO ET AL.
Kereszturi 2015). Stratigraphic studies carried out
over decades in maars show that, in many cases,
they are the result of complex eruptions and can
develop a wide range of eruptive styles over a
short period of time, with alternating or mixed mag-
matic and phreatomagmatic events (Houghton &
Schmincke 1986, 1989; Houghton & Nairn 1991;
Houghton et al. 1996; Clarke et al. 2009; Ort &
Carrasco-Núñez 2009; Jordan et al. 2013; Van
Otterloo et al. 2013). Such mixed events seem to
be common if the appropriate geological conditions
are present (external factors; e.g. Kereszturi et al.
2011; Németh et al. 2012; Németh & Kereszturi
2015). To understand the formation processes of
maars, a series of experiments was run under envi-
ronmentally controlled conditions. These experi-
ments showed that vertical and lateral variations in
the subsurface explosion and the properties of the
host–substrate are important factors determining
the crater morphology, the distribution of the depos-
its, and the stratigraphic and structural characteris-
tics of maar-diatreme volcanoes (Valentine et al.
2012, 2015; Ross et al. 2013; Graettinger et al.
2015; Macorps et al. 2016). A well-preserved exam-
ple of such mixed magmatic–phreatomagmatic
events is the Joya Honda maar (JHm), located in
the state of San Luis Potosı́, Mexico (Aranda-
Gómez & Luhr 1996; Aranda-Gómez et al. 2000;
Barboza-Gudiño et al. 2002). This maar volcano
erupted through highly folded and faulted Creta-
ceous sedimentary rocks in a series of magmatic
and phreatomagmatic eruptions, producing a com-
plex sequence of deposits that motivated this work.
The JHm is located in the state of San Luis
Potosı́ in central Mexico (Fig. 1a). From a geologi-
cal point of view, it is located at the southern end of
the Basin and Range province within the Ventura-
Espı́ritu Santo Volcanic Field (VESVF; Luhr et al.
1989; Aranda-Gómez et al. 1993, 2005; López-
Loera et al. 2008) (Fig. 1b). The volcano is part of a
series of monogenetic volcanic structures scattered
within an area of 5 km2 (Fig. 2a). In fact, two cinder
cones are located very close to the Joya Honda cra-
ter. One is c. 250 m south of the maar and is 20 m
high and 200 m in diameter; the other is c. 500 m
to the ENE and is 30–40 m high and c. 400 m in
diameter. These olivine nephelinite cinder cones
are covered by the JHm pyroclastic sequence (Luhr
et al. 1989; López-Loera et al. 2008).
Considering the dimensions of the maar (diame-
ter and depth; Fig. 2b) and the volume and disper-
sion of the JHm products, this crater is one of the
most spectacular phreatomagmatic landforms in
Mexico and is one of the largest maar craters on
Earth (Lorenz 1973; Vespermann & Schmincke
2000; Jordan et al. 2013). The occurrence of mantle
xenoliths in the JHm sequence has attracted the at-
tention of a number of researchers (Aranda-Gómez
et al. 1993, 2005; Luhr et al. 1989). Previous studies
(Aranda-Gómez et al. 2005) concluded that the
VESVF volcanism was related to the extensional
province of northern Mexico (Fig. 1b), which be-
longs to the southern Basin and Range province.
The VESVF was formed by intra-plate mafic alka-
line magmas. These researchers classified the volca-
nic products of the Ventura Grupo as olivine and
nepheline basanites, basanites and alkali olivine
basalts (41–44 wt% SiO2). They described upper
mantle and lower crustal xenoliths within the tephra
deposits. The xenolith set is formed by spinel lher-
zolite (64%), hydrothermally altered andesites
(15%), pyroxenites (13%), two-pyroxene granulites
(5%) and garnet granulites (3%).
We show here that the evolution of the JHm is
more complex than previously inferred because
the eruption transits from magmatic (strombolian
activity) to phreatomagmatic events that ended
with a violent strombolian phase. This eruption is
very similar in fashion to other large and complex
monogenetic volcanoes (e.g. Valentine et al. 2007;
Clarke et al. 2009; Ort & Carrasco-Núñez 2009;
Jordan et al. 2013; Van Otterloo et al. 2013). We
present the results of our investigations of JHm
stratigraphy and our interpretation of its eruptive
phases. For the sake of simplicity, the stratigraphic
sequence was divided into five volcanic units (I –
V). New granulometry, component analysis and
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) morphologi-
cal studies allowed us to infer the complex eruptive
dynamics of the eruption. Among the maar struc-
tures found in Mexico, the JHm is one of a few
known examples that display such transitions asso-
ciated with two or more contrasting explosive erup-
tion mechanisms (other examples include the Valle
de Santiago, Guanajuato, Tecuitlapa, Puebla, San
Luis Potosı́ and El Estribo volcano, Michoacán;
Dávila-Harris 2003; Cano-Cruz 2007; Ort &
Carrasco-Núñez 2009; Pola et al. 2015).
Geological setting
The Joya Honda volcano belongs to the VESVF
and is located within the southern Basin and Range
extensional province (Aranda-Gómez et al. 2005;
Fig. 1b). The VESVF is located at the intersection
between the Sierra del Coro anticlinorium and a
NE 608 right-lateral regional fault system that was
active from the mid- to late Cenozoic (Aranda-
Gómez & Labarthe-Hernández 1975; Aranda-
Gómez & Luhr 1996; Aranda-Gómez et al. 2000;
López-Loera et al. 2008) (Fig. 1b). Locally, the
JHm sits on the trace of a right-lateral fault (N
60 –708 E) described by Barboza-Gudiño et al.
(2002), which coincides with the longest axis of
the JHm crater, and a cinder cone located a few
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO

Fig. 1. (a) Location of the Joya Honda maar (JHm) c. 35 km NE of San Luis Potosı́ in central Mexico and the
Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB). (b) Regional geology of the JHm, the Ventura Volcanic Field and the TMVB.
The map shows an inferred NE-trending fault with lateral displacement at the southern part of the JHm (modified
from Aranda-Gómez & Luhr 1996; López-Loera et al. 2008). VESVF, Ventura-Espı́ritu Santo Volcanic Field.

hundred metres to the NE of the JHm (Fig. 2a).
Another cinder cone occurs south of the JHm; if
we trace an imaginary line between these two
cones, they form an angle of 238 with respect to
the N 60–708 E right-lateral fault (Barboza-Gudiño
et al. 2002). All these features suggest the occur-
rence of a NE–SW alignment roughly parallel to
this fault. To check this possible alignment, we per-
formed a morphometric analysis of these vents
(Fig. 2b) using the parameters of Paulsen & Wilson
(2010). The results indicate that these vents are
aligned with a medium to good degree of reliability,
suggesting that they could have been fed by the
same fault system in a NE –SW direction. The N
60 –708 E fault system has been active since the
Palaeogene and seems to be historically active
because seismic crises occurred in 1868 and 2004
(Gómez-González & Barboza-Gudiño 2005; Bar-
boza-Gudiño 2008). The April–November 1868
crisis was accompanied by underground noises
reported by the inhabitants of Villa Hidalgo. This
village is located around 12 km NE of the JHm
alignment and along the N 60–708 E fault trace
(Barboza-Gudiño 2008) (Fig. 2a). The earthquakes
produced fractures in the church and several houses
collapsed, forcing many people to leave the village.
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

Fig. 2. (a) Google Earth image (25 November 2010) showing the NE-elongated crater of Joya Honda maar roughly
parallel to the N 608 E right-lateral fault of Barboza-Gudiño et al. (2002) and the location of two cinder cones. An
imaginary line joining these two cinder cones intersects the fault trace at an acute angle of c. 238. (b) Morphometric
parameters used by Paulsen & Wilson (2010) to determine the degree of reliability of individual elements related to
an alignment. These parameters are: vent number, best-fit line, index of vent elongation, standard vent long axis and
average vent spacing distance. (c) View from SE of the Joya Honda maar crater showing its maximum depth
(photograph by Rafael Barboza-Gudiño).

According to these reports, we assigned an intensity
of VII (strong) on the Mercalli modified intensity
scale to this earthquake.
The JHm is located between two geological
palaeoenvironments that converge in the Mesa Cen-
tral: (1) the Valles-San Luis Potosı́ carbonate plat-
form; and (2) the Central Mexico Mesozoic Basin
(Carrillo-Bravo 1971). The Valles-San Luis Potosı́
Mesozoic sedimentary sequence consists of evapo-
rites and thick stratified limestones of pre-reef,
reef and post-reef facies of Cretaceous age. By con-
trast, the sediments in the Central Mexico Mesozoic
Basin consist of Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks
(Carrillo-Bravo 1971) that discordantly rest over
Triassic siliciclastic deposits, which in places are
covered by Oligocene felsic volcanic rocks of the
Sierra Madre Occidental (Aranda-Gómez et al.
2005). La Peña and Cuesta del Cura Cretaceous for-
mations (part of the central Mexico Mesozoic basin
sequence) are exposed on the inner walls of the
JHm, where they are strongly folded (Fig. 3a, b;
Aranda-Gómez et al. 2000).
Joya Honda maar
The Joya Honda maar is a complex monogenetic
volcanic edifice produced by a series of explosions
that resulted in an elliptical crater (c. 1300 × c.
880 m; Fig. 2c) with nearly vertical walls and
depths between 150 and 270 m (Fig. 3a, b) (Aranda-
Gómez & Luhr 1996; Kereszturi & Németh 2012;
Németh & Kereszturi 2015). The crater base is
500 × 330 m wide and occupies an area of
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO

Fig. 3. Photographs of (a) Joya Honda maar (Jhm) deposits at the northern crater wall and (b) contact between the
Jhm deposits and the underlying La Peña and Cuesta del Cura formations. (c) Extent of the pyroclastic deposits
produced by the Joya Honda maar and location of the most complete stratigraphic sections.

0.13 km2 (Fig. 2a). The JHm eruption occurred at
311 + 19 ka (a new 40Ar/39Ar date in this study
Fig. 4) when the basanitic magma rose through the
strongly folded calcareous Mesozoic rocks of the
La Peña and Cuesta del Cura formations (Luhr
et al. 1989; Aranda-Gómez & Luhr 1996) and
reached the surface. The size of the JHm makes it
one of the most spectacular phreatomagmatic volca-
noes in Mexico. As a result of its morphology and
deposits, JHm was catalogued and classified as a
maar (Luhr et al. 1989; Aranda-Gómez & Luhr
1996; Vespermann & Schmincke 2000). The JHm
pyroclastic deposits cover the Cretaceous lime-
stones discordantly (Fig. 3a, b) in an area of
33.7 km2, with a preferred dispersion towards the
NNW and ENE and with a very limited dispersion
to the south (Fig. 3c). The eruptive mechanism, its
location along the NE–SW alignment and the char-
acteristics of both the conduit and the sedimentary
rocks seem to have played an important part in the
distribution of the pyroclastic products (cf.
Houghton et al. 2004; Keating et al. 2008;
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

100
(a)

800
Age in ka
600
Plateau age= 311 +/- 19 ka

400

0.004
(b)
Ar/ 40Ar

0.002
36

0
0 0.6
39 40
Ar/ Ar
Fig. 4. (a) Plateau and (b) isochron 40Ar/39Ar age diagrams of a juvenile basanite lava collected from the Unit II
strombolian fallout (316197-2479805 UTM).

López-Loera et al. 2008; Valentine et al. 2015;
Macorps et al. 2016).
The pyroclastic deposits associated with the
JHm crater have a variable total thickness at the cra-
ter walls (from 1 to 80 m). Pyroclastic surge depos-
its are as thin as 0.40 m at 7 km from the crater
(Fig. 3c; section 16).
Methodology
Forty detailed stratigraphic sections were carried
out around the JHm. The stratigraphic correlation
of these sections around the crater and in distal
areas allowed us to define five different eruptive
phases with specific structures and textural features.
We selected the most complete stratigraphic sec-
tions (11; Fig. 3c) to perform 58 granulometric anal-
yses (4 to 24w) of different samples. Of these, we
carried out 192 componentry analyses in 0–3w
size fractions in friable samples. The morphological
analysis of 350 (≤3w) juvenile particles was carried
out in the secondary electron mode using a JEOL
JSM-6610LV scanning electron microscope at
the Instituto de Metalurgia of the Universidad
Autónoma de San Luis Potosı́. High resolution
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO
200 –400× images were obtained for the analyses.
The probe was used under a high vacuum and an
accelerating voltage of 15 kV. The particles were
coated with 250 Å of gold. The density and vesicu-
larity of juvenile basanite clasts were measured
in juvenile clasts from 40 samples of the JHm
sequence. We measured ≥50 juvenile basanite
clasts (24w fraction) of each sample following the
technique of Gardner et al. (1996), from which we
obtained the vesicularity index (Houghton & Wil-
son 1989). As a result of the limitations of the
method, the density was not measured in particles
,16 mm in Unit I and at the bottom of Unit III.
The five JHm units (Fig. 5) are described in the fol-
lowing sections:
Unit I
Unit I (UI) lies on top of a 35 cm thick paleosol
observed at some locations around the crater walls
Fig. 5. Composite stratigraphic column of the Joya Honda
maar. Column shows five volcanic units emplaced during
formation. The column displays the maximum thickness
and the contact between the underlying palaeosol and the
pre-maar deposits as seen at different locations in the
crater. Units I– V (UI– UV) are indicated.
(sections 30 and 31; Figs 3c & 6a). The base of UI
consists of a 25 cm thick, light grey, clast-supported
layer with reverse to normal grading (Fig. 6b). It
consists of abundant fine sub-angular lapilli and
coarse ash juvenile scoria (79%), accidental lithic
fragments (c. 17%) and xenoliths (3%). This layer
is interbedded with cross-stratified beds of coarse
ash (2–3 cm thick) made of the same constituents.
UI shows impact sags with soft sediment defor-
mation features and crops out on the ENE and
SW parts of the crater wall (Fig. 6a, b). The base
of UI was interpreted as pyroclastic fall deposits
emplaced from strombolian activity that was inter-
rupted by dilute pyroclastic density currents derived
from phreatomagmatic explosions and resulting in
surge-modified fall deposits (co-surge ash falls
derived from ash clouds; cf. Cas & Wright 1987;
Jordan et al. 2013).
Unit II
Unit II (UII) is a dark grey, ≤1 m thick clast-
supported layer rich in coarse lapilli (c. 70%) with
some block-sized (20%) juvenile basanite (Fig. 6c)
and xenoliths (spinel lherzolite and feldspathic
granulite). UII is exposed only on the southern
flank of the crater (it was not deposited on the
north flank), where it is overlain by Unit III (UIII)
and underlain by UI (Fig. 7a). The emplacement
of this layer is interpreted as strombolian fallout
deposits because of its limited range of dispersion
(see Valentine & Gregg 2008; Van Otterloo et al.
2013).
Unit III
UIII is a thick sequence of cream-coloured cross-
stratified layers. It varies in total thickness from
3 m on the southern flank to 30 m on the NW–
northern flank (Figs 7a, b & 8a, b). Dune bed
forms, accretionary lapilli and impact sags with
soft sediment deformation are common (Fig. 8c).
On the NE and NW flanks of the crater, UIII discor-
dantly overlies UI and it is covered by Unit V (UV)
(Fig. 6b & 8a). The best exposure of this unit occurs
at section 30, where UIII was divided into six sub-
units (B –G section 30; Fig. 7b) according to textural
changes and erosive discordances. Subunits B– E
and G are interpreted as the product of phreatomag-
matic explosions that dispersed the base surges.
Subunit B (0.4 m thick) consists of light brown fine ash
layers (Fig. 7b). These layers present lenses with lime-
stone clasts up to 1 cm in diameter. Towards the bot-
tom 5– 10 cm, thick layers with accretionary lapilli
and limestone blocks (up to 12 cm in diameter)
occur. These layers could be massive or cross-bedded,
poorly sorted and compacted, displaying impact sags
and soft sediment deformation. The subunit lower
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

Fig. 6. (a) Unit I overlying a palaeosol at section 31. (b) Unit III discordantly overlying Unit I at section 30
(316686-2480303UTM). (c) Scoria of Unit II displaying vesicles several centimetres in diameter.

contact is erosive, whereas the upper contact with Sub- increases (up to 50%) in Subunits E and G (section
unit C is sharp. 30; Figs 3c & 7b).

Subunit C (2.0 m thick) is made of light brown matrix-
supported layers of medium to coarse ash and
immersed limestone blocks (30–83 cm in diameter)
with a low content of juvenile clasts. The blocks are
concentrated towards the bottom and middle part of
the subunit. Subunit C is poorly sorted, indurated and
cross-bedded with truncated dunes (0.92 and 1.1 m
wide). It shows impact sags with soft sediment defor-
mation and its upper contact is erosive.
Subunit D (1.0 m thick) consists of light brown fine ash
layers with lenses of gravel-sized clasts of limestones.
Layers in Subunit D are generally massive, but in some
parts show laminar structures. The bottom has accre-
tionary lapilli.
Subunits E (1.0 m thick) and G (2.6 m thick) are com-
posed of several light brown layers composed of fine to
very fine ash. Interbedded with these layers are lenses
of clast-supported limestone fragments (1–2 cm in
diameter). In general, the accretionary lapilli content
Subunit F (1.6 m thick; Fig. 8a) is texturally differ-
ent from units E and G. It is a massive, poorly
sorted, matrix-supported ash layer (47% of ash). It
contains c. 67% accidental lithics dispersed in the
matrix (e.g. limestone blocks 23, 30, 35, 40 and
60 cm in diameter). This layer is interpreted as hav-
ing been emplaced by a highly energetic and dense
pyroclastic density current originating from phreato-
magmatic explosions that may be similar to those
reported by Van Otterloo et al. (2013) as phreato-
vulcanian at Mt Gambier Volcanic Complex, SE
Australia.
Accidental lithics found in UIII are less abundant
than the typical amounts reported in maar deposits
(cf. Lorenz 1986; Cas & Wright 1987); their con-
centrations are consistent with those described in
phreatomagmatic deposits of complex eruptions in
which a shallow fragmentation level was inferred
(Houghton & Schmincke 1989).
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO
Unit IV
Unit IV (UIV) is a 4–5 m thick dark grey layer. Its
base consists of 0.50 m thick dark grey cross-strati-
fied layers. The upper (3.5–4.5 m) part consists of a
clast-supported layer rich in angular basanite scoria
blocks up to 0.4 m in diameter and lherzolite xeno-
liths; overall, this unit resembles spatter deposits.
UIV is a discontinuous layer only found in the
southeastern part of the crater where it rests on top
of UIII (Fig. 8b). The stratified basal layers of this
unit have been interpreted as being emplaced by
phreatomagmatic explosions, which shifted to
strombolian explosions that emplaced the clast-
supported layers (Kereszturi & Németh 2012).
Unit V
UV overlies UIV on the southern part of the crater
wall and rests discordantly on UIII on the rest of
the crater’s periphery (Fig. 8a, b). UV consists of
a stratified sequence of variably indurated basanite
scoria-rich layers that individually vary in thickness
from 0.20 to 1.10 m. These layers maintain their
thickness laterally near the crater and some layers
present inverse or normal grading. Ballistic blocks
(1 m in diameter) with fluidal and bread crust tex-
tures are common in near-vent outcrops (Fig. 8d).
This unit is a light grey to light yellow in colour
with altered palagonite. UV contains occasional
15– 25 cm thick layers of fine to medium massive
ash (Fig. 8e). This unit has a total thickness of
c. 60 m in the NE–NW wall and c. 7 m in the
south– SW wall. In the NE–NW wall the thickness
decreases along the dispersal axis from 60 to 6 m at
3 km from the crater (Figs 3 & 7a, b; sections 30 and
17). These fall deposits have been observed as far as
.10 km from the crater (Barboza-Gudiño et al.
2002). These distal fall layers are interpreted as
emplaced from violent strombolian explosions (cf.
Valentine et al. 2007; Valentine & Gregg 2008)
that alternated with phreatomagmatic episodes that
emplaced near-vent massive, parallel and cross-
bedded layers.
Granulometry and composition of deposits
The UI deposits are mainly composed of juvenile
basanite scoria clasts (c. 82% juvenile basanite, of
which 15% is altered to palagonite), accidental
lithics (c. 15% limestone and chert) and xenoliths
(c. 3.0% lherzolite and feldspathic granulites). Grain
size histograms show unimodal distributions with
modes at 1f (Mdw ¼ 0.13w; sorting sw ¼ 0.89w)
in outcrops on the southern crater and 0f
(Mdw ¼ 20.2w; sorting of 0.96w) in outcrops on the
north flank (Fig. 7a, b). Particles in samples located
on the ENE wall of the crater are slightly larger.
UII consists of juvenile basanite (91%; c. 18%
palagonite), accidental lithics (8%) and xenoliths
(1%). The layers are unimodal with a median of
22.95w, a mode of 23w and regular sorting of
1.40w (Fig. 7a). Juvenile particles have forms com-
mon in spatter cones (Walker & Croasdale 1972;
Summer et al. 2005; Valentine & Gregg 2008; Ker-
eszturi & Németh 2012).
The UIII deposits have abundant accidental
lithics (66%), juvenile clasts (c. 32%) without alter-
ation and xenoliths (2%). Most of these deposits
were not analysed because they are cemented
(Fig. 7b).
The UIV deposits contain juvenile scoria clasts
(83%; c. 14% is altered palagonite juvenile basan-
ite), 15% accidental lithics and 2% xenoliths. The
deposits have unimodal distributions with a median
of 21.12w, a main mode at 1w and regular sorting of
1.4w (Fig. 7a).
Near the crater, deposits of UV consist of juve-
nile scoria clasts (80%; up to 70% corresponds to
altered palagonite juvenile basanite), 15% acciden-
tal lithics and 5% xenoliths. The altered palagonite
juvenile basanite clasts decrease from c. 20 to 10%
at 1 and 3 km from the vent, respectively (Fig. 9).
These layers with a high percentage of palagon-
ite can easily be correlated between near-vent expo-
sures because they occur towards the upper part of
the sequence where fall and surge deposits are inter-
bedded. The variations described indicate that, after
deposition, the particles dispersed by pyroclastic
surge clouds were exposed for some time to a wet,
acid environment (Stroncik & Schmincke 2002;
Clarke et al. 2009), producing prolonged hydrother-
mal alteration (e.g. Vulcano, Capaccioni & Coniglio
1995; Chichón, Macı́as et al. 1997). The percentage
of palagonite decreases dramatically moving away
from the crater until it disappears (see Fig. 9). The
deposits have bimodal grain size distributions that
occasionally become polymodal in base surge
deposits (21, 22, 0 and 4w). Fall deposits have
two modes separated by at least four or five frac-
tions. The first mode always appears at 4w, whereas
the second mode shifts from proximal (0, 21 and
22w) to distal outcrops (0 and 1f). The median
and mode become coarser upwards (Fig. 9). Sorting
shifts from poor (1.8–1.3w) to good with distance
(1– 0.8w).
Density and vesicularity
The density and vesicularity of juvenile scoria par-
ticles has a broad range of values. The density of
basanite clasts in UII and IV range from 1.3 to
2.8 kg m23 and show a polymodal distribution
with peaks at 1.5, 1.6, 2 and 2.6 kg m23 and vesic-
ularities between 40 and 80%, (Fig. 10). Most
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

Fig. 7. Stratigraphic column with granulometric histograms and components graphs of Joya Honda maar units
sampled at section 30 (a) south of the crater.

juvenile particles (75%) have vesicularities ,40%,
whereas the rest (25%) have vesicularities between
40 and 80% (Fig. 10). The median and standard
deviation (index and range according to Houghton
& Wilson 1989) of juvenile scoria clasts (36 +
14%) show a wide range of vesicularities (Sparks
1978; Houghton & Wilson 1989; Gardner et al.
1996). The juvenile scoria clasts (60%) of UIII
(phreatomagmatic) have density variations between
1.5 and 2.8 kg m23 with a polymodal distribution
(modes at 1.5, 2 and 2.6 kg m23); .70% of juvenile
particles have poor or incipient vesicularities
(,20–40%; Houghton & Wilson 1989) (Fig. 10).
The histograms of UV show a wide spectrum
of densities and vesicularities of juvenile particles.
The density distribution ranges from 0.5 to
3 kg m23 and is polymodal in character (modes of
0.5, 1, 1.7 and 3 kg m23). About 90% of juvenile
particles present moderate to poor vesicularity
(20– 60%), whereas the rest present higher vesicu-
larities (60 –80%) (Fig. 10). The polymodal density
distribution of this unit is similar to type III of
Houghton et al. (1996), in which juvenile clasts
have two or more density modes.
SEM morphology
The morphological characterization of particles
was based on the recognition of features formed
in the particles during the fragmentation process
as a result of either magmatic gas expansion or
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO

Fig. 7. (Continued) (b) NE and 31.

water– magma interactions (Heiken 1972, 1974;
Wohletz & Krinsley 1982; Wohletz 1983;
Zimanowski et al. 1997; Büttner et al. 1999, 2002;
Dellino et al. 2001). The particles derived from
explosive water –magma interactions have angular
and moss-like shapes, rough surfaces and alteration
that may lead to the generation of a skin surface
(usually rises as flakes) and a few vesicles with
elongated or ellipsoidal shapes (Büttner et al.
2002; Clarke et al. 2005, 2009; Düring et al.
2012). To discriminate between particles produced
by different fragmentation mechanisms (magmatic
v. phreatomagmatic), a multivariate analysis based
on the particle geometry (cir. ¼ circularity, com, ¼
compactness, elo. ¼ elongation and rec. ¼
rectangularity) was carried out (see Dellino & La
Volpe 1995, 1996; Németh et al. 2012). Autocad
Map 10 software was used to discriminate the parti-
cle geometry in digital images to increase their con-
trast and measure the perimeter of vesicles. For
statistical processes, we used Statistica 7.0 software,
which performs a discriminant analysis in which
each parameter is a variable and each particle is a
sample. The analyses applied generates a simplex
(cf., Gabriel 1971) or the representation of data
through graphical resources to show the statistical
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

Fig. 8. (a) Unit V (UV) deposits discordantly overlying Unit III (UIII). (b) Scoria deposits of Unit IV (UIV) resting
on top of phreatomagmatic deposits of Unit III (UIII) at section 31. (c) Deposits of UIII showing bomb sags (scale
1 m). (d) Close up of a scoria block inside UV deposits. (e) Panoramic view of UV deposits (scale 1 m) at site 38.
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO

Fig. 9. Grain size and component histograms of Unit V deposits sampled at the crater wall and at 1 and 3 km from
the crater.

correlation between different variables (rec.*com.
v. cir.*elo.), which, in this case, separates the mag-
matic and phreatomagmatic fields of juvenile parti-
cles (Fig. 11a). This curve was calibrated with the
geometry of particles from previous work (Heiken
1972; Dellino & La Volpe 1995, 1996; Büttner
et al. 1999, 2002; Dellino et al. 2001; Clarke et al.
2005). We also used the Van Otterloo et al. (2013)
graph based on the level of fragmentation to
discriminate particles produced by magmatic or
phreatomagmatic explosions (Walker & Croasdale
1972; Sheridan & Wohletz 1983a, b; Fig. 11b).
Unit I
The morphology of particles of juvenile scoria
from this unit has phreatomagmatic characteristics
(northern part of the crater) v. more magmatic fea-
tures (southern part; Figure 12a–c). Despite the UI
particles plotting in both simplex fields, most of
them fall within the magmatic field (Fig. 11b). If
the fragmentation parameter is taken as a refer-
ence using the relationship between Mod/F1 v. F2
(fine ash f , 4, F2; coarse + fine ash f , 0, F1;
Van Otterloo et al. 2013), the UI particles fall in
the magmatic field close to the phreatomagmatic
boundary.
Unit II
These particles have highly elongated forms and
vesicles, pitting and a tenuous film of ash adhered
to the particles (Fig. 12d–f ), with slightly higher
values in the circularity/elongation ratio (Heiken
1974; Wohletz & Krinsley 1982; Dellino & La
Volpe 1996). These features locate these particles
in the magmatic field (Fig. 11a). The same is valid
if we consider the fragmentation parameter
(Mode/F1 v. F2), when all particles fall into the
magmatic field (Fig. 11b). This suggests that
water –magma interactions played a minimal part
by forming thin films of alteration around particles.
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

Fig. 10. Density and vesicularity histograms of juvenile clasts of Units II to V sampled at the southern and northern
parts of the crater.
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO
Unit III
The particles of this unit have blocky structures with
straight and rounded edges, without vesicles, stag-
gered surfaces and, in a minor proportion, incipient
moss and pitting textures (Wohletz & Krinsley
1982; Fig. 12g –i). The geometric relationships of
these particles place them in the phreatomagmatic
field, likewise if we consider the fragmentation
index (Mode/F1v. F2; Fig. 11a, b).
Unit IV
These particles display surfaces and soft contours
of smooth skin (Heiken 1972), slightly elongated
forms with flat fractures, slightly elongated vesicles
and fractures due to vesiculation, with rare frag-
ments adhered to their walls (Fig. 12j– l). According
to their geometrical relationships, these particles
fall within the magmatic field (Fig. 11a; Dellino &
La Volpe 1996). The same is valid if we consider
the fragmentation index, although they plotted
very close to the phreatomagmatic field boundary
(Fig. 11b).
Unit V
The morphological features of particles of this
unit present vertical contrasting forms: moss-like,
blocky with slightly rounded edges, cracks on the
surface due to rapid cooling, and weak vesiculation,
in addition to particles rich in vesicles with slightly
elongated forms (Fig. 12m–o). In the simplex
graph, most of this particle population was located
between the magmatic and phreatomagmatic fields,
possibly with a larger affinity towards the latter
(Fig. 11a). The heterogeneity of this particle popula-
tion is shown in the fragmentation index graph
(Mode/F1v. F2) with a large dispersion (Fig. 11b).
To observe the vertical and lateral variations in the
juvenile scoria particles, we collected samples at
different heights of the unit and along the dispersion
axis of the fall deposit (Fig. 3c). The SEM results
indicate that some units contain particles with mor-
phological characteristics that do not clearly define
the fragmentation mechanisms from which they
were generated. In other words, the same unit con-
tains particles with mixing features between mag-
matic and/or phreatomagmatic eruptions. It was
also common to find layers composed of mixed par-
ticles with magmatic and phreatomagmatic features,
indicating that UV particles are the product of vari-
ations in the water –magma ratio (see Büttner et al.
1999; Houghton et al. 1996, 2004; Van Otterloo
et al. 2015). It is worth mentioning that the morpho-
logical analysis of particles was carried out in two-
dimensional images; future studies should focus on
three-dimensional image analysis.
Age of the JHm
Prior to this study, no age had been obtained for
the JHm. Luhr et al. (1989) reported a groundmass
age of a sample collected at the remains of an alkali
olivine cinder cone located about 0.5 km N 708 E
of the crater rim of JHm. Their sample analysed
with the K –Ar method yielded an age of 1.1 +
0.21 Ma. This age was then referred to in subsequent
investigations of the JHm (Aranda-Gómez & Luhr
1996). To obtain a more accurate age of the forma-
tion of the JHm, we collected specific samples of
UII (strombolian fallout) of section 31 located
inside the crater (Figs 3c & 6a–c; 316197-
2479805 UTM). Pieces from fresh juvenile basanite
lava were crushed, sieved and washed in deionized
water. Whole-rock chips were taken for dating.
The sample was processed and analysed at the Geo-
physical Institute, University of Alaska at Fairbanks
following the procedures described in Layer (2000)
and Layer et al. (2009) and dated with the TCR-2
standard with an age of 27.87 Ma (Lanphere & Dal-
rymple 2000). The whole-rock step-heating analysis
of this sample yielded an 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of
311 + 19 ka (1s error; Fig. 4; isochron and plateau
diagrams; Table 1), which we interpret as the erup-
tion age. The isochron age of 330 + 30 ka is con-
cordant with the plateau age. Our age for the maar
suggests that JHm formed 800 ka after the cinder
cone.
Discussion
The JHm is the result of a complex succession
of magmatic and phreatomagmatic explosions, as
indicated by the changes in the eruptive style and
development of five eruptive phases. The stratigra-
phy, granulometry and component analyses of the
sequence, aided by the morphological analysis of
particles, clearly indicates that the JHm magma
interacted with variable amounts of external water
through time.
Eruption chronology
The JHm erupted about 311 + 19 ka (40Ar/39Ar).
The basanitic magma rose to the surface through
an inferred local fault that may be related to the
N 608 E-trending right-lateral fault that cuts the
Sierra del Coro anticlinorium (Barboza-Gudiño
et al. 2002; Fig. 13a). The morphometric analysis
and the elongated crater of JHm (Fig. 2a, b) suggest
that this vent was fed through the same fault system.
López-Loera et al. (2008) proposed that the attitude
of the strata in the overturned anticline in the
Cretaceous limestones influenced the elongation of
the crater due to mass-wasting processes, which
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.
Fig. 11. (a) Diagram showing the magmatic and phreatomagmatic fields of juvenile particles of the volcanic units. cir., circularity; elo., elongation; rec., rectangularity; com.,
compactness (modified from Dellino & La Volpe 1996).
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO

Fig. 11. (Continued) (b) Boundary of the magmatic and phreatomagmatic fields according to the fragmentation
index (F2 v. mod/F1) of all volcanic units (modified of Van Otterloo et al. 2013).

occurred during the JHm eruption. However, our
stratigraphic evidence (UI; Fig. 13b) showed that
volcanic activity could have started simultaneously
at two vents located at the ENE and SSE parts of the
crater following the NE–SW alignment. Simultane-
ous eruptions fed along a fracture have been des-
cribed in other volcanic areas, such as Crater Hill,
Auckland, New Zealand (Houghton et al. 1996),
the Rothenberg scoria cone, East Eifel, Germany
(Houghton & Schmincke 1989), the Mt Gambier
Volcanic Complex, southeastern Australia (Van
Otterloo et al. 2013) and Lake Purrumbete, south-
eastern Australia (Jordan et al. 2013). We propose
that eruption UI occurred at coeval vents generating
weak strombolian activity, although the northern
vent had a phreatomagmatic component that dis-
persed base surges and ballistic projectiles that
formed impact sags (Fig. 6a, b). Phreatomagmatic
activity occurred during the stage development of
the maar, as attested by the morphological and geo-
metric characteristics of UI particles observed in the
simplex of Figure 11a and the fragmentation inten-
sity values of Figure 11b; UI particles plot at the
boundary between the magmatic and phreatomag-
matic fields.
The presence of both eruptive mechanisms along
the NE-trending fracture suggests that magma–
water interactions occurred in the ENE part of the
crater, but were intermittent on the SSE part of
the crater along the same NE fracture, suggesting the
occurrence of independent conduits. Several studies
have concluded that changes from magmatic to
phreatomagmatic eruptions could be due to a
decrease in the flux of water or an increased dis-
charge rate of magma (e.g. Houghton & Schmincke
1986, 1989; Houghton et al. 1996, 2004; Clarke
et al. 2009; Ort & Carrasco-Núñez 2009; Valentine
& White 2012).
The eruption continued with strombolian explo-
sions on the southeastern part of the crater (UII;
Fig. 13c) dispersing tephra that formed fallout
deposits (cf. Valentine & Gregg 2008; Van Otterloo
et al. 2013). UII consists of spatter deposits of scoria
with large vesicles (Fig. 6c) and a polymodal dis-
tribution in the density/vesicularity of juvenile
particles (Fig. 10 UII). These variations could be
explained as the result of different levels of outgas-
sing from a homogenous magma due to variations in
the time of residence or the ascent rate of the magma
in a shallow conduit. Such mingling has been
reported in other volcanoes, such as Stromboli dur-
ing its 2002 activity (e.g. Houghton & Hackett 1984;
Houghton & Schmincke 1989; Houghton et al.
1999; Houghton et al. 2004; cf. Lautze & Houghton
2005). The particles of this eruptive phase show a
typical magmatic morphology under SEM (Fig.
12d–f ), as attested by the location of juvenile parti-
cles in the magmatic field in the simplex and frag-
mentation intensity graph (Fig. 11a, b).
The third eruptive phase produced a series of
powerful phreatomagmatic eruptions that dispersed
base surges (Fig. 8a–c) mainly to the north up to
a distance of 7 km, while dispersion to the south
was limited (Figs 3c & 13d). These anomalous
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

Fig. 12. SEM photomicrographs of morphological features of Joya Honda maar juvenile particles. Unit I particles
with (a) blocky structure and (b, c) conchoidal edges. Unit II particles with (d) concave edges and small
particles adhered to the surface, (e) vesicles partially filled with clays and (f) blocky particle with vesicles. Unit III
particles with (g) rounded blocky structure and adhered particles, (h) blocky particle with sharp edges and stepped
surfaces and (i) blocky particle with moss-like texture. Unit IV particles (j, k) highly vesicular with concave edges
and (l) elongated with a smooth surface. Unit V (m) blocky particle rich in vesicles, (n) blocky particle with
elongate vesicles and (o) blocky vesicle-free particle.

dispersion directions could reflect the ascent of experiments have shown that the morphology of
magma through an inclined vent (Aranda-Gómez maar craters and their lateral dispersion of ejecta
& Luhr 1996; López-Loera et al. 2008). Recent jets during their formation may depend on factors
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Table 1. Summary of 40Ar/39Ar geochronology data of Joya Honda maar, San Luis Potosı́ sample JH-31-11

JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO

40
Laser Cumulative Ar/39Ar 37
Ar/39Ar 36
Ar/39Ar Percentage of Ca/K Cl/K 40
Ar*/39ArK Age
39
(mW) Ar measured measured measured atmospheric 40Ar (ka)

500 0.0565 11.2579 + 0.4687 0.4125 + 0.0172 0.0316 + 0.0016 82.7 + 4.3 0.757 + 0.031 0.0651 + 0.0029 1.941 + 0.523 326.7 + 88.1
1000 0.2859 5.4725 + 0.2059 0.3307 + 0.0121 0.0123 + 0.0005 66.2 + 2.7 0.607 + 0.022 0.0548 + 0.0021 1.840 + 0.192 309.6 + 32.2
1500 0.5267 4.7941 + 0.1771 0.5080 + 0.0186 0.0100 + 0.0004 61.3 + 2.5 0.932 + 0.034 0.0573 + 0.0022 1.846 + 0.166 310.7 + 27.9
2000 0.7044 6.1906 + 0.2153 1.2016 + 0.0398 0.0148 + 0.0005 69.5 + 2.6 2.207 + 0.073 0.0640 + 0.0022 1.882 + 0.204 316.6 + 34.4
3000 0.8644 14.0938 + 0.4291 2.5724 + 0.0866 0.0416 + 0.0014 86.0 + 2.4 4.729 + 0.159 0.0706 + 0.0025 1.974 + 0.376 332.2 + 63.2
5000 0.9583 7.2575 + 0.3934 3.8987 + 0.1973 0.0201 + 0.0012 77.8 + 4.6 7.173 + 0.364 0.0759 + 0.0040 1.606 + 0.402 270.3 + 67.6
9000 1.0000 16.4296 + 1.0294 5.8037 + 0.3300 0.0496 + 0.0028 86.4 + 5.1 10.693 + 0.611 0.0823 + 0.0050 2.241 + 0.942 377.1 + 158.5
Integrated 7.7694 + 0.1186 1.4562 + 0.0251 0.0203 + 0.0003 75.9 + 2.0 2.675 + 0.046 0.0633 + 0.0010 1.871 + 0.111 314.8 + 18.7

All analyses are reported at+ 1s and the isotope ratios have been corrected for decay of 37Ar and 39Ar. Samples run against TCR-2 with an age of 27.87 Ma. Irradiaiton parameter (J) used to calcuate
ages ¼ 9.329e-05 + 4.320e-07. Bold type: fractions used in the calculation of the plateau. Plateau information 311 + 19 ka, five of seven fractions 90% 39Ar reléase, mead square weigthed deviation
(MSWD) ¼ 0.13. Isochron information: 300+ 30 ka, seven of seven fractions, initial 40Ar/36Ar ¼ 300 + 11, MSWD ¼ 0.10.
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.

Fig. 13. Schematic reconstruction of Joya Honda maar. (a) Pre-maar conditions. (b) Strombolian explosions and
phreatomagmatic activity on the southern and northern flanks of the crater. (c) Strombolian activity through a vent
located on the southern flank of the actual crater. (d) Phreatomagmatic activity mainly spread towards the northern
flank. (e) strombolian activity venting through a conduit located on the southern flank of the crater. (f) Violent
strombolian eruptions simultaneous or alternating with phreatomagmatic activity, possibly issued from more than
one conduit located towards the northern flank of the present crater, possibly emplaced along a fracture. (g) Present
day situation.
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JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO
such as the host–substrate properties and the verti-
cal (depth) and lateral migration of subsurface
explosions along a fissure. This suggests that the
dispersion of products at JHm may have responded
to ascent along a fissure (Graettinger et al. 2015;
Valentine et al. 2015; Macorps et al. 2016). The
massive, dune and cross-bedded deposits in UIII
are rich in accidental clasts (60– 70%) and contain
accretionary lapilli. The content of accretionary
lapilli, plastic deformation caused by ballistic
blocks and massive structures attest to emplacement
from wet pyroclastic clouds, whereas the laminar
and cross-bedded structures in the deposits
(Fig. 8c) attest to emplacement from dry pyroclastic
clouds at the time of sedimentation (Valentine &
Fisher 2000; Jordan et al. 2013). This eruptive
phase practically ended with a powerful explosion
that dispersed a pyroclastic density current rich in
fine ash and blocks (F in Figs 7b & 8a), similar to
those described as phreatovulcanian deposits at
Mt Gambier, Australia (Van Otterloo et al. 2013).
The morphological and statistical analyses of
these particles in the fragmentation intensity and
simplex plots placed them in the phreatomagmatic
field (Figs 11a, b & 12g– i; Wohletz & Krinsley
1982; Büttner et al. 1999; Clarke et al. 2005).
The JHm eruption continued with minor phrea-
tomagmatic explosions that emplaced pyroclastic
surges, followed by strombolian activity (UIV).
This type of behaviour is very common during the
formation of cinder cones (Kiyosugi et al. 2014;
Németh & Kereszturi 2015). The dispersion of the
deposit and its stratigraphic relationships suggest
that this phase occurred only through one or more
conduits around the south –SE sector of the crater
(Figs 1b, 8b & 13e). No UIV deposit was found
on the northern flank of JHm. This clearly indicates
that strombolian activity only occurred through a
vent located in the south –SE part of the crater.
The SEM morphology of juvenile particles and the
fragmentation intensity graphs and simplex of juve-
nile particles (Fig. 11a, b) are typical of a magmatic
origin (Heiken 1972; Heiken & Wohletz 1985).
During the last eruptive phase (UV), the depos-
its were most likely deposited from a c. 10 km
high column. The deposits are clast-supported, par-
allel beds with inverse or normal grading and with
moderate to good sorting (Fig. 7b). They are com-
posed of lapilli particles and rare fine ash with a
moderate fragmentation intensity (Fig. 11b) typical
of strombolian-type activity. UV fall deposits con-
tain up to 75–85% juvenile basanite scoria (Figs
7a, b & 8d, e) with common ballistic limestones
(up to 1 m) and fluidal scoria blocks characteristic
of proximal violent strombolian activity similar to
classical eruptions of cinder cones, such as Paricu-
tin volcano (Valentine & Gregg 2008; Kiyosugi
et al. 2014).
The term violent strombolian is used as proposed
by Valentine (1998) and Valentine & Gregg (2008)
to refer to an explosive eruptive style that ejects
fragments of molten basaltic magma and produces
sustained eruptive columns c. 10 km high. This vio-
lent strombolian style is capable of dispersing fall-
out beyond the cone (Valentine & Gregg 2008;
Van Otterloo et al. 2013). Some authors use the
term violent strombolian for low-altitude columns
that do not penetrate the tropopause (e.g. Bona-
donna et al. 2005; Folch & Felpeto 2005), lower
than sub-plinian eruptions with heights of 14 –
18 km. The violent strombolian style generates lam-
inated beds that mantle the topography and emplace
ash, lapilli, blocks and bombs (Valentine et al.
2007; Valentine & Gregg 2008). Violent strombo-
lian deposits are not welded because the fragmented
clasts have an adequate time to cool and solidify
during their residence in the eruption column. Clas-
sic strombolian eruptions are intermittent and do
not form sustained eruptive columns, thus the dis-
persion of particles is limited to the proximal
facies of the cone. Phase V of the JHm eruption
produced a tephra fallout that was dispersed to the
NE up to a distance of 10 km from the crater
(Barboza-Gudiño et al. 2002; this study), which is
why we interpreted phase V as a violent strombolian
eruption.
Contemporaneous with the fall deposit of UV,
phreatomagmatic explosions emplaced base surge
deposits on the NNE and SSE walls of the crater
(Figs 7b, 8a–e & 13f ). Deposits of this eruptive
phase (fall and surges) show a preferential distri-
bution to the NNE, suggesting that, similar to the
emplacement of UIII deposits, venting occurred
through different locations that ejected lateral jets
of material (cf. Valentine et al. 2015; Macorps
et al. 2016).
The violent strombolian eruption developed a
sustained eruptive column that dispersed the fall-
out deposits in the direction of the prevailing wind
(c. 10 km), preventing their accumulation near the
vent. This eruption was similar to sub-Plinian or
Plinian eruptions, which have a fixed emission
point and eject large volumes of material dispersed
over long distances mantling the topography. The
event did not form a new cone.
The morphology of the UV juvenile particles
seen on SEM showed a mixture of magmatic and
phreatomagmatic activity (Fig. 12m –o). In the sim-
plex and fragmentation intensity graphs, these parti-
cles plotted in both fields, indicating possible
variations in the magma–water interactions (Fig.
11a, b). The particles also present a broad range in
density values with bi- or polymodal peaks in the
histograms between 1500 and 2800 kg m23, similar
to the type III particles of Houghton et al. (1996).
These authors interpreted these deposits as the
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R. SAUCEDO ET AL.
product of mixing from simultaneous phreatomag-
matic and magmatic eruptions from different parts
of a vent system (see Fig. 11 phase UV; e.g.
Houghton et al. 2004).
Some considerations
The variations in eruptive style during the formation
of JHm are the result of internal and external factors.
As discussed by several researchers, the internal fac-
tors may be due to variations in the magma ascent
rate, the magma discharge, the magma composition,
the volatile content and degassing (cf. Houghton
et al. 1996, 2004; Clarke et al. 2009; Kereszturi
et al. 2011, 2014; Valentine & White 2012; Van
Otterloo et al. 2013; Németh & Kereszturi 2015).
External factors could include the hydrological,
structural and lithological conditions of the rocks,
the conduit morphology and spatial shifting of the
explosion sites (cf. Sheridan & Wohletz 1983a, b;
Houghton & Schmincke 1989; Houghton et al.
1996; Ross et al. 2008; Genareau et al. 2010;
Kereszturi et al. 2011, 2014; Németh et al. 2012;
Valentine & White 2012; Ross et al. 2013; Valentine
et al. 2015; Graettinger et al. 2015). Regarding the
genesis of JHm, the fractures in the Cretaceous
rocks by the N 60 –708 E right-lateral fault (Ara-
nda-Gómez & Luhr 1996; Aranda-Gómez et al.
2000; Barboza-Gudiño et al. 2002) could have facil-
itated the ascent of the JHm magma. The geometrical
distribution of cones and the elongate crater could
have been linked to a subsurface dyke (Paulsen &
Wilson 2010; Fig. 2a, b). This fault system could
also have produced secondary permeability in the
basement rock and changes in the aquifer. Aranda-
Gómez & Luhr (1996) considered that the fracturing
of the country rock caused by the JHm explosion
shock waves opened pathways for groundwater
to reach the magma, resulting in an increased avail-
ability of water and therefore a wet phreatomagmatic
eruption. These magma–water variations have been
inferred in experiments and other studies of maar-
diatreme volcanoes (Clarke et al. 2009; Ort &
Carrasco-Núñez 2009; Jordan et al. 2013; Valentine
et al. 2015; Macorps et al. 2016). In these experi-
ments, the permeability increased during the first
explosions and decreased with the re-compaction
of the rock during the final explosions. This latter
process favoured the asymmetry and erratic distribu-
tion of permeability in the aquifer.
The internal factors that influenced the genesis of
JHm were the magma ascent rate and the magma
discharge ratio. These factors control the degassing
and rheology of magma and therefore the wide
range of density/vesicularity values of juvenile sco-
ria of the eruptive phases of JHm. The presence
of mantle xenoliths in the JHm deposits indicate
a fast ascent rate of magma (cf. Houghton &
Schmincke 1986; Houghton & Wilson 1989; Parfitt
& Wilson 1995; Houghton et al. 1996; Houghton
et al. 1999, 2004; Lautze & Houghton 2005; Clarke
et al. 2009; Valentine & White 2012; Jordan et al.
2013; Van Otterloo et al. 2013).
Mixed particles with magmatic and phreato-
magmatic textures in the same layer indicate that
they were emplaced by coeval vents along a fissure
passing through different types of explosion. Under
these conditions, the variations in magma–water
interactions were probably due to the consump-
tion/depletion of water or the slow recovery of
water in a shallow fracture-controlled aquifer, lead-
ing to the production of clasts with variable density/
vesicularity mixed during coeval events and erup-
tive columns (e.g. Houghton et al. 1996, 2004;
Jordan et al. 2013).
Conclusions
The eruption that formed JHm occurred at 311 +
19 ka, suggesting that it is 800 ka younger than pre-
viously reported. This age is similar to some of the
monogenetic volcanoes of the Santo Domingo
Volcanic Field located c. 50 km NE of JHm. The
JHm formed through a series of mixed magmatic
and phreatomagmatic eruptions that emplaced a
sequence of five eruptive phases formed by inter-
layered pyroclastic falls and base surge deposits,
with characteristic variations in structures, textures
and components (grain size, components, density
and SEM morphology). This evolution of JHm
can be attributed to magma– water interactions
and the ascent of magma through a complicated
network of fractures in the Cretaceous limestones
(Aranda-Gómez et al. 2000; Barboza-Gudiño
et al. 2002). These rocks hosted a complex aquifer
with a heterogeneous distribution of fractures and
marked changes in permeability, through which
the basanite dyke(s) was fed. From a risk perspec-
tive, perhaps the most important consideration
about the chronology of JHm is that both the
regional fault systems in the area and historical
(the intensity VII seismic crises of 1868; Barboza-
Gudiño 2008) and modern (Gómez-González &
Barboza-Gudiño 2005) earthquake activity may
indicate that future volcanic activity in the region
should not be disregarded.
We are grateful to Francisco Galindo, Marı́a del Carmen
Ojeda and Francisco Solorio, who always shared their
time with us in laboratory work. This research was sup-
ported by grants from CONACYT (101548) and FAI-
UASLP (04-25.25) to R. Saucedo. We appreciated
the constructive reviews by Pablo Dávila, Jorge Aranda
and an anonymous reviewer, and the editorial work of
K. Németh.
 Downloaded from http://sp.lyellcollection.org/ at University of Colorado Boulder on March 14, 2017
JOYA HONDA MAAR, MEXICO
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