The 2.6–2.3 ka explosive eruptive period of the Pululahua dome complex, Ecuador: insights from pyroclast analysis

Pululahua is an active volcano located 15 km north of Quito, Ecuador, that comprises sixteen dacitic-andesitic lava domes and a 13 km(2) sub-rectangular depression formed between ~ 2.6 and ~ 2.3 ka. We use a detailed study of 70 flow and fall deposits that make up the pyroclastic sequence to show that the depression, previously classified as a caldera, was formed by numerous Vulcanian to (sub-) Plinian eruptions that destroyed both earlier and co-eruptive lava domes. We support this interpretation with field work, analysis of grain size distributions, density and components of 24 key deposits, supplemented by textural and petrologic analyses of 16 juvenile pyroclasts from throughout the pyroclastic sequence. These data document an alternation of (sub-) Plinian and Vulcanian eruptions dominated by denser juvenile material that preserves microtextural variations indicating changes in shallow level magma storage accompanying Vulcanian explosions. An exploratory examination of phenocryst textures and plagioclase and amphibole rim compositions suggests that much of the eruptive activity was driven by repeated inputs of less evolved magma into the Pululahua magmatic system. The inferred sequence of events provides a new hypothesis for the formation of the current morphology of Pululahua, including multiple episodes of both effusive and explosive eruptions accompanied by vent migration. Our findings offer an important insight into Pululahua’s potential future hazard scenarios, which could affect millions of people. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00445-022-01590-4.