revised chronology of the youngest volcanoes of the

Quaternaire, 23, (4), 2012, p. 283-290
REVISED CHRONOLOGY OF THE YOUNGEST VOLCANOES
OF THE CHAÎNE DES PUYS (FRENCH MASSIF CENTRAL)
n
Didier MIALLIER1,6, Thierry PILLEYRE6, Serge SANZELLE6, Pierre BOIVIN2,3,4
& Philippe LANOS5
ABSTRACT
The chronology of major, young (< 15 ka) volcanoes of the central part of the Chaîne des Puys has been revised by means of
tephrostratigraphy, thermoluminescence dating and radiocarbon dating. The previously assumed relative chronology between volcanoes like Pariou and Chopine was inverted; more accurate numerical ages were obtained, as exampled in the case of Côme volcano.
This revision also includes previously unknown eruptions. Compilation of all available data suggests that an active volcanic period,
marked by about two to three eruptions per millennium, terminated about 7 ka ago. This is an issue for interpreting the volcanism of
the Chaîne des Puys during both Upper Pleistocene and Holocene. It seems to mark the end of a cycle, initiated about 80 ka ago, of
feeding from a deep reservoir before magma differentiation in a system of shallow level magma chambers.
Keywords: Chaîne des Puys, volcanoes, tephrochonology, radiocarbon, thermoluminescence
RÉSUMÉ
RÉVISION DE LA CHRONOLOGIE DES VOLCANS LES PLUS JEUNES DE LA CHAÎNE DES PUYS (MASSIF CENTRAL
FRANÇAIS)
La chronologie relative et absolue de volcans majeurs et récents (< 15 ka) du centre de la Chaîne des Puys a été révisée par
une approche téphrostratigraphique combinée à la datation par thermoluminescence et par radiocarbone. La chronologie relative
précédemment admise entre certains volcans comme le Pariou et le Chopine a été inversée ; des âges plus précis ont été obtenus, par
exemple pour le Côme ; enfin, la révision introduit des éruptions qui n’avaient pas encore été repérées. Le schéma chronologique
permet de mettre clairement en évidence le fait qu’une période de volcanisme actif, comprenant autour de deux à trois éruptions
par millénaire, s’est achevée il y a environ 7 000 ans. C’est un élément de réflexion pour l’interprétation du volcanisme pléistocène
supérieur et holocène de la Chaîne des Puys. Ce volcanisme semble à la fin d’un cycle commencé il y a environ 80 000 ans par une
alimentation profonde suivie par une différentiation magmatique dans un système de chambres intermédiaires.
Mots-clés : Chaîne des Puys, volcans, téphrochonologie, radiocarbone, thermoluminescence
1 - INTRODUCTION
The Chaîne des Puys is a small Quaternary volcanic
field situated in the northern part of the continental
intraplate volcanic area of the French Massif Central
(Boivin et al., 2009). It is basically composed of about
hundred monogenic volcanoes aligned westwards along
the boundary between the Plateau des Dômes uplifted
Palaeozoic block and the rift formed by the Limagne
Graben (fig. 1). The volcanic centres display a variety of
types resulting from different combinations of magma
nature, presence or absence of external (i.e., nonmagmatic) water and pre-existing topography (either
volcanogenic or not). The principal volcanic types are
basaltic (s.l.) scoria cones accompanied by lava flows,
basaltic or trachytic maars, as well as trachytic lavadomes and protrusions. The magma diversity resulted
from differentiation occurring in intermediate chambers, where magma possibly stayed for long periods
before rising up to the surface. Crustal contamination
may also have played a role in the evolution of the
magma composition (Condomines et al., 1982).
Clermont Université, Université d’Auvergne, LPC, CNRS/IN2P3, F-63177 AUBIERE cedex. Courriel : [email protected]
Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, BP 10448, F-63000 CLERMONT-FERRAND.
Courriel : P.Boivin@[email protected]
3
CNRS, UMR 6524, LMV, 5 rue Kessler, F-63038 CLERMONT-FERRAND
4
IRD, R 163, LMV, 5 rue Kessler, F-63038 CLERMONT-FERRAND
5
CNRS UMR 5060 Institut de Recherche sur les Archéomatériaux (IRAMAT), Centre de Recherche en Physique Appliquée à l’Archéologie
(CRPAA), Université Bordeaux 3. Esplanade des Antilles, F-33607 PESSAC, Courriel : [email protected]
6
Clermont Université, Université Blaise Pascal, LPC, CNRS/IN2P3, F-63177 AUBIERE cedex
1
2
Manuscrit reçu le 10/09/2011, accepté le 19/06/2012
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 283
26/11/12 10:06
284
quoted at ± 95 %. Quoting a single mean age with error
limits is not exactly correct for radiocarbon because age
distributions are quite complex, but this simplification
gives homogeneity and clarity to the text.
2 - THE VOLCANOES AND TEPHRAS
OF INTEREST
2.1 - VOLCANOES
Fig. 1: General map of the Chaîne des Puys. For details, see Boivin
et al. (2009).
Fig. 1 : Carte générale de la Chaîne des Puys. Pour les détails, voir
Boivin et al. (2009).
Assessing both numerical and relative chronologies
of these volcanoes has been an issue for a long time
and this chronology has been periodically revised (e.g.,
Juvigné & Gilot, 1986; Juvigné, 1987a, b; Juvigné et al.,
1988, 1992, 1994, 1996; Raynal et al., 1994; Vernet &
Raynal, 2000; Miallier et al., 2004a, b, c). As a continuation, the present paper gives a revised chronology for
the youngest volcanoes of the centre of the Chaîne des
Puys, based on recent field observations and new dating
results. It focuses on three major volcanoes, namely Puy
de Côme, Puy Pariou, and Puy Chopine. Other volcanoes
and tephra layers are also considered, where appropriate.
The approach was based on tephrostratigraphy, thermoluminescence dating (TL) and radiocarbon dating. Only
new data will be presented in detail.
The present work focuses on proximal tephras, sampled
on the volcanoes themselves or in their immediate vicinity. Actually, a substantial amount of data has already
been obtained from long distance airborne tephras,
trapped in various sediments (e.g., Reille et al., 1985;
Juvigné, 1987b; Gewelt & Juvigné, 1988; Juvigné, 1991;
Raynal et al., 1994; Vernet & Raynal, 2000; Fourmont
et al., 2006). However, although the latter distal deposits
have been characterized and dated, many of them could
not yet be connected to specific volcanoes.
In this paper, calibration of radiocarbon data was
performed based on Reimer et al. (2004). Calibrated
radiocarbon and TL ages are given as elapsed time before
today (see discussion in Duller, 2011) with error limits
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 284
The volcanoes of interest are succinctly presented below
(details and map in Boivin et al., 2009). Puy de Côme
and Puy Pariou (fig. 1) are both trachyandesitic cones
accompanied by important lava flows. The construction
of Puy Pariou comprised a first phreatomagmatic phase
and a final strombolian phase. The first phase magma
was trachyte and turned to trachyandesite in the course
of eruptions, indicating the existence of a zoned reservoir
(Camus, 1975; El Arabi, 1987). The eruptions were triggered or enhanced by interaction of magma with water,
resulting in a tuff-ring and in thick distal tephra deposits
characterised by phreatomagmatic features (Camus, 1975;
El Arabi, 1987; Miallier et al., 2008). The cone was finally
constructed by trachyandesitic strombolian projections,
while lava flows were emitted eastwards and attained the
Limagne plain. Puy de Dôme, the most prominent volcano
of the Chaîne des Puys, is a trachytic lava-dome of which
the erection was characterised by numerous but low
energetic pyroclastic flows. Puy Chopine is a rhyolithic
protrusion. Its eruptions were violent and affected a large
area all around the volcano, eventually developing mudflows downwards to the Limagne Graben, as far as 11 km
away from the eruption centre (Vernet et al., 2001, Vernet
& Raynal, 2002). Puy Sarcoui, Aumône and Clierzou are
trachytic cumulo-domes of which the growth has been
quite calm, without significant pyroclastic flows. Vasset
and Kilian are both trachytic volcanoes of which the eruptions gave rise to violent pyroclastic flows initiated by
phreatomagmatic eruptions. Today, they both show only
small and hidden dome remains but their tephras are thick
and widespread all over the central area of the Chaîne des
Puys (Boivin et al., 2009). Thin layers of ashes attributed
to either Vasset or Killian, which respective products
still cannot be discriminated from each other (Michon,
1996), were observed at long distance, as far as in Swiss
lake-sediments (Martini & Duret, 1965). The Nid de la
Poule is a 50 m wide basaltic maar, half surrounded by
a crescent-shaped tuff ring. It is situated in the middle of
the still poorly understood strombolian ensemble of Petit
Puy de Dôme. The twin volcanoes La Vache and Lassolas,
situated at the south of the Chaîne des Puys, are trachybasaltic cones that erupted simultaneously and produced a
16 km long lava flow.
2.2 - ORPHAN TEPHRA LAYERS
In some cases, the chronological relationship between
identified tephra layers implies intermediate tephras of
unknown origin. Such tephras are briefly presented below.
26/11/12 10:06
285
3 - TEPHROSTRATIGRAPHIC DATA
The Terrenoire tephra was primarily characterized
1,500 m west of the Puy de Dôme (fig. 1). It consists
of poorly bedded layers of polygenic lapilli in which
juvenile trachyandesitic lava, under the form of pumice,
scoriaceous lapilli and lithics, is mixed with older
basaltic lava and country rocks. This tephra, which has
clearly a phreatomagmatic origin, is represented by thick
units (often > 80 cm) in various places including the SE
flank of the Puy de Barme and the flanks of the poorly
known trachybasaltic volcanoes Salomon and Montchié (fig. 1). It was probably emitted by the NE crater
of Montchié. Tephra des Chaves has been recognized in
only one place, as a pluridecimetric unit, between Puy
Filhu and Puy Balmet (fig. 1) (Miallier et al., 2008).
It has been deposited by surges, oriented S-N, which
produced small U-shaped channels in the ground. Its
polygenic composition indicates the opening phase of
a vent. Its unknown origin might be a small crater that
must be located in the close vicinity of the site, where
the tephra was discovered. Other orphan tephra layers
are locally intercalated between the identified ones
(tab. 1), without playing a role in the establishment of
the relative chronology.
Assessed
chronostratigraphy
Cho/Par
Cho/Par
Cho/Par
Cho/Par
Cho/Par
Cha/Cho/Par/Com
Cho/Sar
Kil/Par
Par/X3/Com
Par/Com
Par/Com
VK/Trn/Com/AC
Vas/Trn/Bar
Kil/ X4/Trn
VK/Trn
Kil/PdD
Kil/PdD
Kil/PdD
Kil/Pou/Par
Kil/ X1/Pou/Par
Par/ X2/Clz
Par/ X2/Aum
Par/PdD
Par/PdD
VaL/Vas
3.1 - UPDATED TEPHROSTRATIGRAPHIC PATTERNS
In the Chaîne des Puys, it is not possible to follow continuously the ejecta of a volcano because the landscape is
largely covered by moors, meadows and woods. Most of
the outcrops which have provided valuable information
are distributed haphazardly by occasional excavations
or natural accidents. Several volcanoes gave quasi-identical pyroclastites, for example Vasset and Kilian, while
some others emitted sequentially different lavas during
eruptions, such as Nugère and Pariou. These difficulties
induced errors and hesitations in establishing the chronology, since the pioneer works of e.g., Brousse et al.
(1970) or Camus (1975). In the present work, new field
observations completed by laboratory characterization
enabled to establish localised logs (tab. 1). Cross combination of those logs resulted in the chronological pattern
presented in table 2. However, because the relative chronology between certain volcanoes or tephras remains
unknown, it is not yet possible to combine all the data in
a single pattern.
Coordinates
X
Y
497518
499147
498134
497832
497824
495012
498565
499257
495310
492767
495119
493912
494130
495545
495214
497098
497267
496646
497287
497577
496850
496977
499117
501893
496700
5072259
5071283
5071987
5071622
5071544
5070204
5073255
5070750
5070893
5069139
5071443
5067851
5064651
5067115
5066501
5068704
5067981
5068920
5069487
5069854
5071168
5070657
5068781
5070100
5063572
Tab. 1: Location of the main logs used for establishing figure 1.
The youngest volcano/tephra is the left one. Aum: Aumône; Bar: Puy de Barme; Com: Côme; Cho: Chopine; Cha: Les Chaves tephra; Clz: Clierzou;
Kil: Kilian; Par: Pariou; Pou: La Poule; PdD: Puy de Dôme; Sar: Sarcouy; Trn; Terrenoire tephra; Vas: Vasset; VaL: la Vache & Lassolas; VK: Vasset
or Kilian (not differentiated). AC: Aumône or Clierzou (not differentiated); Xi: indicates unidentified intermediate tephra layers; X1: strombolian fall
of potassic trachy-basalt; X2: fall, polygenic lapilli; X3: strombolian fall of potassic trachy-basalt; X4: trachyandesitic ashes, possibly originated from
Montchié. Geographical coordinates are in the UTM (wgs84) system.
Tab. 1 : Localisation des principales coupes ayant permis d’établir la figure 1. Les volcans sont indiqués par ordre stratigraphique, le plus récent étant à
gauche. Aum : Aumône ; Bar : Puy de Barme ; Com : Côme ; Cho : Chopine ; Cha : téphra des Chaves ; Clz : Clierzou ; Kil : Kilian ; Par : Pariou ; Pou : La
Poule ; PdD : Puy de Dôme ; Sar : Sarcouy ; Trn ; téphra de Terrenoire ; Vas : Vasset ; VaL : la Vache & Lassolas ; VK : Vasset ou Kilian (non differenciés).
AC : Aumône ou Clierzou (non différenciés) ; Xi : indiquent des téphras intermédiaires non identifiés : X1 : retombée strombolienne de trachy-basalte
potassique ; X2 : retombée de lapilli polygéniques, X3 : retombée strombolienne de trachy-basalte potassique ; X4 : cendres trachyandésitiques, peut-être
originaires du Montchié. Les coordonnées sont dans le système UTM (wgs84).
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 285
26/11/12 10:06
286
Upper level
Lower level
Terrenoire tephra
Pariou
La Poule
Chopine
Vasset
Côme
Puy de Dôme
Aumône or
Clierzou
Aumône
Clierzou
Sarcoui
Barme
Terrenoire
tephra
Pariou
La Poule
Chopine
Kilian
+
+
+
+
Vasset
Chaves
tephra
La Vache
Côme
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Tab. 2: Relative chronology assessed by means of tephrostratigraphy.
Sign (+) means that the products of the volcano or the tephra mentioned in the first upper horizontal line have been unambiguously observed covering the
ones mentioned on the first left column, either in direct contact or with other tephra layers intercalated in between. The association “Aumône or Clierzou”
means that the tephra could not be discriminated between these possible sources.
Tab. 2 : Chronologie relative déduite de la téphrostratigraphie. Le signe (+) signifie que les produits du volcan ou le téphra mentionné dans la première
ligne horizontale ont été observés sans ambigüité au dessus de ceux de la première colonne à gauche, soit en contact direct, soit avec un niveau intermédiaire entre les deux. L’association « Aumône or Clierzou » signifie que la discrimination entre ces deux sources possible n’a pas pu être faite.
Recent progress in tephrostratigraphy can be illustrated
by the cases of Pariou and Côme.
3.2 - TEPHROSTRATIGRAPHY OF PUY PARIOU
The tephras emitted by Puy Pariou are widespread and
quite easily recognizable so that they can be considered
as a useful chronological marker (Miallier et al., 2008).
Due to initial misinterpretation of field observations, Puy
Pariou has long been considered as one of the youngest
volcanoes in the centre of the Chaîne des Puys. It is now
recognized as being older than the Kilian crater as tephras
from the latter are found at the surface of the Pariou
deposits and lava flows (Miallier et al., 2004a). After
Camus (1975), it has been admitted that the Puy Chopine
volcano is older than the Puy Pariou, but no evidence
supporting this assumption has been presented. Recent
systematic prospection allowed collecting, in various
places over the Pariou lava-flows and tephras, trachytic
lapilli that could be securely attributed to Chopine. Such
attribution is based on the prominent occurrence of green
pyroxene and yellow sphene (Montiel, 1997; Vernet &
Raynal, 2002). The last mineral is completely absent from
the trachytic nodules of Kilian and Vasset, which have
the same aspect as the Chopine ones. Two first outcrops
showing distal ashes of the Puy de Dôme covered by
Pariou lapilli were meanwhile discovered (tab. 1). As a
conclusion, the Pariou eruption is now bracketed between
both Chopine and Puy de Dôme ones.
4 - NUMERICAL DATING
4.1 - AGE OF PUY PARIOU
The assumption about the relative young age of
Pariou was also based on a radiocarbon measurement
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 286
of carbonized wood at 8,580 ± 350 BP (Sa 94, Delibrias et al., 1964). This age was seemingly supported
by the TL ages of 8.2 ± 1.6 ka (Guérin, 1983) and 8.7
± 1.8 ka (Raynal et al., 1989). But calibration of the
Sa 94 radiocarbon result gives an older age of 9.6
± 1.0 ka, also compatible with the TL ages within
error limits. Meanwhile, eight radiocarbon dates were
obtained for carbonized wood sampled in the Chopine
products and one for peat embedding the Chopine
tephra (compilation in Miallier et al., 2004a). Calibration and averaging of the latter dates by means of a
Bayesian approach (see method in Lanos & Dufresne,
2012) resulted in the age of 9.66 ± 0.17 ka for Chopine,
compatible with tephrostratigraphy and with the age of
Puy Pariou estimated at 9.1 ± 0.8 ka (weighted mean
of the three results).
4.2 - AGE OF PUY DE CÔME
The age of the Puy de Côme volcano was previously
estimated to ca. 14-15 ka on the basis of TL measurements (tab. 3) and field arguments (Boivin et al., 2009).
This estimation is confirmed by new results. In the
Terrenoire quarry (fig. 1), the Côme deposits overlay a
sediment of which the surface was dated by radiocarbon
applied to minute carbonized plant remains, to 12,070
± 220 BP (ANNUA-31428, Gif 50024), that is 14.5 ±
1.0 ka, when calibrated. In the same outcrop, the Côme
deposits were covered by the Terrenoire tephra which was
dated by red TL of quartz (see method in Pilleyre et al.,
1992) to 13.6 ± 1.4 ka. The Terrenoire tephra was also
dated by red TL in the Barme quarry at 13.7 ± 1.4 ka. All
ages were processed by means of a Bayesian approach
including radiocarbon calibration and considering stratigraphic constraints (see method in Lanos, 2004; Lanos &
Dufresne, 2012). The final age obtained for the Côme is
13.70 ± 0.88 ka.
26/11/12 17:01
287
Stratigraphy
Age
Method
Material
Origin
Younger
than Côme
13600
± 1400
13700
± 1400
11600
± 1660
15900
± 3000
12000
±2000
12070
± 220
BP
16400
± 3000
TLQ
TLF
Tephra
(TR)
Tephra
(TR)
lava
TLF
TLQ
TLF
Carbonized
plant
remains
lava
17300
± 4000
TLF
lava
13200
± 2600
TLF
lava
13300
±3500
U/Th
lava
Côme
products
Older than
Côme
TLQ
14
C
Montchié
Laboratory
reference
Cler 437
Terrenoire
493912
5067851
Montchié
Cler 383
Barme
494130
5064651
Côme
Cp 23
Pontgibault
489066
5075539
lava
Côme
Cp 89
493893
5071225
Tephra
Côme
Cler 300
Forêt de
Souis
Vulcania
495645
5073325
Filhu
or Grand
Suchet
Filhu
or Grand
Suchet
Filhu
or Grand
Suchet
Filhu
or Grand
Suchet
Site
Coordinates
ANNUA31428,
Gif 50024
Cp 91
Terrenoire
493912
5067851
Les Gardes
492123
5071150
Cp 92
Mazayes
489034
5070461
Cp 88
Bois
d’Epinoux
494034
5069570
La Gardette
889620
5068857
Tab. 3: Age results for Côme, either direct, on the Côme products, or indirect for materials older or younger than Côme.
TLQ: TL for quartz grains, measured at Clermont Ferrand; TLF: TL for feldspars, measured by Guérin (1983); U/Th: U-Th method, by Condomines et
al. (1982). For the site, see map on figure 1, and Boivin et al. (2009). TR refers to the Terrenoire tephra (see text). Geographical coordinates are in the
UTM (wgs84) system.
Tab. 3 : Résultats de datations concernant le Côme, soit directes sur les produits du Côme lui-même, soit indirectes sur des produits plus anciens (Older)
ou plus récents (Younger). TLQ : TL des grains de quartz, mesurée à Clermont Ferrand ; TLF : TL des feldspaths, mesurée par Guérin (1983) ; U/Th :
méthode U-Th, par Condomines et al. (1982). Pour les situations, voir la carte sur la figure 1, et Boivin et al., (2009). TR se réfère au téphra de Terrenoire (voir le texte). Les coordonnées géographiques sont dans le système UTM (wgs84).
5 - COMBINATION OF RELATIVE AND
NUMERICAL CHRONOLOGICAL DATA
The numerical results may give the relative chronology
between two volcanoes independently from field obser-
La Vache
Volcano or tephra
La Vache
La Vache
Chaves
tephra
Vasset
Kilian
La Poule
Pariou
Puy de Dôme
Tn. tephra
Côme
Aumône or
Clierzou
Pariou
Puy de Dôme
Sarcoui
Chopine
Pariou
Puy de Dôme
Sarcoui
vation when the age gap is large enough compared to the
measure uncertainties. Accordingly, table 4 was derived
from table 2, by combining numerical and relative chronology. It is not yet possible to display all eruptions in
a single column by lack of relative chronology between
Age (ka)
8.66 ± 0.32
9.2 ± 1.1
References
Boivin et al., 2009
Miallier et al., 2010
9.20 ± 0.36
9.40 ± 0.20
Miallier et al., 2004-a
Miallier et al., 2004-a
Miallier et al., 2010
9.66 ± 0.17
9.1 ± 0.8
11.04 ± 0.23
12.6 ± 1.0
13.7 ± 1.4
13.7 ± 0.9
Miallier et al., 2010
Miallier et al., 2004-b
Tab. 4: Chronology combining measured ages and tephrochronology.
Relative chronology in a given column is assessed either by stratigraphy (tab. 2) and/or by the significant gap between measured ages. Unreferenced ages
are discussed in the present paper. Uncertainties are quoted at 95 %. For Puy de Dôme, only the main phase was considered (see Miallier et al., 2010).
The association “Aumône or Clierzou” means that the tephra could not be discriminated between these possible sources. For Kilian, a new radiocarbon
age on carbonised wood of 8,415 ± 40 BP (Ly 15654) was combined with the four given in Miallier et al. (2004a).
Tab. 4 : Chronologie combinant datations et téphrochronologie. La chronologie relative dans une colonne est déduite de la stratigraphie (tab. 2) ou d’un
écart significatif dans les datations absolues. Les résultats sans référence sont discutés dans le texte. Les âges sont en années réelles, avec une incertitude à 95 %. Pour le Puy de Dôme, seule la phase principale a été prise en compte (voir Miallier et al., 2010). L’association « Aumône or Clierzou »
signifie que la discrimination n’a pas pu être faite entre les deux sources possibles. Pour le Kilian, un nouvel âge radiocarbone sur bois carbonisé de
8 415 ± 40 BP (Ly 15654) a été combiné avec les quatre donnés dans Miallier et al. (2004a).
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 287
26/11/12 10:06
288
certain volcanoes, Vasset and Kilian for example. The
tephras of these two volcanoes are too similar for being
distinguished in the field (Vernet & Raynal, 2002, 2008)
and their numerical ages are too close (tab. 4). Chronological data obtained from distal tephra deposits were not
considered at this stage, because, as outlined earlier, the
correlation is often unsecure. However, no part of the
interpretation of the distal observations is in contradiction with the proximal ones.
Finally, one of the topics that can be addressed with
such results, i.e. looking for cycles (Nowell, 2006),
can be illustrated by plotting the number of eruptions
with time. This was achieved by compiling all the
available results for the Chaîne des Puys and young
Cézallier, a small volcanic area located 30 km south
of the Chaîne des Puys (tab. 5). The test was made for
the last 15 millennia only, because the lack of data for
older periods could bias the distribution. The histogram
(fig. 2) clearly evidences the termination of a period of
active volcanism followed by a completely calm one.
6 - DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
The past experience has shown that improvement in establishing such a chronology is inherent in a process of trial
and error. Among the main sources of uncertainty and error
is the identification of tephra layers or even lava-flows, and
their attribution to given eruptions or volcanoes. Wrong
attributions induced by the similarity of tephras emitted by
distinct volcanoes may result in errors in chronology. Also,
the Chaîne des Puys was previously considered as a quite
simple case because most of the volcanoes are monogenic.
But recent observations have demonstrated that the Puy
de Dôme construction was terminated by a minor summit
eruption delayed by about 2 or 3 centuries, which renders
the Puy de Dôme chronology less simple (Miallier et al.,
2010), and it is now suspected that such a scenario also
occurred at Grand Sarcoui.
Age (ka)
5-4
6-5
Fig. 2: Distribution of eruptions in both Chaîne des Puys and Cézallier for about 15 ky.
Dark grey: assessed; light grey: to be confirmed. Data in table 5.
Fig. 2 : Distribution des éruptions de la Chaîne des Puys et du Cézallier depuis environ 15 ka. En gris foncé : bien attestées ; en gris-clair :
encore énigmatiques. Données du tableau 5.
Eruptions
(Fung ?)
(Sarliève ?, Beaunit ?)
Total
(1)
(2)
References
Camus, 1975
Fourmont et al., 2006 ; Juvigné
& Stach-Czerniak, 1998
1
3
Boivin et al., 2009
Boivin et al., 2009
1
5 (6)
Boivin et al., 2009
12 - 11
13 - 12
Pavin
Montchal, Montcineyre,
Estivadoux
La Vache/Lassolas
Chaves, Vasset, Kilian, Poule,
Chopine (Mey)
Pariou, Puy de Dôme 2, (Sarcoui
2 ?)
Puy de Dôme
Sarcoui, CF2, CF3 (Barme ?)
1
3 (4)
14 - 13
15 - 14
Nugère, Terrenoire
Côme, Tartaret
2
2
7-6
8-7
9-8
10 - 9
11 - 10
2 (3)
Vernet & Raynal, 2000 ;
Guérin, 1983.
Miallier et al., 1994
Tab. 5: Number of eruptions per millenium in the Chaîne des Puys and Cézallier.
Names and figures in brackets indicate still enigmatic results. References concern only eruptions not cited in the text.
Tab. 5 : Nombre d’éruptions par millénaire dans la Chaîne des Puys et le Cézallier. Les noms et les nombres entre parenthèses indiquent des questions
non complètement élucidées. Les références ne concernent que les éruptions non citées dans le texte.
It should also be outlined that several volcanoes not
mentioned here certainly belong to the same period, including major ones like La Nugère volcano, NE of the Chaîne
des Puys, whose eruptive development was complex with
a chronology, around 13 ka, remaining uncertain (Vernet &
Raynal, 2000; Boivin et al., 2009; Vernet & Raynal, 2012).
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 288
This is an issue for the interpretation of Upper Pleistocene and Holocene volcanic activity in the French
Massif Central. It may indicate the end of a cycle of
feeding and differentiation, initiated about 80 ka ago by
ascent of primitive basalt from a deep reservoir situated
at the base of the crust (Boivin et al., 2009).
26/11/12 17:01
289
REFERENCES
BOIVIN P., BESSON J.-C., BRIOT D., CAMUS G., DE GOËR DE
HERVÉ A., GOURGAUD A., LABAZUY P., LANGLOIS E.-P.,
DE LAROUZIERE F.-D., LIVET M., MERGOIL J., MIALLIER D., MOREL J.-M., VERNET G. & VINCENT P., 2009
- Volcanologie de la Chaîne des Puys, 5th édition, carte et fascicule.
Editions du Parc Naturel Régional de la Chaîne des Puys, Aydat,
196 p.
BROUSSE R., DELIBRIAS G., LABEYRIE J. & RUDEL A., 1970
- Éléments de chronologie des éruptions de la Chaîne des Puys.
Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France, 11 (6), 770-793.
CAMUS G., 1975 - La Chaîne des Puys : étude structurale et volcanologique. Doctoral thesis, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand,
320 p.
CONDOMINES M., MORAND P., CAMUS G. & DUTHOU L.,
1982 - Chronological and geochemical study of lavas from the
Chaîne des Puys, Massif Central, France: evidence for crustal contamination. Contributions to Mineral Petrology, 81 (4), 296-303.
DELIBRIAS G., GUILLIER M.-T. & LABEYRIE J., 1964 - Saclay
natural radiocarbon measurements I. Radiocarbon, 6 (1), 238-239.
DULLER G.A.T., 2011 - What date is it? Should there be an agreed
datum for luminescence dating? Ancient TL, 29 (1), 1-3.
El ARABI A., 1987 - Différenciation d’une série alcaline continentale : exemple du Puy de Pariou (Chaîne des Puys, Massif Central
français). Master thesis, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand,
50 p.
FOURMONT A., MACAIRE J.-J., BREHERET J-G., ARGANT J.,
PRAT B. & VERNET G., 2006 - Tephras in lacustrine sediments of
the Sarliève marsh (French Massif Central): age and preservation.
Comptes Rendus Géoscience, 338 (16), 1141-1149.
GEWELT M. & JUVIGNÉ E., 1988 - Téphrochronologie du Tardiglaciaire et de l’Holocène dans le Cantal, le Cézallier et les Monts
Dore (Massif Central, France) : résultats nouveaux et synthèse.
Bulletin de l’Association Française pour l’Etude du Quaternaire, 25
(1), 25-34.
GUÉRIN G., 1983 - La thermoluminescence des plagioclases,
méthode de datation du volcanisme. Applications au domaine volcanique français : Chaîne des Puys, Mont Dore et Cézallier, Bas-Vivarais. Doctoral thesis, Université Paris 6 Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris,
258 p.
JUVIGNÉ E. & GILOT E., 1986 - Ages et zones de dispersion de
tephra émises par les volcans du Montcineyre et du lac Pavin (Massif
Central, France). Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, 137, 613-623.
JUVIGNÉ E., 1987a - Un marqueur stratigraphique à large dispersion
dans le Massif Central français : la retombée du volcan Chopine
vieille d’environ 8 500 ans B.P. Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des
Sciences. Série 2, Mécanique, Physique, Chimie, Sciences de l’Univers, Sciences de la Terre, 304 (4), 187-190.
JUVIGNÉ E., 1987b - Deux retombées volcaniques tardiglaciaires
dans le Cézallier (Massif Central, France). Bulletin de l’Association
Française pour l’Etude du Quaternaire, 24 (4), 241-249.
JUVIGNÉ E., MILCAMPS V., DELIBRIAS G. & ÉVIN J., 1988 Ages de traits polliniques et chronozonation du Tardiglaciaire final et
de l’Holocène dans le Massif Central, (France). Mededelingen Rijks
Geologische Dienst, 41 (4), 33-50.
JUVIGNÉ E., 1991 - Distribution de vastes retombées volcaniques
originaires de l’Eifel et du Massif Central aux temps post-glaciaires
dans le NE de la France et les régions voisines. Comptes Rendus
de l’Académie des Sciences. Série 2, Mécanique, Physique, Chimie,
Sciences de l’Univers, Sciences de la Terre, 312 (2), 415-420.
JUVIGNÉ E., KROONENBERG S.B., WELDKAMP A., El
ARABI A. & VERNET G., 1992 - Widespread Alleröd and Boreal
trachyandesitic to trachytic tephra layers as stratigraphical markers in
the Massif Central, France. Quaternaire, 3 (3/4), 137-146.
JUVIGNÉ E., BASTIN B. & DE GOËR DE HERVÉ A., 1994 Nouvelles données sur les téphras et l’environnement tardiglaciaires
du Cézalier et de l’Artense (Massif Central, France). Annales de la
Société Géologique de Belgique, 117 (2), 321-332.
JUVIGNÉ E., BASTIN B., DELIBRIAS G., ÉVIN G., GEWELT
M., GILOT E. & STREEL M., 1996 - A comprehensive pollen
and tephra-based chronostratigraphic model for the Late glacial and
Holocene period in the French Massif-Central. Quaternary International, 34/36, 113-120.
JUVIGNÉ E. & STACH-CZERNIAK A., 1998 - Etude sédimentologique et palynologique des dépôts lacustres tardiglaciaires et holocènes du Gour de Tazenat (Massif Central, France). Quaternaire, 9
(1), 15-23.
LANOS P., 2004 - Bayesian inference of calibration curves, application
to archaeomagnetism. Lecture Notes in Statistics, 177, 43-82.
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 289
LANOS P. & DUFRESNE P., 2012 - Modélisation statistique bayésienne des données chronologiques. In S. Archambaud de Beaune
& H.-P. Francfort (dir.), L’Archéologie à découvert. CNRS Editions,
Paris, 238-248.
MARTINI J. & DURET J.-J., 1965 - Etude du niveau de cendres
volcaniques des sédiments post-glaciaires récents des environs de
Genève. Archives des Sciences, 18 (3), 563-575.
MIALLIER D., DAUGAS J.-P., SURMELY F., FAÏN J., MONTRET
M., PILLEYRE T., SANZELLE S., DE GOËR DE HERVÉ A.
& LIABEUF R., 1994 - Le gisement magdalénien de Neschers et
sa situation par rapport à la coulée basaltique du Tartaret (Puy de
Dôme, France) : état de la question. Bulletin de la Société Préhistorique Française, 91 (2), 119-122.
MIALLIER D., MICHON L., ÉVIN J., PILLEYRE T., SANZELLE
S. & VERNET G., 2004a - Volcans de la chaîne des Puys (Massif
central, France) : point sur la chronologie Vasset-Kilian-PariouChopine. Comptes Rendus Géoscience, 336 (15), 1345-1353.
MIALLIER D., CONDOMINES M., PILLEYRE T., SANZELLE
S. & GUITTET J., 2004b - Concordant thermoluminescence and
238
U- 230Th ages for a trachytic dome (Grand Sarcoui) from the Chaîne
des Puys (French Massif Central). Quaternary Science Reviews, 23
(5/6), 709-715.
MIALLIER D., SANZELLE S., PILLEYRE T., VERNET G.,
BRUGIERE S. & DANHARA T., 2004c - Nouvelles données sur
le téphra de Sarliève et le téphra CF7, marqueurs chronostratigraphiques de Grande Limagne (Massif central, France). Comptes
Rendus Géoscience, 336 (1), 1-8.
MIALLIER D., BOIVIN P., PILLEYRE T., CHOUPIN L.,
MALTERRE D. & SANZELLE S., 2008 - Les téphras du Pariou
(Chaîne des Puys, France) : nouvelles observations sur la dispersion
proximale, apports téphrostratigraphiques. Quaternaire, 19 (2),
87-96.
MIALLIER D., BOIVIN P., DENIEL C., GOURGAUD A.,
LANOS P., SFORNA M. & PILLEYRE T., 2010 - The ultimate
eruption of Puy de Dôme volcano (Chaîne des Puys, French Massif
Central), about 10,700 yr ago. Comptes Rendus Géoscience, 342
(11), 847-854
MICHON L., 1996 - Le Cratère Kilian et le Puy Vasset : mécanismes
éruptifs et distinction des produits proximaux et distaux. Comparaison avec le cratère-lac Pavin et le Puy Chopine. Master thesis,
Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, 20 p.
MONTIEL N., 1997 - La nappe de recouvrement du Puy Chopine.
Master thesis, Université Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand, 59 p.
NOWELL D.A.G., JONES M.C. & PYLE D.M., 2006 - Episodic
Quaternary volcanism in France and Germany. Journal of Quaternary Science, 21 (6), 645-675.
PILLEYRE T., MONTRET M., FAÏN J., MIALLIER D. &
SANZELLE S., 1992 - Attempts at dating ancient volcanoes using
the red TL of quartz. Quaternary Science Reviews, 11 (1/2), 13-17.
RAYNAL J.-P., MIALLIER D., VERNET G., FAÏN J., CAMUS G.,
MONTRET M., DAUGAS J.-P. & SANZELLE S., 1989 - Extension de la datation par thermoluminescence à une retombée trachyandésitique rapportée au puy de Pariou (Chaîne des Puys, France).
Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences. Série 2, Mécanique,
Physique, Chimie, Sciences de l’Univers, Sciences de la Terre, 308
(17), 1547-1552.
RAYNAL J.-P., VERNET G., FAÏN J., MIALLIER D., MONTRET
M., PILLEYRE T., SANZELLE S. & DAUGAS J.-P., 1994 Téphrostratigraphie et préhistoire des 160 derniers millénaires en
Limagne d’Auvergne (Massif Central, France). Bulletin de la Société
Préhistorique Française, 91 (2), 149-157.
REILLE M., DE BEAULIEU J.-L. & PONS A., 1985 - Recherches
pollen-analytiques sur l’histoire tardiglaciaire et holocène de la
végétation du Cézallier, de la Planèze de Saint-Flour et de la Margeride. Pollen et Spores, 27 (2), 209-270.
REIMER P., BAILLIE M., BARD E., BAYLISS A., BECK J.,
BERTRAND C., BLACKWELL P., BUCK C., BURR G.,
CUTLER K., DAMON P., EDWARDS R., FAIRBANKS R.,
FRIEDRICH M., GUILDERSON T., HOGG A., HUGHEN
K., KROMER B., McCORMAC G., MANNING S., RAMSEY
C., REIMER R., REMMELE S., SOUTHON J., STUIVER
M., TALAMO S., TAYLOR F., VAN DER PLICHT J. &
WEYHENMEYER C., 2004 - INTCAL04 Terrestrial radiocarbon
age calibration, 0-26 CAL kyr BP. Radiocarbon, 46 (3), 1029-1058.
VERNET G. & RAYNAL J.-P., 2000 - Un cadre téphrostratigraphique réactualisé pour la préhistoire tardiglaciaire et holocène de
Limagne (Massif-Central, France). Comptes Rendus de l’Académie
des Sciences. Série 2. Sciences de la Terre et des Planètes, 330 (6),
399-405.
VERNET G., RAYNAL J.-P., KIEFFER G., CAMUS G.,
GUADELLI J.-L., VIVENT D., MIALLIER D., SANZELLE
S., PILLEYRE T., FAÏN J. & MONTRET M., 2001 - L’éruption
26/11/12 10:06
290
trachytique du Puy Chopine (Puy-de-Dôme, France) : impacts proximaux et distaux et implications écoarchéologiques. In E. Juvigné
& J.-P. Raynal (eds.), TEPHRAS, chronologie et archéologie, Les
Dossiers de l’Archéo-logis, 1, 227-234.
VERNET G. & RAYNAL J.-P., 2002 - Éruptions trachytiques de la
Chaîne des Puys (France) et leur impact sur les environnements.
In J.-P. Raynal, C. Albore Livadie & M. Piperno (eds.), Hommes
et Volcans : de l’éruption à l’objet : actes du symposium 15.2, Les
Dossiers de l’Archéo-logis, 2, 49-56.
1210-126 Mep 4-2012.indd 290
VERNET G. & RAYNAL J.-P., 2008 - La formation de Marsat et le
téphra CF7, marqueurs distaux d’éruptions trachytiques violentes de
la Chaîne des puys au Boréal. Quaternaire, 19 (2), 97-106.
VERNET G. & RAYNAL J.-P., 2012 - Un volcan et des hommes
à la fin des temps glaciaires ; le Puy de la Nugère (Massif Central
français). In 1904-2004 : Un siècle de préhistoire et de protohistoire
dans le Massif central : bilans et perspectives : Colloque les 22,
23, 24 octobre 2004 : CDDP de Haute-Loire et Musée Crozatier :
Résumés des communications. 40.
26/11/12 10:06