Trends in rhyolite geochemistry, mineralogy, and magma storage during the last 50 kyr at Okataina and Taupo volcanic centres, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand B Victoria C. Smith a, * , Phil Shane a , Ian A. Nairn b a Department of Geology, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand b 45 Summit Road, Rotorua RD5, New Zealand Received 22 June 2004; received in revised form 8 May 2005; accepted 27 May 2005 Abstract The Taupo Volcanic Zone of New Zealand is the most frequently active rhyolitic zone on Earth. Since a major caldera- forming eruption episode at ~50 ka, N 50 rhyolitic eruption episodes have occurred at Okataina Volcanic Centre (OVC) and Taupo Volcanic Centre (TVC). These two active calderas provide an opportunity to examine contemporaneous magmatic processes at high temporal and spatial resolution. Temporal trends indicate OVC intra-caldera eruption episodes tapped progressively more evolved (~71–77 wt.% SiO 2 ), cooler (940–730 8C), and possibly shallower (~400–150 MPa) magmas. At TVC, pre-26.5 ka activity was relatively infrequent, and eruption episodes were from shallow (~100 MPa), cool (~750 8C) magmas, containing hydrous mineral phases. Following the caldera-forming 26.5 ka Oruanui episode, initial eruption episodes were dacitic and were small volume hot magmas, which were probably from deep (N 400 MPa) chambers. At 12 ka, rhyolitic activity at TVC re-commenced, and eruption episodes have tapped progressively hotter (~790–850 8C) magmas, which appear to be from deeper (~140–300 MPa) chambers. At both OVC and TVC volcanoes, the least evolved magmas were erupted following the caldera-forming episodes. Equilibrium between glass and phenocrysts in OVC and TVC rhyolites suggests that crystallisation occurs shortly prior to eruption. Low crystal contents (~5–15%), and the lack of pre-eruptive gradients suggests rapid convection and/or short crustal residence times. Melts are extracted from greater depths, as indicated by high whole-rock temperatures, before ponding in shallow storage chambers. The distinct pressure, temperature, and oxygen fugacity of each magma erupted, and the lack of temporal (fractionation) trends, suggests that the magmas are not derived from a single common magmatic system at their respective centres. OVC magmas are more oxidised than those from TVC, at any given temperature, suggesting the source areas are fundamentally different. Volumetrically subordinate pumice clasts in some OVC ejecta display mingled glasses and disequilibrium crystal populations resulting from the intrusion and mingling of separate rhyolite magmas prior to eruption. At OVC, some crystal-rich stagnating magmas have become reactivated by 0377-0273/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.volgeores.2005.05.005 B DOI of the original article: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2005.05.005. * Corresponding author. Tel.: +64 9 3737599x87982. E-mail address: v.smith@auckland.ac.nz (V.C. Smith). Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 148 (2005) 372– 406 www.elsevier.com/locate/jvolgeores