Structural origin of large gas cavities in the Big Obsidian Flow, Newberry Volcano

Mesoscopic structures in four large cavities on the Big Obsidian Flow, OR, USA, provide evidence of links between large-scale surface folding, cavity formation, and hazardous explosive activity originating from within the flow. Stereographic analysis of flow banding, stretched bubble lineation, striations, and mesoscopic fold axes indicates that three of the cavities are near-cylindrical folds. Cavity fold axes are oriented parallel to large-scale compressional flow ridge axes, suggesting that cavities form in response to shortening during flow advance. Large surface folds develop as the upper 10 m of the cooler flow surface buckles when the flow front cools, slows, and stalls against topographic barriers. Void space is created in fold hinges as obsidian layers shear past each other and pull apart. The resultant cavities may serve as reservoirs for exsolved volatiles or surface water which may later vent explosively to form explosion craters on the flow surface.