The explosive volcanism of Teide-Pico Viejo volcanic complex, Canary Island

The explosive events in Teide Pico Viejo (TPV) complex in Tenerife Island (Spain) have traditionally been restricted to the subplinian eruption of Montana Blanca, which occurred about 2000 years ago. A recent revision of the stratigraphy of TPV shows that phonolitic explosive activity has been significant during the Holocene, with several distinct episodes related to eruptions ranging from Strombolian to sub-plinian. Using field, mineralogical and geochemical stratigraphic correlations, we have identified 11 phonolitic explosive eruptions related to the satellite domes present all around TPV complex. One of the most representative eruptions is that of El Boqueron (5,660 yBP), a dome that generated an explosive event of VEI 3 with a minimum volume of 4-6x107 m3 and produced a plume with a height of up to 9km above sea level (MER 6.9-8.2x105 kg/s, during 9-15 h). The occurrence of these explosive events in the recent eruptive record of TPV is of major importance in evaluating the risk imposed by the volcanic complex on Tenerife. These eruptions have generated a wide range of direct hazards, such as fallout, emplacement of pyroclastic density currents, debris flows, lahars, and rock avalanches, which could occur again in case of a renewal of volcanic activity. The results obtained in our study are relevant to define realistic and precise eruptive scenarios for TPV and to assess its associated hazard, a necessary step in the evaluation and mitigations of volcanic risk in Tenerife