A comment on: magma residence and eruption at the Taupō Volcanic Center (Taupō Volcanic Zone, New Zealand)—insights from rhyolite-MELTS geobarometry, diffusion chronometry, and crystal textures, by AS Pamukçu et al., Contrib Mineral Petrol 175:48 (2020)

We consider here the validity, accuracy, and precision of rhyolite-MELTS modelling in inferring the pre-eruptive magma storage conditions for the caldera-forming 25.5 ka Oruanui and 232 CE (1.72 ka) Taupō eruptions at Taupō volcano, New Zealand as proposed by Pamukçu et al. (2020: Contrib Mineral Petrol 175: 48). There are four major issues with the modelling as used. First, the model is inappropriately applied for the Taupō event as this magma does not contain phenocrystic quartz. Second, the products of both eruptions, as is typical for virtually all Taupō Volcanic Zone rhyolites, contain plagioclase but lack sanidine, leading to increased model errors beyond those stated. Third, temperatures utilised for modelling crystallisation histories for both magmas are in conflict with independent measures of magmatic temperatures for these rocks. Fourth, glass compositions for each of these eruptions individually fall within analytical uncertainty yet yield model pressures that vary over hundreds of MPa, in part due to contrasting analytical protocols. We conclude that rhyolite-MELTS is too imprecise (errors of ± ~ 100 MPa or more for the methods applied) for quartz + 1 feldspar systems like at Taupō volcano specifically and the Taupō Volcanic Zone in general to be applied with confidence to deriving relative or absolute depths of magma storage.