Submarine eruption-fed and resedimented pumice-rich facies: the Dogashima Formation (Izu Peninsula, Japan)

In the Izu Peninsula (Japan), the Pliocene pumice-rich Dogashima Formation (4.55 ± 0.87 Ma) displays exceptional preservation of volcaniclastic facies that were erupted and deposited in a below wave-base marine setting. It includes high-concentration density current deposits that contain clasts that were emplaced hot, indicating an eruption-fed origin. The lower part of the Dogashima 2 unit consists of a very thick sequence (1 m) pumice- and ash-rich bed overlying the breccias may be derived from delayed settling of pyroclasts from suspension. In Dogashima 1 and 2, thick cross- and planar-bedded facies composed of sub-rounded pumice clasts are intercalated with eruption-fed facies, implying inter-eruptive mass-wasting on the flank of a submarine volcano, and reworking and resedimentation by high-energy tractional currents in a below wave-base environment.