The origin of Paektu volcano and associated magmatism in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

Mt Paektu, an intraplate volcano located between DPRK and China, is the largest and most active volcano in DPRK and is of important cultural significance. It has a history of violent eruptions, most notably the caldera-forming VEI 7 “Millenium eruption” in 946 AD. An associated SE-trending chain of less well-known volcanoes also exists. The presence of volcanism in the region is surprising given the lack of an obvious cause of the magma production: it is far from the subduction zone to the east, and clear evidence of rifting or a hotspot is lacking. Geophysical study suggests potential fluid loss or a gap in a deep westward-dipping subducting Pacific plate as the origin, and highlights the presence of partial in the volcanic system.

Petrology, geochemistry and geochronology offer an alternative approach to investigate the mantle origins and crustal evolution of these volcanoes that can be interpreted alongside geophysical data. Previous petrological study has focussed on the rhyolites of the millennium eruption – this project will instead focus on primitive magmatic products from the lesser-studied associated volcanic chain. 

A sample collection exists; additional fieldwork may be possible. The project combines petrological observation and data from various in-situ and whole-rock measurements (SEM, EPMA, LAICPMS, XRF, potentially also SIMS or geochronology data) from primitive samples with thermodynamic and empirical modelling techniques.