Magnetic fabric and flow direction in basaltic Pahoehoe lava of Xitle volcano, Mexico

We sampled five basaltic lava flow-units from Xitle volcano, Mexico City, to study the variation of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility within their cooling boundaries. We find that the mean maximum susceptibility parallels the geologically-inferred flow direction in the units that were emplaced on a steeper slope, whereas for those on a negligible slope the mean intermediate susceptibility points in the flow direction. We propose, however, that the maximum susceptibility always points in the direction of local movement, and that a change in slope produces a deviation of the local motion from that of the unit as a whole. The axis of susceptibility closest to the geologically-inferred flow direction usually plunges upflow in the basal part of the flow unit, comprising an imbrication which clearly marks the flow azimuth of the lava. Thus, the scenario of emplacement may influence the results in a predictable way. We suggest that the degree of anisotropy could bear a direct relationship to either the viscosity of the lava, the morphology of the flows or both, based on a comparison with lavas from Azufre (Argentina) and Koʹolau (Oʹahu) volcanoes. Also, we suggest that the shape of the susceptibility ellipsoid may be related to the degree of internal deformation of the lava flows. We also compare the two methods currently available to calculate regions of confidence around the mean principal susceptibilities.