Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 41 (1990) 253-267 253

Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., Amsterdam--Printed in The Netherlands

Casabianca Formation: a Colombian example of

volcanism-induced aggradation in a fluvial basin

CARLOS A. BORRERO P. and JOSE LUIS NARANJO H.

Facultad de Geologfa y Minas, Universidad de Caldas, P.O. Box 1729 Manizales, Caldas, Colombia

(Received for publiciaton December 1, 1989)

Abstract

Borrero P., C.A. and Naranjo H., J.L., 1990. Casabianca Formation: a Colombian example of volcanism-
induced aggradation in a fluvial basin. In: S.N. Williams (Editor), Nevado del Ruiz Volcano, Colombia,
I. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., 41: 253-267.

The Upper Pliocene to Pleistocene Casabianca Formation is an assemblage of coarse-grained

volcanogenic sediments derived from the Ruiz-Cerro Bravo volcanic axis, which were deposited on the
west and east flanks of the middle Colombian Central Cordillera (5 ° -5o30 ' N Lat.; 74°30'-76°W Long.).
Facies assemblages, paleocurrent data, and geomorphic expression define four depositional settings: (1)
an alluvial fan with debris-flow lobes represented by the Manizales fan in the western sector and the
Fresno fan in the eastern sector, characterized by the facies assemblage of Gms, Gp and Gt; (2) valley fill
deposits represented by the Arauca section at the west sector, characterized by the facies assemblage of
Gms and Gi; (3) deposits produced by the diversion of the debris-flow and hyperconcentrated flood-flow
deposits from the main channels into narrow effluent channels; represented by the Delgaditas and
Manzanares-Marquetalia sections, in the eastern sector and characterized by the facies assemblage Gms
and Gm(a); and (4) lateral accretion in gravelly, medium to high-sinuosity rivers, represented by the
Casabianca-Villa Hermosa, Palo Cabildo-Falan, Lagunillas and Guali sections of the eastern sector,
characterized by the facies assemblage Gms, Gp and Gt.
Casabianca Formation deposition records the response of a semi-arid to tropical fluvial system to large,
volcanism-induced sediment loads.

Introduction rero, 1988). On t h e east f l a n k of the C e n t r a l

This p a p e r addresses volcanic influences on
t h e d e v e l o p m e n t of fluvial sequences by
describing the U p p e r Pliocene to Pleistocene
C a s a b i a n c a F o r m a t i o n , derived from the nor-
t h e r n end of the R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic c h a i n
(Fig. 1). T h e sequences were deposited on the
west a n d east f l a n k s of t h e middle C o l o m b i a n
C e n t r a l Cordillera (Fig. 1).
On t h e west f l a n k of the C e n t r a l Cordillera,
t h e C a s a b i a n c a F o r m a t i o n overlies t h e 8 to 4
M a M a n i z a l e s F o r m a t i o n (Naranjo a n d Bor-
Cordillera, t h e C a s a b l a n c a F o r m a t i o n lies u p o n
the 8 to 4 Ma M e s a F o r m a t i o n (Duefias a n d
Castro, 1981). T h o u r e t et al. (1985) proposed an
age of 4 to 1.2 Ma for t h e C a s a b i a n c a F o r m a t i o n
t a k e n into account the s t r a t i g r a p h i c r e l a t i o n s
f o u n d by t h e m .
Studies n e a r M o u n t St. H e l e n s ( H a r r i s o n and
Fritz, 1982; P i e r s o n a n d Scott, 1985), in t h e
forearc of G u a t e m a l a (Davies et al., 1978;
Vessell and Davies, 1981) a n d at Volc~n
N e v a d o del Rulz (Lowe et al., 1986) e v a l u a t e d
t h e effects of explosive v o l c a n i s m on m o d e r n

0377-0273/89/$03.50 © 1990 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

 o i , 15Kin

I Metamorphic and igneous basemen~ 7 Volcaniciaslic Monizaies formation ( 8 ~o 4m.y.}

2 Volcanic terrains of the Pre-Quoternury basement of 8 Volcaniclastic Mesa formation (B Io 4 m.y.) ~o
©
ths RUIZ-TOLIMA range~ covered by moraines and 9 Vo~¢anictostic CosalManca f o r m o l i o n (4 t o l - 2 m.y.) 1=
thick tephro . _ IO Voicano,detritol and Alluvia-torrential fans ofl~ddle (~Joternor)
3 Recenl Ands sitic tovo-fLows of recent Qua~ercx~(O~to Q CSmy.) I| Votcane-detrita[ oral AlluvK>-torrential fans of i~ecarrt Quolernor)' ©
4 Presumed volcano-tectonic depressions and colderos._ 12 Regional Faulls = Romeral, Polestino~ etc._
5 AndlesHic and Docitic block-lava fk~sf~bou~ OO~n¥, to 4.700 13 E a s t e r n border of the C e n t r a l C o r d i l l e r a . _
Z
y. B P . )
16Pyroclastic deposits~ pumic4 and osh-ftows(glow~P~o ~ , ~ )

Fig. 1. Geologic map of the northernmost Ruiz Totima volcanic complex, which shows lithologicai units f~'om Precambrian to Present~
Symbots denote distribution of volcanic rocks and volcaniclastic deposits only.
CASABIANCA FORMATION: A COLOMBIAN EXAMPLE OF VOLCANISMJNDUCES AGGRADAT1ON IN A FLUVIAL BASIN
fluvial systems. When eruptions at Volc~n
Fuego (Guatemala) eject a critical volume of
tephra, a gemorphic threshold is crossed and
the rivers are transformed from incised,
meandering channels to rapidly aggrading,
braided streams for a period of 20 to 30 years
following an eruption (Vessel and Davies,
1981). Similar events at Mount St. Helens (Har-
rison and Fritz, 1982) and at Volc~n Nevado del
Ruiz, Colombia (Lowe et al., 1986) show the ex-
tent to which such short-term aggradation is
recorded in the geological record.
Early Tertiary volcaniclastic deposits of the
Northern Rocky Mountains (Fritz and Har-
rison, 1985), and the Neogene Deschutes For-
mation in Central Oregon (Smith, 1987) are ex-
amples of volcaniclastic deposits associated
with larger volcanic terranes, rather than a
single volcano, as is the case for the Casabianca
Formation.
Our purpose in writing this paper is to pro-
vide an introduction to volcaniclastic sedimen-
tary rocks in the Northern Andes.
The study of the Casabianca Formation also
will help to determine the eruptive magnitude
necessary to trigger massive debris flows,
floods, and changing channel morphology on
the flanks of the R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic com-
plex which would improve the existing volcanic
hazzard maps.
Geologic setting
The Casabianca Formation is an Upper
Pliocene to Lower Pleistocene volcaniclastic se-
quence related to the northernmost activity of
the R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic complex, Central
Cordillera, Colombia (Fig. 1). This complex is
an arcuate line of seven volcanoes, which form
the crest of the Central Cordillera of Colombia.
Hall and Wood (1985) locate this volcanic group
as the northern segment in their proposed
volcano-tectonic segmentation of the Septen-
trional Andes.
All but two of the volcanoes, including Cerro
Bravo, were glaciated during the last glacia-
255
tion. Herd (1974) inferred they have reached
their present size before the last glaciation.
The R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic complex is com-
posed of an extensive sequence of andesitic and
dacitic lava flows mantled with andesitic
pyroclastic deposits. These volcanics overlie a
basement of Precambrian and Paleozoic
metamorphic rocks that is intruded with late
Mesozoic quartz-dioritic stocks and a
granodioritic batholith of early Cenozoic age
(Herd, 1974).
Late Cenozoic volcanism occurred along the
crest of the Central Cordillera during the later
stages of uplift of the massif. The linear align-
ment of the volcanoes indicates that volcanism
in the R u i z - T o l i m a complex has been controll-
ed by a major fracture system trending
N N E - S S W along the crest of the Central Cor-
dillera and possibly coincident with the
Palestina fault (Fig. 2). Thouret et al. (1985)
dated lavas at the bottom of Nevado del Ruiz as
1.5 ± 0.8 and 1.2 +_ 0.2 Ma. Although the focus
of this volcanism was beneath the present
Nevado del Ruiz, the lavas extended 1 5 - 2 0 km
to the northwest. A more recent phase of lava
production, which is located at the crest of
Nevado del Ruiz, has ages of 0.76 _+ 0.05 and
0.68 +_ 0.15 Ma. Thouret et al. (1985) suggested
an explosive episode between 0.4 and 0.2 Ma
which produced pyroclastic flows to the west of
the volcanic complex (Fig. 1). The upper part of
the volcanic edifice is composed of andesitic and
dacitic lavas with an approximate age of 0.1 Ma
(Thouret et al., 1985). The crest is mantled with
wind-blown tephra. Based on the relationship
of the radiocarbon dates with the pyroclastic
units and buried soils within the tephra se-
quence, pyroclastic eruptions appear to have oc-
curred, on average, once every 250 to 500 years
in the R u i z - T o l i m a area (Herd, 1974).
Facies of the Casabianca Formation
Miall (1977, 1978) and Rust (1978) introduced
a set of facies codes based on descriptive
classification of lithologies and sedimentary
 b3
CJ1

,°sd w

-2"
.o •

.jJ

tArrnero

1
t75° ~ Car~3bianco formation 5 o 15 Krn
I^/? I I • I
, WESTERN SECTOR EASTERN SECTOR

~ 0 (~ ARAUCA SECTION ~) DELGADITAS SECTION

(~ M~NIZALES SECTION (~ MANZANARES-MARQUETALtA SE3TION
MBIA ~ ~) FRESNO SECTION
C-'~ (~) CASABIANCA--VILLAHERMOSA SECTION
~) PALOCABILI~D-FALAN SECTION
I~ LAGUNILLAS RIVER SECTION
t3) GUALI RIVER SECTION

Fig'. 2. M a p of t h e o u t c r o p s of t h e C a s a b i a n c a F o r m a t i o n s h o w i n g l o c a t i o n s of t h e n i n e m e a s u r e d s e c t i o n s .
CASABIANCA FORMATION: A COLOMBIAN EXAMPLE OF VOLCANISM-INDUCES AGGRADATION IN A FLUVIAL BASIN 257

structures, t h a t is applicable to most fluvial
deposits, and has received wide usage. Smith
(1987) modified these codes and added others to
describe volcaniclastic facies in the Deschutes
Formation (Central Oregon). These lithofacies
codes, with minor modification, were applied to
the Casabianca Formation (Table 1).
In the Casabianca Formation, clasts are
dominantly andesitic. Accessory basaltic-
andesitic and dacitic clasts and less t h a n 5%,
plutonic and metamorphic clasts derived from
the Paleozoic-Mesozoic basement also occur.
The Gm(a) facies code describes coarse-
grained hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits.
Turbulence is an important, if not dominant,
sediment support mechanism. Because of high
sediment concentration, grain interactions and
fluid buoyancy also contribute to supporting
the grains during flow (Smith, 1986, 1987).
Rapid deposition of a variety of clast sizes ac-

TABLE 1

Facies nomenclature for the Casabianca Formation

Facies identifier Lithofacies Sedimentary structures Interpretation

Gm General identifier for

massive, clast-support
gravel; generalizes the main
facies for the Casabianca
Formation
Gm(a) Gravel, massive or crudely
bedded; abundant sand
matrix, largely clast-sup-
port; poorly sorted; subangu-
lar to rounded clasts
Gms massive, matrix supported
gravel, very poorly sorted,
clasts may be angular to
rounded
Gt Gravel, stratified
Gp Gravel, stratified
Gi Gravel, stratified
Ta, La Ash or lapilli, well sorted,
angular grains
Tr, Lr Ash or lapilli; poorly to
well sorted, rounded grains;
abundant lithic grains
Gravel clasts oriented with
both a- and b-axes, transver-
se to flow direction; poorly
imbrication
Possible reverse grading
throughout or only at base.
Trough cross-beds
Planar-tabular cross-bed-
ding, solitary or grouped
Low-angle inclined strati-
fication
Massive or horizontal bed-
ding, may show evidence of
burrowing or root distur-
bance
Massive or stratified
Coarse-grained hyperconcen-
trated flood-flow deposits;
rapid deposition both from
suspension and by traction
Debris-flow deposits
Transverse bars, or channel
fill
Straight-crested transverse
bars, linguoid bars or deltaic
growths from older bar rem-
nants, cross-bedded chute
bars
Lateral accretion surfaces
Air-fall pyroclastics
Reworked air-fall pyroclastics

Modified from Smith, 1987.

258
counts for the poor sorting, absence of sand-
stone lenses, and preservation of some flow-
parallel clast orientation. The limited traction
reworking is notable. One of the main
characteristics of Casabianca deposits is the
clast support. In some cases relict normal
grading and horizontal bedding was observed
despite a high degree of diage~etic alteration to
clay. The space between framework cobbles and
boulders in facies Gm(a) is occupied by a poorly
sorted matrix of very coarse sand to pebbles. In
some measured sections, coarse-grained lapilli
form up to 30% of the matrix. These com-
ponents are too coarse to represent infiltration
between the larger clasts. The beds of Gm(a)
have a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 3 m.
The Gms facies code for debris-flow deposits
describes massive, matrix-supported gravel.
Both clasts and matrix are characterized by
very poor sorting. The main characteristics of
the Gms lithofacies in the Casabianca Forma-
tion are extremely poor sorting, lack of internal
stratification, and support of the largest clasts
by a finer grained matrix.
Debris flows are water-saturated flows with
plastic properties that deposit sediments en
masse when shear stress decreases below the
yield strength of the debris (Lowe, 1979). Sup-
port of large clasts in subaerial debris flows is
a combination of cohesive matrix strength,
buoyancy and dispersive pressure (Hampton,
1979; Lowe, 1979). In the measured sections of
the Casabianca Formation there is no
downstream decrease in the mean or m a x i m u m
grain size; the sorting is similar in all of' the
outcrops. These observations indicate a narrow
range in the flow character in debris flows, and
probably there were not important variations
in yield strength with the distance of flow. The
beds of Gms have a thickness ranging from 1.5
to 30 m.
Subordinate facies found in the Casablanca
Formation are Gt and Gp. Lithofacies Gt
represents migration of transverse bars, or the
fill of minor channels, and it is formed during
episodes of high water and sediment discharge.
C.A BORRERO P. AND J.L. NARANIIO H
When such channels flow into pools they
develop cross-bedded chute bars represented by
lithofacies Gp. These lithofacies are intimately
associated with Gm(a) in the Casabianca For-
mation, and have an average thickness of 1.5
m. They are rarely found because the preserva-
tion potential is very low due to the sudden
peak flows, changing water velocity, and the
depth of the channels. Another factor that
limits the recognition of Gp of Gt is the deep,
extensive weathering that has affected the
Casabianca Formation.
Facies code Gi describes gravel characterized
by low-angle, inclined (5 ° to 20 ° ) stratification
in sets up to 2.5 m thick. Sets have erosional
bases and are tabular or lenticular in shape
with concave-up bases. Clast imbrications yield
paleocurrent directions which differ from the
dip azimuth of the stratification by 30 ° or more.
Gi is interpreted to have been produced by
lateral accretion of gravel point bars and occur
with channetized debris flow facies. It is pre-
sent in some of the sequences and is identified
by its stratification style.
In the Casabianca Formation, facies contain-
ing sand are totally absent. This absence is one
of the main characteristics of these deposits.
Probably the absence of sandy facies is due to
the lack of sand in the source area, the con-
tinuous movement of great amounts of gravel
at the top of the source area, R u i z - C e r r o Bravo
ridge (Fig. 2), the minimal transport of the
coarsest material, and the dominant flow type
(debris flow) t h a t impeded the breaking-up of'
the coarsest material during the deposition.
Gravel in the Casabianca Formation does not
exhibit a pronounced decrease in mean size
with the increasing transport distance. This
suggests sustained high flow competence
rather t h a n abrasion is primarily responsible
for the observed constant mean grain size with
respect to the increasing transport distance, the
abrasion is insignificant during transport.
Another possibility is t h a t the finer fraction
was always reworked and washed out after the
deposition of the coarsest fraction.
CASABIANCA FORMATION: A COLOMBIAN EXAMPLE OF VOLCANISM-INDUCES AGGRADATION IN A FLUVIAL BASIN
The facies codes Ta, La, Tr and Lr were
modified from Smith (1987) and are used for
primary air-fall tufts (Ta), lapillistones (La),
reworked air-fall tufts (Tr), and reworked
lapillistones (Lr). Primary air-fall facies con-
tain angular lapilli and shards. Crude
stratification may have been destroyed by
weathering. Air-falls reworked by eolian pro-
cesses are often composed almost entirely of
pumice lapilli, ash shards, or both, but these
fragments are rounded, reflecting traction
transport. Primary tufts and lapillistones up to
5 m thick, are always present at the top of the
Casabianca Formation, and uncommonly occur
with cogenetic ignimbrites. These beds may
correspond to more recent explosive volcanic ac-
tivities of the R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic complex.
Radiometric dates do not exist to confirm this
premise.
Depositional environments o f the
Casabianca Formation
The Casabianca Formation sediments were
distributed by the Pliocene drainage pattern,
which is similar to the present drainage pat-
tern. Two sectors in the Casabianca Formation
have been defined, the western and eastern sec-
tors (Fig. 2).
Western sector deposits were controlled by
the Chinchin~i river drainage net, a tributary of
the Cauca river (Fig. 2). This formed the prox-
imal alluvial-fan deposits with debris-flow
lobes in the Manizales section, and the deposits
of gravelly medium- to high-sinuosity rivers
(Miall, 1985) of the Arauca section.
Eastern sector deposits of the Casabianca
Formation were deposited by the Perillo-
Guarino, Guali and Azufrado-Lagunilla Rivers,
all of which are tributaries to the Magdalena
River (Fig. 2). The eastern sector was described
into seven measured sections. Sections C and D
(Fig. 2) were produced by the diversion of the
debris-flows and hyperconcentrated flood-flow
deposits from the main channels into narrow af-
fluent channels, when they were trapped and
259
immobilized and caused relief inversion. Sec-
tion E, Fresno alluvial fan. Finally, Sections F,
G, H, and I (Fig. 2) were produced by lateral ac-
cretion in gravelly medium to high-sinuosity
rivers.
Western sector
The wedge of volcanogenic sediments
deposited on the west flank of the middle Cen-
tral Cordillera, in the northernmost part of the
R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic complex, represents ag-
gradation during periods when streams were
choked with debris. The geomorphic form of an
alluvial fan, which was structurally controlled
by the E1 Perro fault, is apparent in the
Manizales area where section A was described
(Fig. 2); a similar pattern to the older
volcaniclastic Manizales Formation (Naranjo
and Borrero, 1988). It is an alluvial fan even
though there is not changing facies from east to
west, which is typical of fans. Debris flows and
to a lesser extent flood-flow deposits persist for
more than 30 km to the west of the R u i z - C e r r o
Bravo ridge (Fig. 2). This extension is greater
than what has been found on typical arid
alluvial fans, which have an average radius of
10 km (Nielsen, 1982). Although no lateral
facies changes, all of the Casabianca Formation
debris-flow facies extend more than 40 k m from
the probable source area. The steady con-
glomerate grain size trends are more similar to
what should be expected for an alluvial plain
than for an alluvial fan (Rust and Koster,
1984). This can be explained by the deposition
en masse of the fan constituents and the short-
time duration of the phenomena.
Figure 3 shows the stratigraphic sequence of
the Manizales section, which includes Gms
facies, and minor Gm(a), Gt and Gp facies. The
Gins facies represents 70% of the total
thickness in all of the measured sections in this
sector. Massive and poorly sorted beds range in
thickness from 5 to 25 m; the recognition of dif-
ferent pulses in the beds is very hard because
they do not have erosive bases. The m a x i m u m
260 C.A, BORRERO P. AND J.L. HARANJO H

they do not have erosive bases. The m a x i m u m
measured clast size is 2.2 m, the average clast
size is 0.2 m and the average roundness is 0.5.
Beds consist of 90% unaltered andesitic clasts
with basaltic-andesitic and dacitic fragments.
In the matrix it is possible to distinguish the
fragments of lapilli (about 20% of the total
matrix) by the white and the light yellow color,
coarse weathered sand consisting of andesitic
fragments and red to brownish red clay.

Ir
LO
Gms
Gi
Gm(o) Gin(a)

Gins Grns

Gi
Gm(o)
Grns
Gins

Gins
,jll,11v,
M s G
ARAUCA SECTION

Gm(O)
G+ ~ Tuff
Gins
~ eworked Tuff
Gm(a)
cS~gn~oYme
rate
Gp ~ Matrix- suppqrt
Coglomerote/Breccia
~ Cretaceous Pillow Lava
,11 lilr I
M S G ~ Cretaceous
_ Quebragrande Formation
MANIZALES SECTION

Gins • Facies Identifier (Table 1 )

o--um
....,Ill
CLAY
SILT FINE
VERY FINE
,ill,
MEOIUM COBBLE
C O A R S E PEBBLE
VERY Q~RSE
MU D SAND GR,44EL

Fig. 3. Stratigraphic columns of the Casabianca Formation measured in the western sector; facies identifiers
are located at the left side of the column.
CASABIANCA FORMATION: A COLOMBIAN EXAMPLE OF VOLCANISM-INDUCES AGGRADATION IN A FLUVIAL BASIN
The Gin(a) facies represents 20% of the total
thickness of the sequence in this sector.
Massive beds range in thickness from 1.5 to 10
m. Only in sectors where the proportion of san-
dy matrix is about 60% it is possible to
distinguish a crude horizontal bedding. The
m a x i m u m clast size is I m and there is a
bimodality in the clast size: 0.4 and 0.7. Their
average roundness is 0.6. The composition of
the clasts is dominantly andesitic, with only 5%
plutonic and I to 2% metamorphic fragments.
Only in the upper third part of the section are
the clasts and matrix of Gins and Gm(a) facies
totally weathered, which is characteristic in
the Casabianca Formation for most sections.
Subordinate Gp and Gt facies in the Manizales
section represent 5% of this sequence.
The Arauca section of the Casabianca Forma-
tion is located on the western part of the Chin-
chin~i river (Fig. 2). The stratigraphic sequence
includes Gms, Gi and minor Gin(a) facies which
suggest valley fill deposits on the ancient Chin-
china river (Fig. 2). The Gms facies represent
60% of the total thickness in this sector. The
thickness of massive and totally weathered sets
ranges from 7 to 12 m. In spite of this, it is
possible to recognize the andesitic porphyritic
texture in the gravels of these deposits. The
matrix is completely clayey because the coarse
lapilli and the < 2 cm andesitic fragments are
totally weathered. The present survey in the
Casabianca Formation tries to explain this
weathering which must be related with the in-
itiation mechanism of the flows, because the
overlying deposits in the most of the sections do
not show almost any weathering. In the Gi
facies, sets range from 1 to 2.5 m; the average
azimuth of the inclined strata is N290 and their
dips are varying between 7 ° and 15 ° to the
west. The clasts are unaltered andesites with
an average roundness of 0.6, a m a x i m u m clast
size of 0.8 m and average clast size of 0.08 m. In
the sandy matrix, the proportion of clay is less
t h a n 5%. The occurrence of low-angle inclined
strata (Gi) confirms t h a t some of the con-
glomerates were deposited on point bars in a
261
sinuous system.
The rarity of hyperconcentrated flood-flow
deposits in the western sector Casabianca For-
mation probably reflects the inability of a
minor river to dilute debris flows to hyper-
concentrated flood-flows in spite of the long
distances from the source area. Another
possibility is if the debris flows contained much
original clay it would have been difficult for
them to mix with water and be diluted to hyper-
concentrated flows.
E a s t e r n sector
The first depositional environment in the
eastern sector which is recorded on sections C:
Delgaditas and D: M a n z a n a r e s - M a r q u e t a l i a
(Fig. 2) was produced where some debris flows
and hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits were
diverted from the main channel and were
preserved in minor narrow affluent channels.
Due to the great amount of debris deposited
almost instantly, a relief inversion was produc-
ed. Today these deposits occupy topographic
heights with respect to the base level of the pre-
sent drainage net.
The Gms facies, massive matrix supported
gravel deposits are associated with crudely
stratified clast supported conglomerates, Gin(a)
facies (Fig. 4). Due to the narrowness and the
depth of the tributary channels it was impossi-
ble to develop floodplain facies. The Gms facies
represents the 70% of the total thickness of the
sequence in this section. Bed thicknesses range
from 3 to 15 m. The gravel proportion is about
75% with a m a x i m u m clast size of 0.80 m and
an average clast size of 0.4 m. The composition
is gray and pink andesites and they are fairly
weathered. The matrix is composed of 50% of
clay and coarse lapilli and andesitic fragments
of medium to coarse sand size. The beds of
Gin(a) facies range from 1.8 to 5 m. The max-
i m u m clast size is 1.2 m and the average clast
size is 0.25 m. The sandy matrix there is a 15%
of coarse lapilli. In M a r q u e t a l i a - M a n z a n a r e s
section was found t h a t the La facies overlies the
262 C,A. BORRERO P. AND ILL NARANJO It.

Lra facies (Table 1), its main characteristic is tuff deposits. The bed of Lr facies has a
the presence of bi-pyramidal quartz with thickness of 2.2 m. The weathering of these
broken borders produced by reworking of old reworked tufts is very similar to the Gms facies

Lr
•. ~i r;; ~5 .:~:~%,
Gms
Gm(a) Gins
Gins
Gm(a) %"~' <~
Gins ~ o.o
~ c>~,. . Gm s . ~ :i ::i ~i ii
Gm s
Greta) . ~ : a ~ ° . ~ °.-
Gins ~ Gms Gm (a)

~~-v[ T~"
DELGADITAS SECTION M ARQUETALI A - M.~NZANN~ES PALOCABILDO- FALAN
SECTION SECTI ON
La
Gms
Gm (a)
Gms : 0 . ~ © : , O :0 t,,a
k£O..~O;O,g..
G+ Gin(o) ~ " : ¢ ' " ~
Gms ms

Gms ~.:~.. o.'o,~2 Gms I;~:~J ~J

Gm (a)
Gp Gm(a) ~~'°'¢ . . . . "~"
Gins
GUALI - SECTION
-r-r- Vt--,T 1--~ ....

FRESNO- SECTION
Gm In)
Gms ~ Bs .......
Gm ( a ) ~
~Tuff Gms ~
Gms ~ ~ .
Rev~orked Tuff
Tr7 ~l !-]-r
Sandy
Conglornemte CASABLANCA- SECTION LAGUNILLAS - SECTION
Matrix - Support
Conglomerate/Breccia
Io~ Gms" Facies Tdentifier
Ignirnbrite o--Jii (Table 1 )
Upper Miocene to Lower
Pliocene Mesa Formation
Poleozoic Metamorphic Rocks
c'.s w'i ]l:"
SILT FINE
MEDIUM
CO~SE PE
LI

VERYFINE VERYCOARSE
Precambriom Amphibolites MUD SAND GRAVEL

Fig. 4. Stratigraphic columns of the Casabianca Formation measured in the eastern sector; facies identifiers are
located at the left side of the column.
CASABLANCA FORMATION: A COLOMBIAN EXAMPLE OF VOLCANISM-INDUCES AGGRADATION IN A FLUVIAL BASIN
weathering. Due to this fact, Lr facies could cor-
respond to a coeval event in the Casabianca
Formation.
The Fresno section (Fig. 4) represents an
alluvial fan with debris-flow lobes, a model
similar to the Manizales section in the western
sector. This fan was structurally controlled by
the Palestina F a u l t (Fig. 2) and it has a length
of 13 km. The fan is up to 60 m thick in its mid-
dle part and thins eastward. The characteristic
lithofacies assemblage is Gms, Gm(a) and, in
lesser proportion, Gt and Gp. The Gms facies
represents 80% of the total thickness of the se-
quence in this sector. Homogeneously
weathered beds range from 5 to 12 m thick. In-
dividual flows and individual pulses within the
flows observed in spite of the high weathering,
have non-erosive bases and are massive with
little clast imbrication. In associated con-
glomerates the m a x i m u m size is 0.70 m, the
average clast size is 0.15 m, and the average
roundness is 0.6. Beds consist of more t h a n 90%
clasts of a single lithology (dominantly
andesitic with basaltic-andesitic and dacitic
fragments). Only in the matrix is it possible to
distinguish the fragments of lapilli by their
white color, and a few volcanic fragments of
less t h a n 2 cm where the porphyritic texture
has been preserved. The rest of the matrix is a
red to yellowish red clay, which characterizes
the outcrops of the Casabianca Formation in
the field.
The Gm(a) facies represents 15% of the total
thickness of the sequence in this sector. The
thicknesses of massive and totally weathered
beds range from 3 to 10 m. The m a x i m u m clast
size is 0.50 m and the average clast size is 0.08
m. Their average roundness is 0.6. The com-
position of the clasts is dominantly andesitic,
with only 5% welded pyroclastic-flow and 1 - 2 %
metamorphic fragments. The sandy clay matrix
has up to 5% lapilli and 40% andesitic
fragments smaller t h a n 2 cm. Subordinate Gt
facies is recorded by a bed with a thickness of
1.2 m where the gravels show a slight cross-
stratification produced by deposition on
263
transverse bars. Gp facies is recorded by a
1.8-m-thick bed identified by the tabular cross-
bedding of the clasts with an average clast size
of 0.10 m.
Sections F, G, H and I in the eastern sector
were produced by lateral accretion in gravelly,
medium to high-sinuosity rivers. The geomor-
phology of these deposits was the main
characteristic for their identification because in
aerial photographs, these deposits can be easily
interpreted as remainders of lightly dissected
Guali, Azufrado and Lagunillas rivers "old ter-
races" (Fig. 2) produced by lateral and vertical
accretion throughout the drainage net especial-
ly in the main bends of the rivers following the
contours of the ancient channels. The level dif-
ferences with respect to the present base level
of the rivers never reach more t h a n 400 m.
These differences are the result of the uplift
t h a t affected the eastern sector of the Central
Cordillera during the last 4 Ma (Duefias and
Castro, 1981).
In the Section F, C a s a b i a n c a - V i l l a Hermosa,
the lithofacies assemblage is defined by Gins
and Gm(a) (Fig. 4). The Gms facies represents
60% of the total thickness of the sequence in
this sector. Bed thicknesses range from 5 to 20
m. The upper half of this section has similar
characteristic to the Gms facies in the Fresno
section; the matrix as well as the boulders of
the framework are totally weathered. In the
lower half of the sequence the andesitic
fragments are relatively fresh and only the 20%
of them have incipient onion weathering. In-
verse grading toward the top of the beds is
characteristic, and in the boundary of the beds
are found the largest clasts: 2.0 m, the average
clast size is 0.30 m. The average roundness for
the clasts smaller t h a n average size fragments
is 0.4, and the average roundness for the larger
fragments t h a n average size is 0.6 which would
indicate a difference of transport and/or source
for each of the different sizes. Beds consist of
more t h a n 95% clasts of andesitic composition
with gray, red and greenish gray colors. Only
5% of the clasts are plutonic and metamorphic
264
fragments. The matrix of the Gms facies is 50%
silty clay, and 5 - 1 5 % lapilli fragments; in im-
pregnated thin sections of the matrix it was
possible to distinguish up to 3~. of broken
crystal fragments especially plagioclase, and in
a minor proportion amphibole which cor-
roborate the explosive activity of the
R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic axis contemporaneous
with the deposition of the Casabianca Forma-
tion. The remaining percentage of the matrix
are < 2 cm andesitic fragments as is usual in
the sections described above.
The beds of Gm(a) facies in the C a s a b l a n c a -
Villa Hermosa section are 1.5 to 7 m thick, the
m a x i m u m clast size is 0.60 m, and the average
clast size is 0.20 m; the average roundness is
0.6. The sandy matrix is composed almost en-
tirely of andesitic fragments, and the propor-
tion of lapilli is less t h a n 5%. At the top of the
sequence (Fig. 4) was found a welded gray
lithic-vitric tuff (ignimbrite), 2 m thick, t h a t is
fairly weathered and interbedded with beds of
Gm(a). The La facies overlies all of the se-
quences in this sector, and can reach up to 4 m
thick; in this section it was possible to
distinguish two beds of tufts, the lower one by
its yellow color and the upper one by its
yellowish gray color, but the two beds have the
same andesitic composition.
In the section G, Palo C a b i l d o - F a l a n (Fig. 2),
the lithofacies assemblage is defined by Gm(a)
and Gms (Fig. 4). All of this sequence, both
matrix and boulders is totally weathered, and it
is overlies the Upper Miocene to Lower
Pliocene Mesa Formation (Due~as and Castro,
1981). The Gm(a) facies represents 60% of the
total thickness of the sequence in this section
(Fig. 4). The beds are 8 m thick, the m a x i m u m
clast size is 0.75 m, and the average clast size
is 0.15. The clast composition is 75% andesitic,
and 25% metamorphic fragments. In the com-
pletely clayey matrix it was possible to
distinguish the lapilli fragments only. The beds
of Gms facies are 5 - 8 m thick (Fig. 4), the max-
imum clast size is 0.24 m, and the average clast
size is 0.10 m, the average roundness is 0.6. The
C.A. BORRERO P. AND J . L NARAN,JO H
characteristics of the matrix are very similar to
the described in the C a s a b i a n c a - V i l l a Her-
mosa section.
In the section H, Lagunillas section ~Fig. 2),
the lithofacies assemblage is dominated by
Gms, Gp and Gt facies (Fig. 4). The Gms fhcies
represents 75% of the total thickness in all of"
the mesaured sections in this sector. The
massive beds of Gms facies range in thickness
from 2.5 to 7.2 m, the m a x i m u m measured clast
size is 0.8 m, the average clast size is 0.07 m
and the average roundness is 0.6. Beds consist
of 70% weathered andesitic and 30% metamor-
phic and plutonic fragments. In the red to
yellowish red clayey matrix it is possible to
distinguish the fragments of lapilli (about 5% of
the total matrix) by their white color.
The Gp facies in the Lagunillas section is
represented by a bed of 2 m thick, the gravels
show a slight cross-stratification evidenced by
the elongated weathered andesitic fragments
which have a m a x i m u m clast size of 0.30 m and
average clast size of 0.08 m. The clayey matrix
is red in color. The Gt facies in this section is
represented by a bed of 2.3 m thick, identified
by the low angle of the inclined stratification:
1 0 ° - 1 5 ° to the east which was developed in
lateral accretion surfaces.
In the section I, Guali (Fig. 2), the lithofhcies
assemblage is dominated by Gms and Gt (Fig.
4). The Gms facies represents 75% of the total
thickness in all of the mesaured sections in this
sector. The thickness of massive beds ranges
from 2.5 to 7.2 m, the m a x i m u m measured clast
size is 0.8 m, the average clast size is 0.07 m
and the average roundness is 0.6. Beds consist
of 70% weathered andesitic and 30% metamor-
phic and plutonic fragments which would in-
dicate t h a t the Guali section would represent
the first depositional events of the Casabianca
Formation. In the red to yellowish red clayey
matrix is possible to distinguish the fragments
of lapilli (about 5% of the total matrix) by their
white color. The Gt facies in this section is
represented by beds ranging from 0.8 to 1.5 m
in thickness, identified by the low angle of the
CASABLANCA FORMATION: A COLOMBIAN EXAMPLE OF VOLCANISM-INDUCES AGGRADATION IN A FLUVIAL BASIN
inclined stratification 1 0 ° - 2 0 ° to the east
which was developed in lateral accretion sur-
faces as in the Lagunillas section.
In spite of the present flat morphology of the
more eastern Casabianca Formation sections,
at the time of the deposition the morphology
was characterized by narrow incised channels
that did not permit the flood-plain facies
associations. Subsequent incision of tributary
streams following rapid aggradation by debris
flows and hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits
contributed large volumes of sediment to the
lower-gradient, east-flowing rivers where
deposition by stream-flow processes continued
until the sediment supply diminished. The
stream-flow deposits were not preserved. Vessel
and Davies (1981) discuss aggradation continu-
ing for 20 to 30 years following eruptions in
Volcan Fuego, Guatemala, where the tropical
climate should allow sediment stabilization by
rapid revegetation. In the semi-arid sections of
the eastern sector of Casabianca Formation,
the depositional episodes may have had the
same duration.
Conclusions
Copious volcanism in the Central Cordillera
is recorded in the upper part of the Miocene
Honda Group (Van Houten and Travis, 1968)
and the Upper M i o c e n e - L o w e r Miocene Mesa
Group of the Magdalena valley and Manizales
Formation (Naranjo and Borrero, 1988) in the
Cauca valley. Continuing the volcaniclastic
sedimentation, the Upper Pliocene to Pleis-
tocene Casabianca Formation was deposited on
both of the flanks of the Central Cordillera (Fig.
3). All of these deposits confirm Miocene to
Pliocene volcanic activity in the vicinity of the
R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic complex.
The Casabianca Formation illustrates
another example of volcanism-induced ag-
gradation in fluvial systems, the main cause of
sedimentation was the introduction of large
volumes of debris flows from the northernmost
part of the R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic complex, over
265
a 2.8-m.y. period according to Thouret et al.
(1985). Coarse sediment of this formation does
not exhibit important changes in texture and
composition that is closely related to massive
flow which is dominant in the debris flow
facies, and impeded the development of finer
facies.
The control of the pre-existing drainage net-
work was the key for the Casabianca Forma-
tion sediments distribution on both of the
flanks in the middle part of the Central Cor-
dillera (Fig. 2).
In spite of the difficulties in establishing
lateral continuity of the deposits because of the
high rate of weathering that affected the
deposits, the proposed depositional environ-
ments tend to show the facies relations for the
Casabianca Formation. Because the facies
assemblages found were similar for both
alluvial fan and valley depositional settings,
geomorphology was used to distinguish them.
The depositional environments of the Casa-
bianca Formation can be summarized as
follows: Sections A and E, Manizales and
Fresno (Fig. 2) correspond to alluvial fans with
debris flow lobes structurally controlled by
regional faults, E1 Perro and Palestina Faults
(Fig. 2); the deposits are characterized by the
constant mean grain size as result of their
deposition en masse. Section B, Arauca (Fig. 2)
corresponds to valley fill deposits produced
when the main channel slope diminished. The
deposits of Sections C and D, Delgaditas and
M a n z a n a r e s - M a r q u e t a l i a (Fig. 2) are the
result of the diversion of debris flows and
hyperconcentrated flood-flow deposits from the
main channel and were preserved in minor nar-
row affluent channels; this phenomenon suc-
ceeded only in the middle part of the drainage
network of the eastern sector due to the great
length of these channels with respect to the
western sector channels. Deposits of the Sec-
tions F, G, H and I, C a s a b i a n c a - V i l l a Her-
mosa, Palo C a b i l d o - F a l a n , Lagunillas and
GuaH (Fig. 2) were produced by lateral accre-
tion in gravelly medium- to high-sinuosity
266
rivers; these sections contain more basement-
derived clasts because they were deposited far-
ther from the volcanoes, in valleys entrenched
into the igneous-metamorphic basement, and
also they present the minor extension with
respect to the other sections.
The composition of volcanic boulders and
gravels of the Casablanca Formation are
almost always monolithologic, and andesitic in
composition m a r k i n g a distinct eruptive
episode of the northern R u i z - T o l i m a volcanic
complex. The pre-Casabianca deposits (e.g. the
Honda Group, the Mesa Formation and the
Manizales Formation) are dominantly
pumiceous.
Taking into account the flora found in the
Mesa Formation by Duefias and Castro (1981)
at the east sector in the C a s a b i a n c a - P a l o
Cabildo section, there was a uplift of an approx-
imately 400 m t h a t affected the Central Cor-
dillera since the Upper Miocene to Present, in-
dicated by the relief inversion and the
straightness of the main channels where was
the Casablanca Formation was deposited and
preserved.
The delineation in this paper of the areas af-
fected by the Upper Pliocene and Pleistocene
activity of the northernmost R u i z - T o l i m a
volcanic chain have shown the continuity in the
time of the volcanic hazards on the same areas.
The recent activity of the Volc~n Nevado del
Ruiz confirmed t h a t the main risk for this area
were the debris flows which followed the same
drainage network exposed for the Casablanca
Formation.
Acknowledgements
The Casablanca Formation field work was
supported by the Center of Investigations of
Caldas University, Manizales, Caldas, Colom-
bia, D.J. Klooster read the manuscript and pro-
vided m a n y useful comments. S.N. Williams of
Louisiana State University encouraged us to
write this paper. G.A. Smith of the University
of New Mexico and W.J. Fritz of Georgia State
University greatly improved this paper.
C.A. BORRERO P. AND J,L. NARANJO t t
References
Davies, D.K., Vessel, R.K., Miles, R.C., Foley, M.G.
and Bonis, S.B., 1978. Fluvial transport and
downstream sediment modification in active
volcanic region. In: A.D. Miall (Editor), Fluvial
Sedimentology. Can. Soc. Pet. Geol., Mem., 5:
61-83.
Duefias, J. and Castro, G., 1981. Associacion
Palinol6gica de la Foramcion Mesa en la region
de Falan, Tolima, Colombia (in Spanish with
English abstract). Geol. Norandina, 3: 27-36.
Fritz, W.J. and Harrison, S., 1985. Early Tertiary
volcaniclastic deposits of the northern Rocky
Mountains. In: R.M. Flores and S.S. Kaplan
(Editors), Cenozoic Paleogeography of West~
central United States, Rocky Mountain section,
Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., pp. 383-402.
Hall, M.L. and Wood, C.A., 1985. Volcano-tectonic
segmentation of the northern Andes. Geology,
13(3): 203-207.
Hampton, M.A., 1979. Buoyancy in debris flows. J
Sediment. Petrol., 49: 953-958.
Harrison, S. and Fritz, W.J., 1982. Depositional
features of March 1982 Mount St Helens sedi-
ment flows. Nature, 299: 720-722.
Herd, D.G., 1974. Glacial and volcanic geology of the
Ruiz-Tolima volcanic complex. Cordillera Cen
tral, Colombia. Ph. D. dissertation, Univ. of
Washington, Seattle, 78 pp. (unpubl.).
Lowe, D.R., 1979. Sediment gravity flows: their
classification and some problems of application to
natural flows and deposits. In: L.J. Doyle and
O.H. Pilkey Jr. (Editors), Soc. Econ. Paleontol.
Mineral., Spec. Publ., 27: 75-82.
Lowe, D.R., Williams, S.N., Leigh, H.H., Connor,
C.B., Gemmel, J.B. and Stoiber, R.E., 1986.
Lahars initiated by the November 13, 1985 erup-
tion of Nevado del Ruiz, Colombia. Nature, 324:
51-53.
Miall, A.D., 1977. A review of the braided river
depositional environment. Earth-Sci. Rev., 13:
1-62.
Miall, A.D., 1978. Lithofacies types and vertical pro-
file models in braided river deposits: a summary,
in Miall, A.D. (Editor), Fluvial sedimentology.
Can. Soc. Pet. Geol. Mem., 5: 597-604.
Miall, A.D., 1985. Architectural-element analysis: a
new method of facies analysis applied to fluvial
deposits. Earth-Sci. Rev., 22: 261-308.
Naranjo, J.L. and Borrero, C.A., in prep. The
Manizales Formation: First record of
volcaniclastic sedimentation in the middle
western flank of the Cordillera Central, Colom-
bia.
Nielsen, T.H., 1982. Alluvial fan deposits. In: P.A.
CASABIANCA FORMATION: A COLOMBIAN EXAMPLE OF VOLCANISMIINDUCES AGGRADATION IN A FLUVIAL BASIN
Scholle and D. Spearing (Editors), Sandstone
Depositional Environment. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol.,
Mem., 31: 49-86.
Pierson, T.C. and Scott, K.M., 1985. Downstream
dilution of a lahar: transition from debris flow to
hyperconcentrated stream flow. Water Resources
Res., 21: 1511-1524.
Rust, B.R., 1978. Depositional models for braided
alluvium. In: A.D. Miall (Editor), Fluvial
Sedimentology. Can. Soc. Pet. Geol., Mem., 5:
605 -625.
Rust, B.R. and Koster E.H., 1984. Coarse alluvial
deposits. In: R,G. Walker (Editor), Facies Models.
Geol. Assoc. Can., Repr. Ser., 1: 53-70.
Smith, G.A., 1986. Coarse-grained non-marine
volcaniclastic sediment: terminology and deposi-
tional processes. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 97: 1-10.
Smith, G.A., 1987. The influence of explosive
267
volcanism on fluvial sedimentation: the Deschutes
Formation (Neogene) in Central Oregon. J. Sedi-
ment. Petrol., 57(4): 613-629.
Thouret, J.C., Vatin-P~rignon, N., Cantagrel, J.M.,
Salinas, E.R. and Murcia, L.A., 1985. Le Nevado
du Ruiz (cordill~re Centrale des Andes de Colom-
bie): stratigraphie, structures et dynamisme du
appareil volcanique, and~sitique, compos~ et
polyg~nique (in French, with English abstract).
Rev. G~ol. Dyn. G~ogr. Phys., Paris, 26(5):
257-271.
Van Houten, F.B. and Travis, R.B., 1968. Cenozoic
deposits, upper Magdalena valley, Colombia. Am.
Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull., 52: 675-702.
Vessel, R.K., and Davies, D.K., 1981. Non-marine
sedimentation in an active fore arc basin. Soc.
Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., Spec. Publ., 31: 31-45.