The Development of Mont Pelee

The magmas of Mont Pelee are generally calc-alkaline basalts, andesites, and dacites. They are derived from an isotopically homogeneous source and show isotopic ratios which vary from the typical mantle array to that of Atlantic ocean sediments. This has led to the belief that the erupted magmas have been contaminated by subducted terrigenous sediments in the mantle source region.

Mont Pelee has been active for about 0.4 Ma and the evolution of the volcano has three phases:

Stage 1: paleo-Pelee, 0.4-0.2 Ma

Stage 2: intermediate cone, 100 000-19 500 years

Stage 3: modern cone, 13 500 years to present