Xavier de Bolós

Xavier (or by nickname Xavi) is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawaiʻi, Honolulu, HI, United States.

Our current knowledge on the age and formation of maars in the Central Highlands Vietnam is quite limited, especially Bien Ho maar in Pleiku city. Based on an article we assumed that the age of Bien Ho maar lake is at least 200 ka. at which the last eruption phase had occurred in the area. It is not easy to determine the age of a maar if we don’t have access to a very deep drill core that has recovered the basal volcanic rock in the center of the maar, below the lacustrine sediment. The volcanic rocks from outcrops along the rim of the Bien Ho maar can possibly also partially derive from later volcanic activity in the area that was unrelated to Bien Ho.

Xavi and the EOS team member at VNU campus, (February 2020)

Xavi is immensely interested in our maar project and was able to join the EOS team for fieldwork in Vietnam in February 2020 before Covid-19 essentially made international travel impossible. Xavi is very kind, honest, knowledgeable, and very enthusiastic. He knows a lot about maars, dating volcanic rocks, and how to identify tephra in sediment. Xavi will help our project and assist in understanding the volcanological basics of Bien Ho, also the hydrology which is very important for Pleiku.

Xavi and the EOS team member at Bien Ho, (February 2020)

After our amazing field trip to Bien Ho in March 2020, Xavi realized the high potential to prepare a specific project about its volcanism. Xavi indicated the possibility of a small submarine (eroded?) scoria cone at the west coast of Bien Ho. One sample collected at the small peninsula of the west coast is being dated with the Ar-Ar technique. The volcanic-stratigraphy of this part seems to be related to the maar formation as a final stage. Thus, with this absolute age, we will have the age of Bien Ho. The next step will be to characterize the composition of Bien Ho with a bulk rock analysis, major oxide, and trace elements of three samples. We now see much potential for future publications about the diatreme structure and evolution of Bien Ho maar and for a long-term collaboration as well.

Curriculum Vitae

Academic training

  1. PhD. in Earth Sciences with the highest distinction (Cum Laude) and Honors. University of Barcelona, 2014
  2. MSc. in Geological Hazards with Honors. Faculty of Geology, University of Barcelona, 2011
  3. BSc. in Geology. Faculty of Science, Autonomous University of Barcelona, 2010.

International peer-reviewed publications

  1. Bolós, X., Delgado‐Torres, A., Cifuentes, G., Macías, J. L., Boijseauneau‐López, M., Tinoco, C., Salguero, D. 2020. Internal structure and hydrothermal fluid circulation of Parícutin volcano, Mexico: Insights gained from near‐surface geophysics. Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2020GL089270. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089270
  2. Bolós, X., Cifuentes, G., Macías, J. L., Sosa‐Ceballos, G., Garcia‐Tenorio, F., Albor, M. 2019. Geophysical imaging of fluid circulations and its relation with the structural system of Cerritos Colorados geothermal field, La Primavera caldera (Mexico). Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 369, 238–249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2018.11.015
  3. Martí, J., Planagumà, L., Geyer, A., Aguirre-Díaz, G., Pedrazzi, D., Bolós, X., 2017. Basaltic ignimbrites in monogenetic volcanism: the example of La Garrotxa volcanic field. Bulletin of Volcanology 79, 33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-017-1113-0.
  4. Pedrazzi, D., Bolós, X., Barde-Cabusson, S., Martí, J. 2016. Reconstructing the eruptive history of a monogenetic volcano through a combination of fieldwork and geophysical surveys: the example of Puig d’Adri (Garrotxa Volcanic Field). Journal of the Geological Society 173 (6):875–888. http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/jgs2016-009
  5. Oms, O., Bolós, X., Barde-Cabusson, S., Martí, J., Casas, A., Lovera, R., Himi, M., Gómez de Soler, B., Campeny Vall-Llosera, G., Pedrazzi, D., Agustí, J. 2015. Structure of the Pliocene Camp dels Ninots maar-diatreme (Catalan Volcanic Zone, NE Spain). Bulletin of Volcanology 77, 98. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-015-0982-3
  6. Bartolini, B., Bolós, X., Martí, J., Riera, E., Planagumà, Ll. 2015. Hazard assessment at the Quaternary La Garrotxa Volcanic Field (NE Iberia). Natural Hazards (NHAZ) 78, 1349–1367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-015-1774-y
  7. Bolós, X., Martí, J., Becerril, L., Grosse, P., Planagumà, Ll., Barde-Cabusson, S. 2015. Volcano-structural analysis of La Garrotxa Volcanic Field (NE Iberia): implications for the plumbing system. Tectonophysics 642, 58–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2014.12.013
  8. Bolós, X., Planagumà, Ll., Martí, J. 2014. Volcanic stratigraphy of the Quaternary La Garrotxa Volcanic Field (NE Iberian Peninsula). Journal of Quaternary Science 29, 547–560. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.2725
  9. Bolós, X., Barde-Cabusson, S., Pedrazzi, D., Martí, J., Casas, A., Lovera, R., Nadal-Sala, D. 2014. Geophysical exploration on the subsurface geology of La Garrotxa monogenetic volcanic field (NE Iberian Peninsula). International Journal of Earth Sciences 103, 2255–2269. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-014-1044-3
  10. Pedrazzi, D., Bolós, X., Martí, J., 2014. Phreatomagmatic volcanism in complex hydrogeological environments: La Crosa de Sant Dalmai maar (Catalan Volcanic Zone, NE Spain). Geosphere 10 (1): 170–184. https://doi.org/10.1130/GES00959.1
  11. Barde-Cabusson, S., Gottsmann, J., Martí, J., Bolós, X., Camacho, A.G., Geyer, A., Planagumà, Ll., Ronchin, E.,Sánchez, A., 2014. Structural control of monogenetic volcanism in the Garrotxa volcanic field (Northeastern Spain) from gravity and self-potential measurements. Bulletin of Volcanology 76, 788. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-013-0788-0
  12. Barde-Cabusson, S., Bolós, X., Pedrazzi, D., Lovera, R., Serra, G., Martí, J., Casas, A. 2013. Electrical resistivity tomography revealing the internal structure of monogenetic volcanoes. Geophysical Research Letters 40(11), 2544–2549. https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50538
  13. Martí, J., Castro, A., Rodríguez, C., Costa, F., Carrasquilla, S., Pedreira, R., Bolós, X. 2013. Correlation of magma evolution and geophysical monitoring at the 2011-2012 El Hierro (Canary Islands) submarine eruption. Journal of Petrology 54(7), 1349–1373. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egt014
  14. Bolós, X., Barde-Cabusson, S., Pedrazzi, D., Martí, J., Casas, A., Himi, M., Lovera, R. 2012. Investigation of the inner structure of La Crosa de Sant Dalmai maar. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 247–248, 37–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2012.08.003

Books, Chapters, Audiovisual products, Dissertations and Theses

  • Co-director, co-producer, and scriptwriter of the Documentary “Parícutin. On the Other Side”, 2019. An oral compilation of the indigenous-communities history that suffered the eruption of Parícutin, presented with the scientific chronicle, intertwining geology and society. Co-produced by IGUM and LANMO of UNAM. https://vimeo.com/407808955
  • Chapter: Martí, J., & Bolós, X. 2019. The Neogene-Quaternary alkaline volcanism of Iberia, in Quesada, C. and Oliveira, J. T. (eds) ” The Geology of Iberia: A Geodynamic Approach”, Volume 4: Cenozoic Basins, Springer. Regional Geology Reviews, 167–182. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-11190-8_6
  • Field Guide: Xavier Bolós, Joan Martí, Oriol Oms, Gerard Campeny and Bruno Gomez. 2018. Monogenetic volcanism of the Catalan Volcanic Zone: Maar craters, scoria cones and rootless volcanoes of the Garrotxa volcanic field, and open fossil excavation in a Pliocene maar crater. Pre-Conference Field Trip, 7th International Maar Conference. ISBN: 978-84-09-01628-0
  • Field Guide: Joan Martí, Xavier Bolós, Llorenç Planagumà. 2018. Natural Park of La Garrotxa volcanic field: magmatic vs phreatomagmatic activity. The role of the basement to control the eruptive dynamics. Intra-Conference Field Trip, 7th International Maar Conference. ISBN: 978-84-09-01629-7
  • Chapter: Martí J, Bolós X, Planagumà Ll. (2017) Geological Setting of La Garrotxa Volcanic Field. In: La Garrotxa Volcanic Field of Northeast Spain: Case Study of Sustainable Volcanic Landscape Management. Edited by J. Martí and Ll. Planagumà. Springer International Publishing. p. 27-43. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42080-6_2
  • Chapter: Martí, J., Planagumà,. Ll., Bolós, X. (2017) Geosites and Geoitineraries. In: La Garrotxa Volcanic Field of Northeast Spain: Case Study of Sustainable Volcanic Landscape Management. Edited by J. Martí and Ll. Planagumà. Springer International Publishing. p. 69-83. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-42080-6_5
  • Outreach book: Llorenç Planagumà, Xavier Bolós and Ona Corominas, 2015. The Rootless volcanoes of La Garrotxa Natural Volcanic Park.
  • PhD: Xavier Bolós, 2014. Geological and structural controls on La Garrotxa monogenetic Volcanic Field (NE Iberia). University of Barcelona. http://hdl.handle.net/2445/61124
  • MSc: Xavier Bolós, 2011. Combination of geophysical methods to characterize the internal structure and the infill of the La Crosa Sant Dalmai volcano (NE Iberian Peninsula). University of Barcelona and Autonomous Universtity of Barcelona.
  • BS: Xavier Bolós, 2009. Characterization of the Montsacopa volcano and its surroudings. Autonomous University of Barcelona.
  • City of Olot Awards: Xavier Bolós, 2013. Structural controls of the volcanic activity of La Garrotxa from geophysical data. http://goo.gl/OGJVN6

Geosciences are improving the lives of people in Vietnam