Lava Bubble-wall Fragments Formed by Submarine Hydrovolcanic Explosions on Lō'ihi Seamount and Kīlauea Volcano

David A. Clague, Alice S. Davis, James L. Bischoff, Jacqueline E. Dixon, Renee Geyer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<p> Glassy bubble-wall fragments, morphologically similar to littoral limu o Pele, have been found in volcanic sands erupted on L&omacr;'ihi Seamount and along the submarine east rift zone of K&imacr;lauea Volcano. The limu o Pele fragments are undegassed with respect to H <sub> 2 </sub> O and S and formed by mild steam explosions. Angular glass sand fragments apparently form at similar, and greater, depths by cooling-contraction granulation. The limu o Pele fragments from L&omacr;'ihi Seamount are dominantly tholeiitic basalt containing 6.25&ndash;7.25% MgO. None of the limu o Pele samples from L&omacr;'ihi Seamount contains less than 5.57% MgO, suggesting that higher viscosity magmas do not form lava bubbles. The dissolved CO <sub> 2 </sub> and H <sub> 2 </sub> O contents of 7 of the limu o Pele fragments indicate eruption at 1200&plusmn;300&thinsp;m depth (120&plusmn;30&thinsp;bar). These pressures exceed that generally thought to limit steam explosions. We conclude that hydrovolcanic eruptions are possible, with appropriate pre-mixing conditions, at pressures as great as 120&thinsp;bar.</p>
Original languageAmerican English
JournalBulletin of Volcanology
Volume61
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2000
Externally publishedYes

Disciplines

  • Life Sciences

Cite this