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

doi:10.1007/PL00008910

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 journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

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 2 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 6.25–7.25% 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 2 and H 2 O contents of 7 of the limu o Pele fragments indicate eruption at 1200±300 m depth (120±30 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 bar.

Original language	American English
Journal	Bulletin of Volcanology
Volume	61
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00008910
State	Published - Jan 1 2000
Externally published	Yes

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@article{698178461e2d435ab59ac9481f0e0f06,

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

abstract = " 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 2 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\–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 2 and H 2 O contents of 7 of the limu o Pele fragments indicate eruption at 1200\±300\ m depth (120\±30\ 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\ bar.",

author = "Clague, \{David A.\} and Davis, \{Alice S.\} and Bischoff, \{James L.\} and Dixon, \{Jacqueline E.\} and Renee Geyer",

year = "2000",

month = jan,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1007/PL00008910",

language = "American English",

volume = "61",

journal = "Bulletin of Volcanology",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Lava Bubble-wall Fragments Formed by Submarine Hydrovolcanic Explosions on Lō'ihi Seamount and Kīlauea Volcano

AU - Clague, David A.

AU - Davis, Alice S.

AU - Bischoff, James L.

AU - Dixon, Jacqueline E.

AU - Geyer, Renee

PY - 2000/1/1

Y1 - 2000/1/1

N2 - 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 2 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 6.25–7.25% 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 2 and H 2 O contents of 7 of the limu o Pele fragments indicate eruption at 1200±300 m depth (120±30 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 bar.

AB - 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 2 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 6.25–7.25% 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 2 and H 2 O contents of 7 of the limu o Pele fragments indicate eruption at 1200±300 m depth (120±30 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 bar.

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UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/PL00008910

U2 - 10.1007/PL00008910

DO - 10.1007/PL00008910

M3 - Article

VL - 61

JO - Bulletin of Volcanology

JF - Bulletin of Volcanology

ER -

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

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