Hydrothermal origin of the clays from the upper slopes of Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Author:

Ugolini, F.C.

Title:

Hydrothermal origin of the clays from the upper slopes of Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Periodical:

Clay and Clay Minerals

Year:

1974

Volume:

22

Pages:

189-194

Subject:

Mauna Kea volcano Mineralogy Soil formation

Summary:

The soils found within the summit region of Mauna Kea are analogous to the soils of the high mountain deserts and similar to the soils of the cold deserts of the polar regions of the world. However, dramatic differences exist between the soils of the summit region of Mauna Kea and those of other neighboring cones and glaciated terrain. This is because the soils of some of the cones of the summit area of Mauna Kea are clay rich and contain phyllosilicate minerals while the soils of the glaciated terrain are sandy and contain X-ray amorphous clay. Montmorillonite and a Mg-rich trioctahedral mineral, that are identified as saponite, are the clay minerals of the summit. Since the summit area of Mauna Kea supported an ice cap at the time of the formation of the cones, it is felt that the origin of the smectite minerals could have resulted from the alteration of the tephra by steam and water that was released in the melting of the ice. However, hypogene fluids are more likely to be responsible for the genesis of the phyllosilicate minerals.

URL:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1346/CCMN.1974.0220207

Date:

1974

Collection:

Periodicals