Geologic history and evolution of geologic concepts, Island of Hawaii

Author:

Peterson, Donald W., Moore, R. B.

Title:

Geologic history and evolution of geologic concepts, Island of Hawaii

Periodical:

Volcanism in Hawaii

Year:

1987

Pages:

p. 149-189

Subject:

Geologic history Hawaii Island Volcanic eruptions Morphology

Summary:

The Island of Hawaii consists of five Quaternary shield volcanoes: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea, in order of latest activity. Loihi Seamount, an active volcano 25-30 km south of the island, may eventually grow to merge with the Island of Hawaii. Early Polynesian settlers on Hawaii kept no written records, and the visits of the earliest European explorers were too brief to contribute much information about the volcanoes. Systematic observations of Hawaiian volcanic activity began in the 1820's, and records by missionaries, explorers, botanists, and geologists described the general characteristics of Hawaiian eruptions and the morphology of the volcanoes. During the 19th century, the geologists J.D. Dana and C.E. Dutton developed basic concepts of Hawaiian volcanic processes that differed considerably from ideas then commonly held about volcanism. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, founded in 1912 under the direction of T.A. Jaggar, launched a program of continuous, systematic surveillance of Kilauea and Mauna Loa Volcanoes, which has continued until the present time. During the first half of the 20th century, understanding of the geologic history of the island advanced by means of frequent observations of eruptions, recognition and study of contrasting rock types, and comprehensive reconnaissance mapping that charted the distribution of rock types and the structure of the volcanoes. More recently, additional understanding has been achieved through geophysical studies, offshore submarine investigations, numerical dating of rocks, advances in petrology and geochemistry, continuous surveillance and monitoring of eruptions, and more detailed geologic mapping. These continuing advances have permitted earlier concepts on the evolution of Hawaiian volcanoes to be gradually modified, and the order of events, as currently understood, is detailed in this paper.

URL:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1987/1350/

Collection:

Monographs