3D electrical conductivity imaging of Halema‘uma‘u lava lake (Kīlauea volcano)

Abstract

Before the 2018 collapse of the summit of Kīlauea volcano, a ca. 200 m in diameter lava lake inside of Halema‘uma‘u crater was embedded in a very active hydrothermal system. In 2015, we carried out an electrical conductivity survey and the data were inverted in 3D. The lack of conductivity contrast precludes distinguishing the lava column from the surrounding hydrothermal zones. Laboratory measurements on samples from the lava lake show that the conductivity of magma is significantly lower than that of hydrothermal zones but the high vesicularity of the upper part of the lava lake may decrease its macroscopic conductivity. Based on the 3D conductivity model, we distinguish at least two types of hydrothermal circulations: 1) one guided by the collapse faults of Halema‘uma‘u crater and by the magmatic column of the lava lake, and 2) another guided by previous caldera faults and fractures related to intrusions. We observe that the location of the faults formed during the 2018 collapse of the summit was greatly influenced by the hydrothermally altered zones.