Evolution of Hawaiian basalts: a hotspot melting model

Abstract

Melt generation and extraction along the Hawaiian volcanic chain should be largely controlled by the thermal structure of the Hawaiian swell and the heat source underneath it. We simulate numerically the time- and space-dependent evolution of Hawaiian volcanism in the framework of thermal evolution of the Hawaiian swell, constrained by residual topography, geoid anomalies, and anomalous heat flow along the Hawaiian volcanic chain. The transient heat transfer problem with melting relationships and variable boundary conditions is solved in cylindrical coordinates using a finite difference method. The model requires the lithosphere to be thinned mechanically by mantle plume flow. Melting starts quickly near the base of the plate when the hotspot is encountered. Thermal perturbation and partial melting are largely concentrated in the region where the original lithosphere is thinned and replaced by the mantle flow. The pre-shield Loihi alkalic and tholeiitic basalts are from similar sources, which are a mixture of at least three mantle components: the mantle plume, asthenosphere, and the lower lithosphere. The degree of partial melting averages 10–20%, with a peak value of 30% near the plume center. As a result of continuous compaction, melts are extracted from an active partial melting zone of about 10–20 km thickness, which moves upwards and laterally as the heating and compaction proceed. The rate of melt extraction from the swell increases rapidly to a maximum value of ∼ 1 × 10 5 km 3/m.y. over the center of the heat source, corresponding to eruption of large amounts of tholeiitic lavas during the shield-building stage. This volume rate is adequate to account for the observed thickness of the Hawaiian volcanic ridge. Melts from direct partial melting of the mantle plume at depth may be important or even dominant at this stage, although the amount is uncertain. At the waning stage, mixing of melts from the mantle flow pattern with those from low-degree partial melting of the lithosphere may produce postshield alkalic basalts. After the plate moves off the heat source, continuous conductive heating can cause very low degree partial melting (less than 1%) of the lithosphere at shallow depths for about one million years. This process may be responsible for producing post-erosional alkalic basalts. The extraction time for removing such small amount of melts is about 0.4–2 m.y., similar to the time gap between the eruption of post-erosional alkalic lavas and the shield-building stage. Our results show that multi-stage Hawaiian volcanism and the general geochemical characteristics of Hawaiian basalts can be explained by a model of plume-plate interaction.