Island Edifice Research Articles

Geomorphometric descriptions of archipelagic aprons off the southern flanks of French Frigate Shoals and Necker Island edifices, Northwest Hawaiian Ridge

AbstractThis study describes the geomorphometries of archipelagic aprons on the southern flanks of the French Frigate Shoals and Necker Island edifices on the central Northwest Hawaiian Ridge that are hotspot volcanoes that have been dormant for 10–11 m.y. The archipelagic aprons are related to erosional headwall scarps and gullies on landslide surfaces but also include downslope gravitational features that include slides, debris avalanches, bedform fields, and outrunners. Some outrunners are located 85 km out onto the deep seafloor in water depths of 4900 m. The bedforms are interpreted to be the result of slow downslope sediment creep rather than products of turbidity currents. The archipelagic aprons appear to differ in origin from those off the Hawaiian Islands. The landslides off the Hawaiian Islands occurred because of oversteepening and loading during the constructive phase of the islands whereas the landslides off the French Frigate Shoals and Necker Island edifices may have resulted from vertical tectonics due to the uplift and relaxation of a peripheral bulge or isolated earthquakes long after the edifices passed beyond the hotspot. The lack of pelagic drape in water depths above the 4600 m depth of the local carbonate compensation depth suggests that the archipelagic apron off the French Frigate Shoals edifice is much younger, perhaps Quaternary in age, than that off the Necker Island edifice, which has a 50 m pelagic drape. The pelagic drape off the Necker Island edifice suggests that the landslides may be as old as 9 Ma. The lack of pelagic drape off the French Frigate Shoals edifice suggests that the most recent landslides are more recent, perhaps even Quaternary in age. The presence of a chute-like feature on the mid-flank of the French Frigate Shoals edifice appears to be the result of rejuvenated volcanism that occurred long after the initial volcanism ceased to build the edifice.

Imprints of volcanic, erosional, depositional, tectonic and mass-wasting processes in the morphology of Santa Maria insular shelf (Azores)

The present-day morphology of volcanic island shelves is the result of several factors, namely the original shape and structure of the volcanic edifice, the nature and age of the materials that compose its flanks, and the erosional, volcanic, tectonic and sedimentary processes that acted to form these shelves. By combining detailed seafloor mapping with onshore studies it is possible to gain a unique insight onto the evolution of volcanic island edifices and the processes that helped to shape their shelves. Here we look at Santa Maria Island in the Azores Archipelago, which is a 6 Ma old ocean-island volcano surrounded by a 135 km2 shelf, characterized by an history of subsidence since its formation c. 6 Ma ago, followed by uplift from 3.5 Ma onwards. By analyzing the geomorphic parameters of the insular shelf (such as the shelf width and the erosive edge depth), the island's history of vertical movements, and by relating the morphology of the outcrops found on the shelf with those onshore, we contribute to a better knowledge of the evolutionary history of Santa Maria with particular focus on its earlier stages of growth. We infer that the outer part of the northern shelf is carved on units older than the oldest volcanic sequences exposed on land; the western and southern shelves are almost entirely carved in the products of the oldest shield volcano (Anjos Volcanic Complex), whilst the eastern shelf is the youngest in formation, being related to units of the Pico Alto volcanic complex. We also discuss the distribution of sediments on the shelf. High wave energy concomitant with sea level drops contributed to the erosion and transport of older sequences offshore, which were ultimately lost to the slopes of the island, resulting in a shelf that is sediment-stripped for the most part. Presently, wide shelves further contribute to wave-energy dissipation, resulting in a significantly diminished sediment production. The shelf edges around Santa Maria exhibit several erosive scars, interpreted as the head of a submarine drainage network carved on the slopes of the island. On the western, southern and eastern shelves, these mass-wasting features are mostly controlled by tectonics since the extension of faults can be followed from onshore to the shelf edge. On the northern shelf mass-wasting appears to be mostly correlated with presence of unstable sediments on the shelf edge that triggered landsliding. Overall, this work shows how detailed mapping of the shelves surrounding old volcanic islands can still provide important complementary information about the evolution of these islands, which could not be acquired solely by the study of their subaerial and deeper submarine parts.

Investigating collapse structures in oceanic islands using magnetotelluric surveys: The case of Fogo Island in Cape Verde

One of the most remarkable natural events on Earth are the large lateral flank collapses of oceanic volcanoes, involving volumes of rock exceeding tens of km3. These collapses are relatively frequent in recent geological times as supported by evidence found in the geomorphology of volcanic island edifices and associated debris flows deposited on the proximal ocean floor. The Island of Fogo in the Cape Verde archipelago is one of the most active and prominent oceanic volcanoes on Earth. The island has an average diameter of 25 km and reaches a maximum elevation of 2829 m above sea level (m a.s.l.) at Pico do Fogo, a young stratovolcano located within a summit depression open eastward due to a large lateral flank collapse. The sudden collapse of the eastern flank of Fogo Island produced a megatsunami ~73 ky ago. The limits of the flank collapse were deduced as well from geomorphologic markers within the island. The headwall of the collapse scar is interpreted as either being located beneath the post-collapse volcanic infill of the summit depression or located further west, corresponding to the Bordeira wall that partially surrounds it. The magnetotelluric (MT) method provides a depth distribution of the ground resistivity obtained by the simultaneous measurement of the natural variations of the electric and magnetic field of the Earth. Two N-S magnetotelluric profiles were acquired across the collapsed area to determine its geometry and boundaries. The acquired MT data allowed the determination of the limits of the collapsed area more accurately as well as its morphology at depth and thickness of the post-collapse infill. According to the newly obtained MT data and the bathymetry of the eastern submarine flank of Fogo, the volume involved in the flank collapse is estimated in ~110 km3. This volume –the first calculated onshore– stands between the previously published more conservative and excessive calculations –offshore– that were exclusively based in geomorphic evidence. The model for the summit depression proposing two caldera collapses preceding the collapse of the eastern flank of Fogo is supported by the MT data.

The emergence of volcanic oceanic islands on a slow‐moving plate: The example of Madeira Island, NE Atlantic

AbstractThe transition from seamount to oceanic island typically involves surtseyan volcanism. However, the geological record at many islands in the NE Atlantic—all located within the slow‐moving Nubian plate—does not exhibit evidence for an emergent surtseyan phase but rather an erosive unconformity between the submarine basement and the overlying subaerial shield sequences. This suggests that the transition between seamount and island may frequently occur by a relative fall of sea level through uplift, eustatic changes, or a combination of both, and may not involve summit volcanism. In this study, we explore the consequences for island evolutionary models using Madeira Island (Portugal) as a case study. We have examined the geologic record at Madeira using a combination of detailed fieldwork, biostratigraphy, and geochronology in order to document the mode, timing, and duration of edifice emergence above sea level. Our study confirms that Madeira's subaerial shield volcano was built upon the eroded remains of an uplifted seamount, with shallow marine sediments found between the two eruptive sequences and presently located at 320–430 m above sea level. This study reveals that Madeira emerged around 7.0–5.6 Ma essentially through an uplift process and before volcanic activity resumed to form the subaerial shield volcano. Basal intrusions are a likely uplift mechanism, and their emplacement is possibly enhanced by the slow motion of the Nubian plate relative to the source of partial melting. Alternating uplift and subsidence episodes suggest that island edifice growth may be governed by competing dominantly volcanic and dominantly intrusive processes.

Depositional processes on oceanic island shelves – Evidence from storm‐generated Neogene deposits from the mid‐North Atlantic

AbstractOceanic islands – such as the Azores in the mid‐North Atlantic – are periodically exposed to large storms that often remobilize and transport marine sediments along coastlines, and into deeper environments. Such disruptive events create deposits – denominated tempestites – whose characteristics reflect the highly dynamic environment in which they were formed. Tempestites from oceanic islands, however, are seldom described in the literature and little is known about storm‐related sediment dynamics affecting oceanic island shelves. Therefore, the geological record of tempestite deposits at oceanic islands can provide invaluable information on the processes of sediment remobilization, transport and deposition taking place on insular shelves during and after major storms. In Santa Maria Island (Azores), a sequence of Neogene tempestite deposits was incorporated in the island edifice by the ongoing volcanic activity (thus preserved) and later exposed through uplift and erosion. Because it was overlain by a contemporary coastal lava delta, the water depth at the time of deposition could be inferred, constituting an excellent case‐study to gain insight on the still enigmatic processes of insular shelf deposition. Sedimentological, palaeontological, petrographic and palaeo‐water depth information allowed the reconstruction of the depositional environment of these sediments. The sequence typifies the characteristics of a tempestite (or successive tempestites) formed at ca 50 m depth, in a steep, energetic open insular shelf, and with evidence for massive sediment remobilization from the nearshore to the middle or outer shelf. The authors claim that cross‐shelf transport induced by storm events is the main process of sediment deposition acting on steep and narrow shelves subjected to high‐energetic environments, such as the insular shelves of open‐sea volcanic islands.

Emplacement of pyroclastic deposits offshore Montserrat: Insights from 3D seismic data

During the current (1995–present) eruptive phase of the Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat, voluminous pyroclastic flows entered the sea off the eastern flank of the island, resulting in the deposition of well-defined submarine pyroclastic lobes. Previously reported bathymetric surveys documented the sequential construction of these deposits, but could not image their internal structure, the morphology or extent of their base, or interaction with the underlying sediments. We show, by combining these bathymetric data with new high-resolution three dimensional (3D) seismic data, that the sequence of previously detected pyroclastic deposits from different phases of the ongoing eruptive activity is still well preserved. A detailed interpretation of the 3D seismic data reveals the absence of significant (>3m) basal erosion in the distal extent of submarine pyroclastic deposits. We also identify a previously unrecognized seismic unit directly beneath the stack of recent lobes. We propose three hypotheses for the origin of this seismic unit, but prefer an interpretation that the deposit is the result of the subaerial flank collapse that formed the English's Crater scarp on the Soufrière Hills volcano. The 1995–recent volcanic activity on Montserrat accounts for a significant portion of the sediments on the southeast slope of Montserrat, in places forming deposits that are more than 60m thick, which implies that the potential for pyroclastic flows to build volcanic island edifices is significant.

Crustal versus source processes recorded in dykes from the Northeast volcanic rift zone of Tenerife, Canary Islands

The Miocene–Pliocene Northeast Rift Zone (NERZ) on Tenerife is a well exposed example of a feeder system to a major ocean island volcanic rift. We present elemental and O–Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data for dykes of the NERZ with the aim of unravelling the petrological evolution of the rift and ultimately defining the mantle source contributions. Fractional crystallisation is found to be the principal control on major and trace element variability in the dykes. Differing degrees of low temperature alteration and assimilation of hydrothermally altered island edifice and pre-island siliciclastic sediment elevated the δ18O and the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of many of the dykes, but had little to no discernible effect on Nd and Pb isotopes. Once the data are screened for alteration and shallow level contamination, the underlying source variations of the NERZ essentially reflect derivation from a young High-μ (HIMU, where μ=238U/204Pb)-type mantle component mixed with depleted mid-ocean ridge-type mantle (DMM). The Pb isotope data of the NERZ rocks (206Pb/204Pb and 207Pb/204Pb range from 19.591 to 19.838 and 15.603 to 15.635, respectively) support a model of initiation and growth of the rift from the Central Shield volcano (Roque del Conde), consistent with latest geochronology results. The similar isotope signature of the NERZ to both the Miocene Central Shield and the Pliocene Las Cañadas central volcano suggests that the central part of Tenerife Island was supplied from a mantle source that remained of similar composition through the Miocene to the Pliocene. This can be explained by the presence of a discrete column of young HIMU-like plume material, ≤100km in vertical extent, occupying the melting zone beneath central Tenerife throughout this period. The most recent central magmatism on Tenerife appears to reflect greater entrainment of DMM material, perhaps due to waning of the HIMU-like “blob” with time.

Temporal association of arc–continent collision, progressive magma contamination in arc volcanism and formation of gold-rich massive sulphide deposits on Wetar Island (Banda arc)

Whole-rock 87Sr/ 86Sr and δ 18O analyses of volcanic rocks and 3He/ 4He analyses of sulphides and sulphates from mineralized rocks on Wetar, Indonesia indicate a variable contribution of assimilated crustal material or sediment sourced from the subducted Australian craton to the south. These new data support the idea of progressive source contamination with precisely dated events showing that Wetar Island hosts the most extreme examples of crustal assimilation in the region. The increased continental contamination occurs during the Pliocene (Zanclian to Piacenzian) during distinct magmatic events between 5 and 4 Ma, and at 2.4 Ma when 87Sr/ 86Sr ratios in unaltered lavas, with whole-rock δ 18O values between 5.7 and 9.6‰, increase from 0.707484 to extreme radiogenic values of 0.711656. The earlier of these magmatic events is important in the generation of the hydrothermal systems responsible for the mineralization recorded on Wetar. Samples from this yield radiogenic 3He/ 4He ratios between 0.5 and 1.4 R/R A, similar to the data from volcanic rocks on nearby Romang. The later magmatic event coincides with the arrival of the Australian Continental Margin at the subduction zone along the Banda arc. Progressive incorporation of continental-sourced components into the source region below the Wetar Island edifice coincides with the formation of gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits hosted within the contaminated volcanic pile.

The origin of enriched mantle beneath São Miguel, Azores

Lavas from the island of São Miguel, Azores Archipelago have long been known to display large radiogenic isotopic variability, that ranges from “depleted” isotopic signatures (e.g. high ε Nd ∼ +5) in the west, typical of many ocean island basalts, to more “enriched” compositions (e.g. low ε Nd ∼ +1) in the east. Here, we further characterise the geochemistry of lavas from this remarkable locality, focussing on the nature and origin of the enriched source. Our new isotope data define a striking, linear array in Nd and Hf isotope space that points towards an unusual, enriched composition below the mantle array. This distinctive Hf–Nd isotope signature is associated with elevated values of all three radiogenic Pb isotope ratios. Although the enriched component has certain geochemical similarities to both terrigenous sediments and some samples of the continental mantle lithosphere, such comparisons do not stand closer examination. In the absence of a clear, modern analogue we explore the isotope evolution of some simple, model melt compositions to investigate plausible means of producing an appropriate enriched component. Nd–Hf isotope characteristics provide the tightest constraints and can be reproduced by an ancient (∼3 Ga), modest-degree melt (∼2%) from a garnet peridotite source. Currently, modest-degree melts from garnet-bearing sources are found forming some major oceanic islands. Subduction, isolation and later mixing of small amounts (<5%) of such basaltic material with more ubiquitous ambient mantle can account for the isotopic characteristics of the enriched São Miguel source. Yet the incompatible element ratios of the enriched São Miguel lavas do not show “recycled” signatures of near-surface alteration nor subduction zone dehydration. Thus, we infer that the enriched component was originally under-plated basalt, intruded into oceanic mantle lithosphere rather than forming the island edifice itself. Since the extreme isotope compositions of São Miguel reflect unextraordinary, albeit ancient, magmatic fractionation, the general rarity of such signatures indicates the efficiency of mantle processes in homogenising or hiding similar sources.

Interaction of mantle-derived magma with island crust? Trace element and oxygen isotope data from the Diego Hernandez Formation, Las Cañadas, Tenerife

The Quaternary Diego Hernandez Formation consists of interbedded phonolitic pyroclastics and basanite lavas and scoria beds. Most of the phonolites are mingled-magma units that contain a minor mafic component. The phonolites fall into two stratigraphically bounded groups, based on major and trace element abundances. Nb contents are especially distinctive, due to a varying role for titanite during petrogenesis. Nepheline syenite xenoliths, which are plentiful in some of the phonolitic ignimbrites, fall into the same two compositional groupings but are typically more strongly differentiated. Major and trace element variations during evolution of the phonolites can be modelled by fractional crystallization, by melting of syenite, or by some combination of the two such as AFC. Trace element variations among the basanites require the addition of a highly fractionated felsic component, either phonolitic magma or nepheline syenite. δ18O values of phonolites vary across twice the range of the basanites, inconsistent with an origin by pure fractional crystallization of a basanitic parent. We conclude that recycling of differentiated rocks within the Tenerife island edifice has played a significant role in Quaternary magmatism on Tenerife.

Sonar Studies of Submarine Mass Wasting and Volcanic structures off Savaii Island, Samoa

—Sidescan sonar observations show that mass wasting plays an important role in the geologic development of the Savaii Island edifice. Observations on the south and west flanks indicate that debris movement on the submarine slopes between rift zones is characterized by large sheets of unchannelized debris. Farther downslope these sheets have slumped into folded although still relatively coherent slump sheets. Closer to the rift zones, more chaotic slumps are found. The presence of large detached landslide blocks, without obvious upslope headwall scarps, suggests that earlier slumps are covered by subsequent veneers of debris moving downslope.¶In contrast, on Stearns Bank west of the island of Savaii most of the features are of constructional origin, formed during the building of this volcanic edifice of unknown age. Two prominentsubmarine platforms are evident, the shallower one with a summit cone. Sea cliffs and subdued terraces record platforms cut by sea-level oscillations late in the history of the volcanic edifice. Fractures and fissures are present on the bank, however there is little evidence of landslides in this area. The absence of landslides may reflect differing ages of the bank and the island or the edifice could have remained submarine during its construction with few or no subaerially derived ashes and clays present to facilitate mass wasting.¶We conclude that mass wasting is an important influence on the evolution of the Savaii volcanic edifice. It appears that sediment and debris cover most of the slope outside the submarine rift zones. The sonar images indicate that mass wasting is a common process in the submarine environment. Unlike the giant landslides documented by GLORIA imagery around the Hawaiian Islands, the southern margin of Samoa is characterized by numerous small slumps and slides. Although we have little information at present regarding the recurrence interval for submarine landslides, their ubiquitous presence in these sidescan sonar records indicates that they are an important component of the geologic record of the Samoan Islands.

Isostatic Consequences of Giant Landslides on the Hawaiian Ridge

—Giant landslides, like melting glaciers, lead to a redistribution of mass which will have isostatic consequences. Three-dimensional numerical modeling experiments were devised to examine how this mass redistribution affects the isostatic flexural curve. A debris avalanche of 10–40% of pre-slide Oahu is required to account for the 1200–5000 km3 Nuuanu deposit, while only ∼ 1% of pre-slide Hawaii Island is necessary to generate the 200–800 km3 Alika I and II avalanche deposits. Trials were run using 25, 30, and 40 km elastic plate thicknesses (T e ). The island uplift resulting from the Nuuanu slide was calculated to be 23 m and 109 m for 10% and 40% volume slides, respectively, both using T e = 25 km. A rebound of 10 m and 49 m was calculated for the same volumes, respectively, using T e = 40 km. A greater amount of uplift is expressed direct lyover the failed flank, causing the edifice to tilt away from the calved-off portion. The landslide deposit depresses the plate several meters beneath the debris field itself. Smaller slides (e.g., Alika I and II) do not produce as much flexural response, with 17 m and 7 m uplift for T e = 25 and 40 km, respectively. The effects of slow moving, intact slumps where the failed blocks remain relatively close to the island pedestal were examined for the case of the Hilina slump, making up approximately 10% of the Hawaii Island edifice. Perhaps more significant than the uplift for the Hilina slump, comparable to that for the 10% Nuuanu debris avalanche, is the 114 m and 56 m of downwarp beneath its massive slumped foot (T e = 25 and 40 km, respectively). The landslide rebound process, in the case of a relatively large landslide, should be considered as an added component to the evolutionary course of oceanic islands.

Submarine geology of the Hilina slump and morpho-structural evolution of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

Marine geophysical data, including SEA BEAM bathymetry, HAWAII MR1 sidescan, and seismic reflection profiles, along with recent robot submersible observations and samples, were acquired over the offshore continuation of the mobile Kilauea volcano south flank. This slope comprises the three active hot spot volcanoes Mauna Loa, Kilauea, and Loihi seamount and is the locus of the Hawaiian hot spot. The south flank is the site of frequent low-intensity seismicity as well as episodic large-magnitude earthquakes. Its sub-aerial portion creeps seaward at a rate of approximately 10 cm/year. The Hilina slump is the only large submarine landslide in the Hawaiian Archipelago thought to be active, and this study is one of the first to more highly resolve submarine slide features there. The slump is classified into four distinct zones from nearshore to the island’s base. Estimates of size based on these data indicate a slumped area of 2100 km2 and a volume of 10,000–12,000 km3, equivalent to about 10% of the entire island edifice. The overall picture gained from these data sets is one of mass wasting of the neovolcanic terrain as it builds upward and seaward, though reinforcement by young and pre-Hawaii seamounts adjacent to the pedestal is apparent. Extensive lava delta deposits are formed by hyaloclastites and detritus from recent lava flows into the sea. These deposits dominate the upper submarine slope offshore of Kilauea, with pillow breccia revealed at mid-depths. Along the lower flanks, massive outcrops of volcanically derived sedimentary rocks were found underlying Kilauea, thus necessitating a rethinking of previous models of volcanic island development. The morphologic and structural evolutionary model for Kilauea volcano and the Hilina slump proposed here attempts to incorporate this revelation. A hazard assessment for the Hilina slump is presented where it is suggested that displacement of the south flank to date has been restrained by a still developing northeast lateral submarine boundary. When it does fully mature, the south flank may be more subject to land slips triggered by large, long duration earthquakes and thus Kilauea may undergo more frequent episodes of failure with increased displacements.

A simple model for the genesis of large gravitational landslide hazards in the Canary Islands

Abstract Natural hazards in the Canarian Archipelago are mainly in relation to volcanism (at least five islands with Holocene eruptive activity, 17 eruptions in the last 500 years) and massive gravitational landslides related to edifice overgrowth and dyke intrusion. In the volcanically active islands, the emission vents tend to group in clearly aligned clusters, evolving to form steep ridges that behave as true polygenetic active volcanoes with clear rift affinities, and constitute by far the most probable location of any future volcanic eruption in the archipelago. Tunnels excavated for water mining show a narrow band of tightly packed parallel dykes running through the centre of the rifts. The rift zones play a key role in the growth and shape of the island edifices and in the generation of massive landslides. Cumulative gravitational stresses related to the growth of the volcanic edifices and more ephemeral mechanisms associated with intense eruptive phases, such as dyke wedging, increase of slope angles and strong local seismicity associated with magma movement can finally exceed the trigger-threshold of gravitational slides. This mechanism may be the explanation for the numerous horseshoe-type valleys and calderas developed in the Canary Islands. The geometry of these rift zones is frequently three-branched at 120°C (Mercedes-Benz star configuration), suggesting a least-effort fracturing by magma-induced upwelling. The rift zones play a major role in the distribution of geological hazards: eruptive vents and the failure planes of gravitational landslides are located preferentially along these volcanic lineaments.

Stress fields in central portions of the Pacific Plate: Delineated in time by linear volcanic chains

Many linear island chains in the Pacific appear to consist of individual volcanic shields that lie on relatively short, curved loci sometimes of sigmoidal form. These loci, in turn, lie at an angle to the directions of propagation of the chains. Those chains that now trend just south of east (the Pratt-Welker, Hawaiian, Tuamotu, and Austral chains) consist of en echelon sets of loci with right lateral (clockwise) sense of stepwise overlap, whereas the supposed older extensions of these chains that lie nearly north-south (the Emperor and Ellice-Gilbert-Marshall chains) consist of sets of loci with left lateral (counterclockwise) sense of stepwise overlap. Rift zones of isolated volcanoes in the chains, that is, those volcanoes whose local stress fields were not influenced by the buttressing effects of near-neighbor volcanoes at the time of their formation, show the same orientation as the loci. First-motion studies of earthquakes in the Pacific lithosphere to date are few in number and give a variety of solutions with inferred directions of maximum principal compression (P) nearly horizontal and trending in both northeasterly-southwesterly and northwesterly-southeasterly directions. However, the number of such solutions is small, in some cases related to edifice effects, and interpretations relating compression and dilatation to principal stress directions in magmatic source regions are open to question. We consider it likely that the dominant orientation patterns have been due to dynamic effects related to the overall kinematic patterns of Pacific plate motions. Although a large number of different factors can influence the inherent and transmitted stresses in the lithosphere, and thereby influence the locally dominant stress field, we conclude that the effective stress orientations in the very recent past and for about the last 40–50 m.y. can be considered to have been caused by dynamic forces reflected in a right lateral rotational couple acting within the plane of the Pacific plate. These forces have induced maximum (S1) principal compressional stress directions that have had surface traces trending about northwest-southeast, relating to minimum (S3) principal stress directions that have trended northeast-southwest. Prior to 40–50 m.y. ago the dominant stress orientations in the plate were caused by a tendency for left lateral stress rotations, which induced maximum (S1) principal compressional stress directions with surface traces that trended just west of north and minimum (S3) principal stress directions that trended just north of east. These data and interpretations are independent of whether or not a change in direction of motion of the Pacific lithospheric plate took place roughly at the time represented by the bends in the island chains and are also independent of arguments as to whether melting anomalies of the Pacific are rigidly fixed or whether they are better explained in terms of thermal plumes or gravitational anchors. We conclude that the trends and age correlations of volcanic loci in the Pacific accurately track and identify the evolution of states of stress in the Pacific lithosphere with time. As more age data for linear island edifices become available, it should be possible to construct a Pacific-wide chronology of volcanism independent of but similar to that developed from magnetic reversals. Further, it appears that changes in stress directions in the plate have been episodic and that they may correlate with episodic magma generation not only in the central part of the Pacific plate but also around its margins.

Some observed results of oceanic turbulence : Nan'niti Tosio, 1964. In: Studies on Oceanography dedicated to Professor Hidaka in Commemoration of his Sixtieth Birthday, 211–215

Marine geophysical data, including SEA BEAM bathymetry, HAWAII MR1 sidescan, and seismic reflection profiles, along with recent robot submersible observations and samples, were acquired over the offshore continuation of the mobile Kilauea volcano south flank. This slope comprises the three active hot spot volcanoes Mauna Loa, Kilauea, and Loihi seamount and is the locus of the Hawaiian hot spot. The south flank is the site of frequent low-intensity seismicity as well as episodic large-magnitude earthquakes. Its sub-aerial portion creeps seaward at a rate of approximately 10 cm/year. The Hilina slump is the only large submarine landslide in the Hawaiian Archipelago thought to be active, and this study is one of the first to more highly resolve submarine slide features there. The slump is classified into four distinct zones from nearshore to the island’s base. Estimates of size based on these data indicate a slumped area of 2100 km2 and a volume of 10,000–12,000 km3, equivalent to about 10% of the entire island edifice. The overall picture gained from these data sets is one of mass wasting of the neovolcanic terrain as it builds upward and seaward, though reinforcement by young and pre-Hawaii seamounts adjacent to the pedestal is apparent. Extensive lava delta deposits are formed by hyaloclastites and detritus from recent lava flows into the sea. These deposits dominate the upper submarine slope offshore of Kilauea, with pillow breccia revealed at mid-depths. Along the lower flanks, massive outcrops of volcanically derived sedimentary rocks were found underlying Kilauea, thus necessitating a rethinking of previous models of volcanic island development. The morphologic and structural evolutionary model for Kilauea volcano and the Hilina slump proposed here attempts to incorporate this revelation. A hazard assessment for the Hilina slump is presented where it is suggested that displacement of the south flank to date has been restrained by a still developing northeast lateral submarine boundary. When it does fully mature, the south flank may be more subject to land slips triggered by large, long duration earthquakes and thus Kilauea may undergo more frequent episodes of failure with increased displacements.

Carbonate deposits and paleoclimatic implications in the northeast Pacific Ocean : Nayudu Y. R., 1964. Science, 146 (3643): 515–517

Marine geophysical data, including SEA BEAM bathymetry, HAWAII MR1 sidescan, and seismic reflection profiles, along with recent robot submersible observations and samples, were acquired over the offshore continuation of the mobile Kilauea volcano south flank. This slope comprises the three active hot spot volcanoes Mauna Loa, Kilauea, and Loihi seamount and is the locus of the Hawaiian hot spot. The south flank is the site of frequent low-intensity seismicity as well as episodic large-magnitude earthquakes. Its sub-aerial portion creeps seaward at a rate of approximately 10 cm/year. The Hilina slump is the only large submarine landslide in the Hawaiian Archipelago thought to be active, and this study is one of the first to more highly resolve submarine slide features there. The slump is classified into four distinct zones from nearshore to the island’s base. Estimates of size based on these data indicate a slumped area of 2100 km2 and a volume of 10,000–12,000 km3, equivalent to about 10% of the entire island edifice. The overall picture gained from these data sets is one of mass wasting of the neovolcanic terrain as it builds upward and seaward, though reinforcement by young and pre-Hawaii seamounts adjacent to the pedestal is apparent. Extensive lava delta deposits are formed by hyaloclastites and detritus from recent lava flows into the sea. These deposits dominate the upper submarine slope offshore of Kilauea, with pillow breccia revealed at mid-depths. Along the lower flanks, massive outcrops of volcanically derived sedimentary rocks were found underlying Kilauea, thus necessitating a rethinking of previous models of volcanic island development. The morphologic and structural evolutionary model for Kilauea volcano and the Hilina slump proposed here attempts to incorporate this revelation. A hazard assessment for the Hilina slump is presented where it is suggested that displacement of the south flank to date has been restrained by a still developing northeast lateral submarine boundary. When it does fully mature, the south flank may be more subject to land slips triggered by large, long duration earthquakes and thus Kilauea may undergo more frequent episodes of failure with increased displacements.