Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii): Geology and Overview (March 2017)

2 spots left on Iceland Geo Tour 16-30 July 2022

Kilauea volcano (Hawaii): overview and geologic features

Kilauea volcano is difficult to recognize as a volcano because it is a vast and still relatively low shield. The best view is probably from the southeast where a portion of the volcano with the currently two eruption sites (summit and Pu'u 'O'o on the eastern rift zone) can be seen. From the latter vent, the lava travels mostly underground through a tube system until it reaches the coast at Kamokuna where a steam plume can be seen rising from a distance. (c)

Kilauea volcano is difficult to recognize as a volcano because it is a vast and still relatively low... [info]
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The large collapse on New Year's Eve 2016 removed most of the lava delta formed since July 2016 and parts of the older shore, exposing the lava tube. A continuous jet of lava, a fire hose, was shooting out from there directly into the ocean for almost 3 months. Only by 20 March, the lava managed to rebuild a new land delta, allowing the lava hose to encase itself again. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

The large collapse on New Year's Eve 2016 removed most of the lava delta formed since July 2016 and ... [info]
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As the lava falls, parts of it become detached and are torn into fine glassy filaments (Pele's hair), drops (Pele's tears) and irregularly shaped, twisted fragments. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

As the lava falls, parts of it become detached and are torn into fine glassy filaments (Pele's hair)... [info]
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The contact with the sea water is brutal. Violent steam explosions (called littoral explosions) fragment the lava, producing millions of fine, glassy fragments of mostly small sizes. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

The contact with the sea water is brutal. Violent steam explosions (called littoral explosions) frag... [info]
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Most of this material contributes to new black sand that is being formed here and accumulates on the submarine slope of the island. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Most of this material contributes to new black sand that is being formed here and accumulates on the... [info]
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Depending on the size of explosions at the sea entry and the direction of the explosion, as well as wind, lava bombs also land inland behind the cliff, where a small flat cone (a littoral cone) has started to be built. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Depending on the size of explosions at the sea entry and the direction of the explosion, as well as ... [info]
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The ground behind the ocean entry is covered by a layer (up to a few cm thick) of Pele's hair, small lapilli and thin flakes of volcanic glass called Limu o Pele (Pele's seaweed), typically of brownish-green color. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

The ground behind the ocean entry is covered by a layer (up to a few cm thick) of Pele's hair, small... [info]
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Pele's hair and Limu o Pele on the ground. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Old ropy pahoehoe lava with a crack encrusted with sulfur and other mineral deposits. This was once located above an active lava tube from which sulfur-rich gasses escaped, leaving these deposits. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Old ropy pahoehoe lava with a crack encrusted with sulfur and other mineral deposits. This was once ... [info]
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The western end of the vast lava flows from the ongoing Pu'u 'O'o east rift zone eruption (since 1983). Islands of older ground with vegetation surrounded by the younger, darker lava flows are called kipukas (Hawaiian word for island). (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

The western end of the vast lava flows from the ongoing Pu'u 'O'o east rift zone eruption (since 198... [info]
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Ferns grow in the once lava-spewing fissure of the Mauna Ulu eruption which had started in 1969. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Ferns grow in the once lava-spewing fissure of the Mauna Ulu eruption which had started in 1969. (Ph... [info]
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Lava trees: a flood of lava invaded the forest at the beginning of the eruption, coating the trunks of Ohia trees. As the lava drained away later on, the lava molds were left standing. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Lava trees: a flood of lava invaded the forest at the beginning of the eruption, coating the trunks ... [info]
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Spatter rampart along a small part of the 1969 eruptive fissure. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Agglutinated spatter - liquid blobs of lava erupted from fountaining activity at the fissure accumulated and glued together. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)

Agglutinated spatter - liquid blobs of lava erupted from fountaining activity at the fissure accumul... [info]
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Part of the eruptive fissure (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Plants have started to colonize the smooth, hard surfaces of the fissure. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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