Chronology, chemistry, and origin of trachytes from Hualalai Volcano, Hawaii

• Published in: Geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems : G3 Vol. 4; no. 9; pp. 1078 - n/a
• Main Authors: Cousens, Brian L., Clague, David A., Sharp, Warren D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Geophysical Union 01.09.2003; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Basalt; Evolution; geochronology; Hawaii; Igneous petrology; Lava; Magma; magma chamber; magma evolution; Major element composition; Mineralogy and Petrology; Minor and trace element composition; postshield stage; Reservoirs; Trachyte; Volcanoes; Water wells; ISE, USA, Hawaii; I, Pacific
• ISSN: 1525-2027; 1525-2027
• DOI: 10.1029/2003GC000560

Hualalai Volcano is unique among Hawaiian volcanoes in that it possesses a relatively high proportion of evolved, trachytic lavas that were erupted at the beginning of the alkalic, postshield phase of volcanism. These evolved lavas yield insights into magma sources, magma supply rates, and the evolution of the subvolcanic magmatic plumbing system at this time. Trachyte lavas are exposed at the Puu Waawaa pumice dome and Puu Anahulu flow, as blocks in maars on the south flank of the volcano, and as flows in water wells drilled on the west flank of Hualalai. New 40Ar/39Ar dates show that the Puu Waawaa and Puu Anahulu complex is 114 ka, a block from the Waha Pele maar is 103 ka, and water well trachytes range from 107 to 92 ka in age, indicating a range for trachyte volcanism of 20 ka. Nd and Pb isotopic compositions overlap with younger alkalic basalts from Hualalai but are distinct from Hualalai tholeiitic basalts and Pacific mid‐ocean ridge basalts, linking the trachytes to alkalic parental magmas that underwent extensive crystallization to yield trachytic residual magmas. Both Sr and O isotopic ratios are higher in the trachytes than in Hualalai alkalic lavas, which is best explained by reaction with, or assimilation of, altered Hualalai shield basalts at shallow depth. Major, trace element, and isotopic variations between trachytes are consistent with their evolution by fractional crystallization from a Puu Anahulu parent. The short time gap between the end of tholeiitic volcanism (<133 ka) and the onset of trachytic, alkalic volcanism and the lack of deep‐origin xenoliths place the magma reservoir within which the trachytes evolved rapidly at shallow (<7 km) depth. Whereas Mauna Kea and Kohala volcanoes produced small volumes of highly evolved lavas as magma supply rates dwindled through the postshield stage, postshield magma intrusion rates at Hualalai were lowest during trachyte formation and increased through a more recent period of alkalic basalt eruptions. Subtle rare earth element and radiogenic isotopic distinctions between trachytes from the three localities indicate that the roof of the shallow magma reservoir may have been irregular, allowing some trachytes to evolve independently from others.