In search of ancestral Kilauea volcano

Submersible observations and samples show that the lower south flank of Haw aii, offshore from Kilauea volcano and the active Hilina slump system, cons ists entirely of compositionally diverse volcaniclastic rocks; pillow lavas are confined to shallow slopes. Submarine-erupted basalt clasts have stron gly variable alkalic and transitional basalt compositions (to 41% SiO2, 10. 8% alkalies), contrasting with present-day Kilauea tholeiites. The volcanic lastic rocks provide a unique record of ancestral alkalic growth of an arch etypal hotspot volcano, including transition to its tholeiitic shield stage , and associated slope-failure events.