Overthrusting and sediment accretion along Kilauea's mobile south flank, Hawaii: Evidence for volcanic spreading from marine seismic reflection data

Research Article| July 01, 2000 Overthrusting and sediment accretion along Kilauea's mobile south flank, Hawaii: Evidence for volcanic spreading from marine seismic reflection data Julia K. Morgan; Julia K. Morgan 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gregory F. Moore; Gregory F. Moore 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Denise J. Hills; Denise J. Hills 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen Leslie Stephen Leslie 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Julia K. Morgan 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Gregory F. Moore 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Denise J. Hills 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Stephen Leslie 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, School of Ocean and Earth Sciences and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 08 Nov 1999 Revision Received: 22 Mar 2000 Accepted: 09 Apr 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (7): 667–670. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<667:OASAAK>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 08 Nov 1999 Revision Received: 22 Mar 2000 Accepted: 09 Apr 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Julia K. Morgan, Gregory F. Moore, Denise J. Hills, Stephen Leslie; Overthrusting and sediment accretion along Kilauea's mobile south flank, Hawaii: Evidence for volcanic spreading from marine seismic reflection data. Geology 2000;; 28 (7): 667–670. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<667:OASAAK>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A large, intermittently active, submarine landslide known as the Hilina slump has been interpreted along the south flank of Kilauea volcano. Seaward-dipping faults on land mark its headwall, and an offshore bench may define its uplifted toe. Geodetic data show that the entire south flank is also moving seaward, by a process referred to as volcanic spreading; this provides an alternative explanation for the bench, i.e., overthrusting along the edge of the sliding flank. The latter interpretation is consistent with new seismic reflection data across the submarine flank. A prominent reflection near the top of the oceanic plate suggests the décollement upon which the mobile flank slides. Landward-dipping reflections rise from this horizon and bound packages of bedded strata faulted and imbricated within the bench. The absence of correlative seaward-dipping faults and rotated strata on the upper flank suggests that the bench is not coupled to a slump. Moreover, kinematic reconstructions of the bench indicate that it has accommodated 15–24 km of displacement. This value is consistent with estimates for rift-zone extension but too high for shortening at the toe of a slump. We interpret the bench to result from overthrusting and accretion of volcaniclastic sediments to the edge of the mobile flank, and suggest that morphologic benches develop preferentially where landslide debris has accumulated near the base of the volcano and can be accreted to its sliding edifice. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.