Rift zone abandonment and reconfiguration in Hawaii: Mauna Loa's Ninole rift zone

Research Article| May 01, 2010 Rift zone abandonment and reconfiguration in Hawaii: Mauna Loa's Ninole rift zone Julia K. Morgan; Julia K. Morgan 1Department of Earth Science, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jaewoo Park; Jaewoo Park * 1Department of Earth Science, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA *Current Address: GX Technology Corporation, Building III, Suite 900, 2105 CityWest Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77042. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Colin A. Zelt Colin A. Zelt 1Department of Earth Science, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2010) 38 (5): 471–474. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30626.1 Article history received: 20 Aug 2009 rev-recd: 01 Dec 2009 accepted: 11 Dec 2009 first online: 09 Mar 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, Jaewoo Park, Colin A. Zelt; Rift zone abandonment and reconfiguration in Hawaii: Mauna Loa's Ninole rift zone. Geology 2010;; 38 (5): 471–474. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30626.1 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 new onshore-offshore three-dimensional seismic velocity model for the Island of Hawaii reveals a massive buried rift zone within Mauna Loa's southeast flank, introduced here as the Ninole rift zone. This feature extends more than 60 km south of Mauna Loa's summit, spans a depth range of ∼2–14 km below sea level, and is the probable source of the 100–200 ka Ninole volcanics in several prominent erosional hills. The ancient rift zone may stabilize Mauna Loa's southeast flank, focusing recent volcanic activity and deformation onto the unbuttressed west flank. The upper portion of the Ninole rift zone appears to have migrated westward over time, possibly triggered by landsliding, causing its eventual abandonment in preference to Mauna Loa's present-day southwest rift zone. Subsequently, the lower southwest rift zone broke away, tracking rift intrusions along the trace of the Kahuku detachment fault. Similar rift zone migration is thought to be under way at Kilauea volcano, and may one day lead to the abandonment of the east rift zone. Such rift zone reconfiguration is a reflection of changing stress conditions within growing volcanoes; it is probably much more common than previously assumed, and may enable the growth of large volcanic edifices such as Mauna Loa. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.