9405573 Garcia The purpose of this study is to determine the nature and causes of compositional variation in lavas from the continuing eruption (1983 to present) of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Mineral, glass and whole-rock compositions and O, Pb, Sr, Nd and Th isotope ratios will be determined and used to evaluate the relative importance of crystal fractionation, magma mixing, lithosphere assimilation and mantle melting processes in controlling the lava composition. Due to the long duration of this eruption (> 10 years), the lavas from this eruption offer a unique opportunity to investigate the effects of both crustal and mantle processes on lava composition. This is the only study that has extensively characterized Kilauea lavas. Only by fully characterizing Kilauea lavas can we hope to decipher the origin and evolution of this critical key component to the hotspot paradigm.
