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Quaternary stratigraphy and chronology of Mauna Kea, Hawaii; a 380,000-yr record of mid-Pacific volcanism and ice-cap glaciation

S. C. Porter
Quaternary stratigraphy and chronology of Mauna Kea, Hawaii; a 380,000-yr record of mid-Pacific volcanism and ice-cap glaciation
Geological Society of America Bulletin (July 1979) 90 (7): 609-611, 980-1093

Abstract

Mauna Kea, the highest of five massive shield volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, is the only summit in the tropical mid-Pacific that is known to possess evidence of former glaciation. As a result of earlier geologic studies on the upper slopes of the volcano by Gregory and Wentworth (1937), Wentworth and Powers (1941), Stearns (1945), and Stearns and Macdonald (1946), contrasting hypotheses were developed regarding the number of former glaciations and their ages. The present study was begun with the aim of developing a detailed stratigraphy and chronology for the volcano in order to assess the question of multiple glaciation. The identification of four glacial drifts that are interstratified with volcanic rocks on the upper slopes of the mountain has confirmed the concept of multiple glacial events and has made it possible to subdivide the upper portion of the volcanic pile. The ages of the older units have been established by K/Ar dating, while 14C dates provide limiting ages for the latest glacial and volcanic events.


ISSN: 0016-7606
EISSN: 1943-2674
Coden: BUGMAF
Serial Title: Geological Society of America Bulletin
Serial Volume: 90
Serial Issue: 7
Title: Quaternary stratigraphy and chronology of Mauna Kea, Hawaii; a 380,000-yr record of mid-Pacific volcanism and ice-cap glaciation
Author(s): Porter, S. C.
Affiliation: Univ. Wash., Dep. Geol. Sci., Seattle, Wash., United States
Pages: 609-611, 980-1093
Published: 197907
Text Language: English
Publisher: Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States
References: 42
Accession Number: 1979-038323
Categories: Quaternary geology
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Annotation: Detailed discussion of Geol. Soc. Am., Map Chart Ser., No. MC-30
Illustration Description: illus. incl. tables, geol. sketch maps
Source Medium: print, microfiche
N19°30'00" - N19°40'00", W155°34'60" - W155°19'60"
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2019, American Geosciences Institute. Reference includes data from U. S. Geological Survey, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, , United States
Update Code: 1979
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