Abstract
Toothpaste lava, an important basalt structural type which illustrates the transition from pahoehoe to aa, is particularly well displayed on the 1960 Kapoho lava of Kilauea Volcano. Its transitional features stem from a viscosity higher than that of pahoehoe and a rate of flow slower than that of aa. Viscosity can be quantified by the limited settling of olivine phenocrysts and rate of flow by field observations related to the low-angle slope on which the lava flowed. Much can be learned about the viscosity, rheologic condition, and flow velocity of lavas long after solidification by analyses of their structural characteristics, and it is possible to make at least a semiquantitative assessment of the numerical values of these parameters.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bullard FM (1947) Studies on Paricutin volcano, Michoacan, Mexico. Geol Soc Am Bull 58:443–450
Duffield WA (1972) A naturally occurring model of global plate tectonics. J Geophys Res 77:2543–2555
Einarsson T (1949) The eruption of Hekla 1947–1948: IV, 3. The flowing lava. Studies of its main physical & chemical properties. Soc Scientarium Islandica, Reykjavik, 1–70.
Foster HL, Mason AC (1955) 1950 and 1951 Eruptions of Mihara yama, Oshima volcano, Japan. Geol Soc Am Bull 66:731–762
Jones AE (1943) Classification of lava surfaces. Trans Am Geophys Union, Part 1, 265–268
Kilburn CRJ (1981) Pahoehoe and a'a lavas: a discussion and continuation of the model of Peterson and Tilling. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 11:373–382
Macdonald GA (1962) The 1959 & 1960 eruptions of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, and the construction of walls to restrict the spread of the lava flows. Bull Volcanol, Ser 2, 24:249–294
Macdonald GA (1967) Forms and structures of extrusive basaltic rocks. In: HH Hess, A Poldervaart (eds) The Poldervaart Treatise on Rocks of Basaltic Composition. Interscience Publishers, New York, 1–482
Macdonald GA (1972) Volcanoes. Prentice Hall Inc. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, 1–501
Malin MC (1980) Lengths of Hawaiian lava flows. Geology 8:306–308
Peck DL (1966) Lava coils of some recent historic flows, Hawaii. U.S. Geol Surv Prof Pap 550-B, 148–151
Peterson DW, Tilling RI (1980) Transition of basaltic lava from pahoehoe to a'a, Kilauea volcano, Hawaii: Field observations and key factors. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 7:271–293
Pinkerton H, Sparks RSJ (1976) The 1975 sub-terminal lavas. Mount Etna: A case history of the formation of a compound lava field. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 1:176–182
Richter DH, Eaton JP, Murata KJ, Ault WU, Krivoy HL (1970) The 1959–1960 eruption of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii. U.S. Geol Surv Prof Pap 537-E, 1–73
Sparks RSJ, Pinkerton H, Macdonald R (1977) The transport of xenoliths in magmas. Earth Planet Sci Lett 35:234–238
Temperley BN (1966) Vortex exudation coils on a recent basaltic lava in Kenya. Overseas Geol Mineral. Resour 10:42–46
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rowland, S.K., Walker, G.P.L. Toothpaste lava: Characteristics and origin of a lava structural type transitional between pahoehoe and aa. Bull Volcanol 49, 631–641 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01079968
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01079968