Created by:
Andrew R. Greene (Hawai'i Pacific University; agreene@hpu.edu)
Michael O. Garcia (University of Hawai'i at Mānoa; mogarcia@hawaii.edu)
Tim Orr (U.S. Geological Survey; torr@usgs.gov)

This lab is designed for an undergraduate course in petrology, although it could be used for a geochemistry or volcanology course at the undergraduate or graduate level.

Thin-section petrography and interpreting geochemical variation diagrams. Familiarity with crustal magmatic processes. Background lecture on hotspot processes would be useful. Experience plotting data in Microsoft Excel is essential to the exercise.

This lab exercise could be an integral part of course material related to:

1. magmatic processes in basaltic systems;
2. hotspot volcanism; or
3. using geochemical data in Earth systems.

This lab involves:

1. integrating observations from multiple resources on active hotspot volcanism in Hawaii (e.g. maps, photographs, satellite imagery, video footage, background reading, monitoring data);
2. observing hand samples and thin-sections of recently erupted lavas;
3. making and interpreting geochemical plots of lavas from eruptions on Kīlauea Volcano as part of a time-series analysis;
4. formulating and evaluating hypotheses on crustal magmatic processes; and
5. synthesizing, presenting and discussing information about petrologic processes associated with active volcanism at Kīlauea Volcano.

See above.

The lab involves:

1. integrating observations from diverse sources of background information presented on the World Wide Web;

2. working with geochemical data to critically evaluate hypotheses of magmatic processes;

3. collaborating on a particular phase of the eruption in preparation for group oral presentation and discussion.

1. Pre-lab material provides background on the Hawaiian hotspot and the current eruption utilizing maps, diagrams, information, photographs, and video footage of the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption with written questions that test understanding of this material.
2. Examination of hand samples (available on request) and photomicrographs of lavas from a distinct interval of the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption with group partners in lab.
3. Working within groups assigned to particular intervals of the eruption to make time-series analyses of lava geochemistry from the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption to evaluate crustal processes of magmatic evolution.
4. Interpretation and synthesis of background information, petrography, and geochemistry, and presentation of results and interpretation with group partners at the beginning of the next lab period.

The lab simulates scientific research in volcanology, geochemistry, and petrology. The pre-lab material with homework questions encourages students to start the lab with background knowledge of Hawaiian hotspot volcanism and the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption. The collaborative investigation of a particular phase of the eruption using petrography and geochemistry parallels ongoing research projects on active volcanoes and is evaluated by answering questions. The primary goal of the lab is the synthesis and presentation of results and hypotheses by each group, which are then evaluated in group discussion.

Additional material that are part of the lab can be found at the following web address:

http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/GG/FACULTY/agreene/

A list of selected references for the lab is included with the supporting materials.