Abstract
The axial ratio of basalt pillows in some shallow water pillow lava sequences from Azores and Iceland, is defined as V/H, where V and H represent the vertical and horizontal axes in cross section perpendicular to the elongate direction of undisturbed pillows. The axial ratios show a great spread of overlapping values for pillows from different sequences. However, alkaline olivine basaltic pillows tend to be more flattened than the olivine tholeiitic pillows. Another, and probably more discriminative feature between the two, is the difference in the maximum size of V and H of a pillow body. The limit for V and H for alkaline olivine basalt pillows is significantly lower than that of the olivine tholeiite pillows. A lower viscosity for alkaline olivine basalt than for olivine tholeiite probably accounts for the differences.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdel-Monem, A. A., Fernandez, L. A. andBoone, G. A., 1975,K-Ar Ages from Eastern Azores Group (Santa Maria, Saõ Miguel and Formigas Islands). Lithos,8, p. 247–254.
Ballard, R. D., Bryan, W. B., Heirtzler, J. R., Moore, J. G. andvan Andel, T. J., 1975,Manned Submersible Observations in the FAMOUS Area, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Science,190, p. 103–108.
Bryan, W. B.,et al., 1977,Studying Oceanic Layers. Geotimes,22, p. 22–26.
Donaldson, G. H., 1974,Olivine Crystal Types in Harristic Rocks of the Rhum Pluton and Archean Spinifex Rocks. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.,85, p. 1721–1726.
Fridleifsson, I. B., 1973,Petrology and Structure of the Esja Quaternary Volcanic Region, SW-Iceland. D. Phil thesis, Oxford University, 208 pp.
-----,Furnes, H., Atkins, F. B., Safmundsson, K., andGrønvold, K., (in prep.).Subglacical volcanics. Part 1. On the Control of Magma Chemistry on Pillow Dimensions.
Furnes, H., 1974,Volume Relations between Palagonite and Authigenic Minerals in Hyaloclastites, and Its Bearing on the Rate of Palagonization. Bull. Volcanol.,38, p. 173–186.
————— andFridleifsson, I. B., 1974,Tidal Effects on the Formation of Pillow Lava/Hyaloclastite Deltas. Geology,2, p. 381–384.
Hamilton, D. L., Burnham, C. W. andOsborn, E. F., 1964,Solubility of Water and Effects of Oxygen Fugacity and Water Content of Crystallization in Mafic Magmas. Jour. Petr.,5, p. 21–39.
Jones, J. G., 1968,Pillow Lava and Pahoehoe. Jour. Geol.,76, p. 485–488.
—————, 1969,Pillow Lava as Depth Indicators. Am. Jour. Sci.,267, p. 181–195.
—————, 1970,Intraglacial Volcanocs of the Langarvatn Region, Southewest Iceland, II. Jour. Geol.,78, p. 127–140.
Macdonald, G. A., 1967,Forms and Structures of Extrusive Basaltic Rocks. In:Basalts: The Poldervaart Treatis on Rocks of Basaltic Composition. 1, p. 1–61.
Moore, J. G., 1965,Petrology of Deep-sea Basalt near Hawaii. Am. Jour. Sci.,263, p. 40–53.
—————, 1970a, Pillow Lava in a Historic Lava Flow from Haulalai Volcano, Hawaii. Jour. Geol.,78, p. 239–243.
—————, 1970b, Water Content of Basalt Erupted on the Ocean Floor. Contr. Miner. Petrol.,28, p. 272–279.
-----,Cristofolini, R. andLo Giudici, E. 1971,Development of Pillows on the Submarine Extension of Recent Lava Flows. Mt. Etna, Sicily, In:Geological Survey research 1971. U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper,750-C, p. C89–C97.
————— andSwanson, D. A., 1973,Flow of Lava into the Sea, 1966–1971. Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull.,84, p. 537–546.
Rittmann, A., 1962,Volcanoes and Their Activity. Interscience Publishers, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York.
Scarfe, C. M., 1973,Viscosity of Basic Magmas at Varying Pressure. Nature Phys. Sci.,241, p. 101–102.
Shaw, H. R., 1969,Rheology of Basalt in the Melting Range. Jour. Petrol.,10, p. 510–535.
Solomon, M., 1969,The Nature and Possible Origin of the Pillow Lavas and Hyaloclastite Breccias of King Island, Australia. Geol. Soc. Lond. Quart. Jour.,124, p. 153–169.
Tarney, J., 1967,The Viscosity of Basic Melts. Proc. Geol. Soc. London,1641, p. 177–178.
Thompson, R. N. 1973,One-atmosphere Melting Behaviour and Nomenclature of Terrestrial Lavas. Contr. Min. Petrol.,41, p. 197–204.
Walker, G. P. L., 1967,Thickness and Viscosity of Etnean Lavas. Nature,213, p. 484–485.
—————, 1971,Compound and Simple Lava Flows and Flood Basalts. Bull. Volcanol.,35, p. 579–590.
—————, 1973,Lengths of Lava Flows. Phil. Trans. Roy, Soc. London,A274, p. 107–118.
Wilson, M. E., 1960,Origin of Pillow Structures in the Early Precambrian Lavas of Western Quebec. Jour. Geol.,68, p. 97–102.
Zbyszewski, G. andDa Veiga Ferreira, O., 1962,Etude géologique de l’île de Santa Maria (Açores). Comunicacoes dos Servicios Geologicos de Portugal,XLVI, p. 209–245.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Furnes, H., Fridleifsson, I.B. Relationship between the chemistry and axial dimensions of some shallow water pillow lavas of alkaline olivine basalt-and olivine tholeiitic composition. Bull Volcanol 41, 136–146 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02597027
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02597027