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Recent Kīlauea eruption samples and crystals

Detailed Description

(A) Spatter cone samples from the Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption in and near Nāpau Crater from September 15–20, 2024. Crystals were collected from samples like this. (B) Back-scattered electron image of a plagioclase crystal from the September 2024 Kīlauea middle East Rift Zone eruption. This crystal shows two distinct chemical zones from its core to rim. The core has a different composition from the rim of the crystal, representing a change in magmatic environment likely from the intrusion that triggered the eruption. (C) Back-scattered electron image of an olivine crystal from the Kīlauea Halema’uma’u December 2024–January 2025 eruption. This is an olivine grain that has typical Kīlauea summit eruption compositions. 

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.

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