Analog experimental models of solidification of crystal-laden Kīlauea Iki lava lake, Hawai`i and implications for cumulate development.

We present results from experimental models of Kīlauea Iki lava lake with the goal of reproducing the S-shaped vertical distribution profile of phenocrysts in the solidifying lava lake. In November-December 1959, lava from a two-week long eruption at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano flowed into the adjoining Kīlauea Iki crater filling it with a lake of lava approximately 640 m across and 135 m deep. The erupted picritic lava contained approximately 17 modal % olivine phenocrysts (Garcia, 2003). As the lava lake filled most of the phenocrysts sank towards the lower parts of the lake while some were captured in the upper crust. This resulted in an S-shaped vertical profile with an olivine-depleted (1-3 % olivine) upper part and an olivine-enriched (up to 40 % olivine) lower part (Helz, 1989). In our experiments, molten paraffin wax, extra-fine craft glitter, and aluminum foil pans/bowls are used as analogs for magma, olivine phenocrysts, and Kīlauea Iki pit crater respectively. A molten paraffin-glitter mixture at approximately 54°C is stirred/poured into the crater to create the lake, and then frozen. Cross-sections of the solidified lake are photographed and imported into ImageJ to analyze the final distribution of glitter particles at various depths. This distribution depends primarily upon the competition between settling rate vs. solidification time. Particle settling rate is controlled by glitter-paraffin density difference and paraffin viscosity. Solidification time varies with initial paraffin temperature, aspect ratio of the model lake, and ambient temperature. Vertical profiles of several solidified lava lake models reveal a glitter particle (phenocryst) distribution similar to the S-shaped characteristic profile recorded at Kīlauea Iki. In effect, our lava lake models recreate the dynamic process of emplacement of crystal-laden magma with subsequent settling of these crystals to produce a phenocryst-enriched layer near the bottom. A similar process occurring in intrusions formed by emplacement of one or more crystal-laden magma batches may result in the development of cumulate layers. Our experimental methods and efforts in recreating the S-shaped profile in Kīlauea Iki may be used as a starting point to model more complex cumulate intrusions. (Special thanks to Prof. Shafiul Chowdhury)