JOURNAL ARTICLE

Mysterious difference between Hawaiian volcanoes may reflect divide deep within Earth: Hot mantle plume could be split in two, might eventually produce separate island chains.

  • Published In: Sciencemag.org, 2026. P. N.PAG 1 of 3

  • Database: Applied Science & Technology Source Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Dinneen, James 3 of 3

Abstract

The article focuses on the geological differences between the Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii, specifically their distinct lava compositions. Researchers propose that these differences arise from a split in the hot rock plume beneath Hawaii, occurring over 1,000 kilometers deep in the mantle, which draws material from different sources. A model simulating mantle rock flow over 250 million years supports this theory, suggesting that the plume's split could lead to the formation of separate island chains in the future. While the model has garnered interest for its explanatory power, some scientists express skepticism regarding its alignment with geochemical data from Kea-type lavas. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sciencemag.org. 2026/01, pN.PAG
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Chemistry
  • Publication Date:2026
  • Accession Number:191107729
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