Chronology of the Explosive Eruptions of Kilauea

THE EXPLOSIVE ERUPTIONS of Kilauea, both prehistoric and historic, have been much discussed in the literature on Hawaiian volcanoes. Some early general observations attributed all of the surface ash deposits to the known explosive eruption of 1790 (Dana, 1891: 42-45; Jaggar,I921: 114-118); others recognized evidence of several different prehistoric explosions (Hitchcock, 1911: 166-169; Sidney Powers, 1916). Later studies, with better exposures in artificial cuts on the windward rim of the crater, demonstrated a number of long intervals of quiet between several eruptions (Finch, 1925; . Stone, 1926) . This paper adds another, still more detailed, chapter to the accumulated knowledge, but much remains to be learned and recorded before complete understanding of the explosive phases of the volcano is attained. Many of the thoughts expressed herein are the result of discussion and exchange of ideas in the field with many coworkers, whose contributions are gratefully accepted and acknowledged. T. A. Jaggar, R. H. Finch, E. G. Wingate, A. E. Jones, all formerly with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory; J. E. Doerr, Jr ., former naturalist, Hawaii National Park; H. S. Palmer of the University of Hawaii; C. K Wentworth of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply; and G. A. Macdonald of the United States Geological Survey have all contributed to the accumulation and consideration of material which is presented in this paper. The erratic original deposition of the pyroclastics of Kilauea, controlled by combinations of atmospheric elements and directed explo-