Sean David
@vaccinium-sultan.bsky.social
Mai ka ʻāina i ke oho o ka malanai....
Geology (mantle petrology & volcanology) and botany adventures between Hawaiʻi and Utah.
Vaccinium_sultan on IG and elsewhere.
Geology (mantle petrology & volcanology) and botany adventures between Hawaiʻi and Utah.
Vaccinium_sultan on IG and elsewhere.
Pinned
Sean David
@vaccinium-sultan.bsky.social
· Jan 16
Garnet Pyroxenite mantle xenolith
Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Once thought to originate from the deepest known magmatic fractional crystallization processes in an oceanic region, two-pyroxene geothermometry supports a mid-lithospheric origin.
#pyroxenite #geology #xenolith #hawaii #volcanology
Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Once thought to originate from the deepest known magmatic fractional crystallization processes in an oceanic region, two-pyroxene geothermometry supports a mid-lithospheric origin.
#pyroxenite #geology #xenolith #hawaii #volcanology
Kilbourne Hole peridotite mantle xenolith with area of dark orthopyroxene crystals formed via the rock-melt reaction MG2Si04 + Si02 → 2MgSi03. Part of a complex history involving rock-melt interaction, refertilization, and multiple metasomatic events.
#xenolith #peridotite #pyroxene #orthopyroxene
#xenolith #peridotite #pyroxene #orthopyroxene
November 17, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Kilbourne Hole peridotite mantle xenolith with area of dark orthopyroxene crystals formed via the rock-melt reaction MG2Si04 + Si02 → 2MgSi03. Part of a complex history involving rock-melt interaction, refertilization, and multiple metasomatic events.
#xenolith #peridotite #pyroxene #orthopyroxene
#xenolith #peridotite #pyroxene #orthopyroxene
Loose labradorite xenocrysts originally hosted by tholeiitc basalt of thr compound cinder cone of Sunstone Knoll, itself rather altered by Lake Bonneville with zeolites locally abundant.
Ice Springs Subfield,Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#labradorite #geology #geoscience #mineral #crystal
Ice Springs Subfield,Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#labradorite #geology #geoscience #mineral #crystal
November 16, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Loose labradorite xenocrysts originally hosted by tholeiitc basalt of thr compound cinder cone of Sunstone Knoll, itself rather altered by Lake Bonneville with zeolites locally abundant.
Ice Springs Subfield,Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#labradorite #geology #geoscience #mineral #crystal
Ice Springs Subfield,Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#labradorite #geology #geoscience #mineral #crystal
Metasomatism is one of my least favorite things, but at least the classic propylitic alteration mineral assemblage involving chloritization and epidotization yields a rather aesthetic look.
(Quartz?) monzonite
Silver City Stock (Oligocene)
Tintic Mountains,Utah
#metasomatism #geology #geoscience
(Quartz?) monzonite
Silver City Stock (Oligocene)
Tintic Mountains,Utah
#metasomatism #geology #geoscience
November 14, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Metasomatism is one of my least favorite things, but at least the classic propylitic alteration mineral assemblage involving chloritization and epidotization yields a rather aesthetic look.
(Quartz?) monzonite
Silver City Stock (Oligocene)
Tintic Mountains,Utah
#metasomatism #geology #geoscience
(Quartz?) monzonite
Silver City Stock (Oligocene)
Tintic Mountains,Utah
#metasomatism #geology #geoscience
Towards the edge of a possible caldera
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Towards the edge of a possible caldera
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
Some silica-rich eruptive products of the Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
November 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Some silica-rich eruptive products of the Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
Mahogany + snowflake obsidian
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
November 9, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Mahogany + snowflake obsidian
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
Twin Peaks Subfield, Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field, Utah
#Obsidian #rhyolite #volcanism #geology #geoscience #volcanicglass
Retrograde eclogite imprinted with blueschist facies minerals including phengite (golden flakey mineral), actinolite (black needles), and glaucophane (blue).
Franciscan Complex, California
#eclogite #blueschist #metamorphism #geology #geoscience #glaucophane #mica #amphibole
Franciscan Complex, California
#eclogite #blueschist #metamorphism #geology #geoscience #glaucophane #mica #amphibole
November 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Retrograde eclogite imprinted with blueschist facies minerals including phengite (golden flakey mineral), actinolite (black needles), and glaucophane (blue).
Franciscan Complex, California
#eclogite #blueschist #metamorphism #geology #geoscience #glaucophane #mica #amphibole
Franciscan Complex, California
#eclogite #blueschist #metamorphism #geology #geoscience #glaucophane #mica #amphibole
Oligocene rhyolite cut by andesite and pebble dikes. Extensive argillization and limonite staining. Initially identified as a quartz latite, the Packard Quartz Latite (35.27 ± 0.03 ma) plots as a subalkaline rhyolite.
East Tintic Mountains, Utah
#geology #geoscience #rhyolite #pebbledikes
East Tintic Mountains, Utah
#geology #geoscience #rhyolite #pebbledikes
November 3, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Oligocene rhyolite cut by andesite and pebble dikes. Extensive argillization and limonite staining. Initially identified as a quartz latite, the Packard Quartz Latite (35.27 ± 0.03 ma) plots as a subalkaline rhyolite.
East Tintic Mountains, Utah
#geology #geoscience #rhyolite #pebbledikes
East Tintic Mountains, Utah
#geology #geoscience #rhyolite #pebbledikes
Mineralogy folks, does this look like red beryl?
Matrix is rhyolite,
Topaz Mountain, Utah
Matrix is rhyolite,
Topaz Mountain, Utah
November 3, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Mineralogy folks, does this look like red beryl?
Matrix is rhyolite,
Topaz Mountain, Utah
Matrix is rhyolite,
Topaz Mountain, Utah
November 2, 2025 at 7:27 PM
So excited to be back here in a week!
Topaz
Thomas Mountains, Utah
#topaz #geology #geoscience #rhyolite #mineral
Topaz
Thomas Mountains, Utah
#topaz #geology #geoscience #rhyolite #mineral
October 26, 2025 at 12:15 AM
So excited to be back here in a week!
Topaz
Thomas Mountains, Utah
#topaz #geology #geoscience #rhyolite #mineral
Topaz
Thomas Mountains, Utah
#topaz #geology #geoscience #rhyolite #mineral
Spinel lherzolite mantle xenolith hosted by phonotephrite (collected with permission)
San Carlos Volcanic Field, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona
#peridotite #xenolith #lherzolite #geology #geoscience #volcano
San Carlos Volcanic Field, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona
#peridotite #xenolith #lherzolite #geology #geoscience #volcano
October 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Spinel lherzolite mantle xenolith hosted by phonotephrite (collected with permission)
San Carlos Volcanic Field, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona
#peridotite #xenolith #lherzolite #geology #geoscience #volcano
San Carlos Volcanic Field, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Arizona
#peridotite #xenolith #lherzolite #geology #geoscience #volcano
In things that make me happy, a bit of the collection...Lawsonite blueschist, eclogitic blueschist, glaucophanite, various eclogites, orthopyroxenite, clinopyroxenite, garnet websterite
#eclogite #pyroxenite #blueschist #clinopyroxenite #websterite #garnet #metamorphic #geology #geoscience
#eclogite #pyroxenite #blueschist #clinopyroxenite #websterite #garnet #metamorphic #geology #geoscience
October 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
In things that make me happy, a bit of the collection...Lawsonite blueschist, eclogitic blueschist, glaucophanite, various eclogites, orthopyroxenite, clinopyroxenite, garnet websterite
#eclogite #pyroxenite #blueschist #clinopyroxenite #websterite #garnet #metamorphic #geology #geoscience
#eclogite #pyroxenite #blueschist #clinopyroxenite #websterite #garnet #metamorphic #geology #geoscience
Olivine is my second fav mineral after pyropic garnet and am super loving this forsteritic olivine ring. Peridotite xenolith in phonotephrite is from the classic location of the San Carlos volcanic field.
#olivine #xenolith #peridotite
#olivine #xenolith #peridotite
October 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Olivine is my second fav mineral after pyropic garnet and am super loving this forsteritic olivine ring. Peridotite xenolith in phonotephrite is from the classic location of the San Carlos volcanic field.
#olivine #xenolith #peridotite
#olivine #xenolith #peridotite
This looks like weathered olivine right? This olivine-phyric dike would be the only one I've encountered within the Koʻolau Caldera where hydrothermal alteration was extensive and unforgiving. It looks similar to Makapuʻu-stage (≤2.6 ma) picrites further south.
#geology #geoscience #picrite #dike
#geology #geoscience #picrite #dike
October 19, 2025 at 2:55 PM
This looks like weathered olivine right? This olivine-phyric dike would be the only one I've encountered within the Koʻolau Caldera where hydrothermal alteration was extensive and unforgiving. It looks similar to Makapuʻu-stage (≤2.6 ma) picrites further south.
#geology #geoscience #picrite #dike
#geology #geoscience #picrite #dike
My hometown in the Koʻolau Caldera. Kailua Member of the Koʻolau Basalt and a dike of (likely) basaltic andesite. Reference location is super close to here. I recieved a grant that will cover next semester (that unfortunately has to be spent at a Utah university) but would rather be back here.
October 18, 2025 at 12:08 AM
My hometown in the Koʻolau Caldera. Kailua Member of the Koʻolau Basalt and a dike of (likely) basaltic andesite. Reference location is super close to here. I recieved a grant that will cover next semester (that unfortunately has to be spent at a Utah university) but would rather be back here.
End of a hike over the subaerial Koko Rift from Hanauma to Kaupō. A sweatiest me standing on Kaupō flow (basanite) with Makapuʻu (tholeiitic picrites-basaltic andesite) rising behind. Olivine is the only phenocryst of Kaupō which have some of the highest MgO on the Koko Rift.
#geology #geoscience
#geology #geoscience
October 11, 2025 at 9:18 PM
End of a hike over the subaerial Koko Rift from Hanauma to Kaupō. A sweatiest me standing on Kaupō flow (basanite) with Makapuʻu (tholeiitic picrites-basaltic andesite) rising behind. Olivine is the only phenocryst of Kaupō which have some of the highest MgO on the Koko Rift.
#geology #geoscience
#geology #geoscience
Widespread Laumontite precipitated in vesicles of the Kailua Member of the Koʻolau Basalt indicate circulating hydrothermal fluids here were around 300° C (Zeolite Facies).
Kailua, Koʻolau, Oʻahu
#geology #geoscience #zeolite #volcano #hydrothermal #amygdule #metamorphism
Kailua, Koʻolau, Oʻahu
#geology #geoscience #zeolite #volcano #hydrothermal #amygdule #metamorphism
October 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Widespread Laumontite precipitated in vesicles of the Kailua Member of the Koʻolau Basalt indicate circulating hydrothermal fluids here were around 300° C (Zeolite Facies).
Kailua, Koʻolau, Oʻahu
#geology #geoscience #zeolite #volcano #hydrothermal #amygdule #metamorphism
Kailua, Koʻolau, Oʻahu
#geology #geoscience #zeolite #volcano #hydrothermal #amygdule #metamorphism
Muffins made with ʻŌhelo ʻai (Vaccinium reticulatum,V. peleanum), endemics of east Maui and Hawaiʻi Island and a close relative of the salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) with the largest fruit in the genus, ʻĀkala (Rubus hawaiensis).
#botany #plantscience #rubus #vaccinium #plants #baking #hawaii
#botany #plantscience #rubus #vaccinium #plants #baking #hawaii
October 7, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Muffins made with ʻŌhelo ʻai (Vaccinium reticulatum,V. peleanum), endemics of east Maui and Hawaiʻi Island and a close relative of the salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) with the largest fruit in the genus, ʻĀkala (Rubus hawaiensis).
#botany #plantscience #rubus #vaccinium #plants #baking #hawaii
#botany #plantscience #rubus #vaccinium #plants #baking #hawaii
Spinel peridotite mantle xenolith and accidental fragment of Koʻolau. Basalt (note the plag phenocrysts) hosted in melilite nephelinite tuff.
Moanalua vent, Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
#geoscience #geology #volcanology #volcano #mantle #xenolith #spinel #peridotite #Hawaii
Moanalua vent, Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
#geoscience #geology #volcanology #volcano #mantle #xenolith #spinel #peridotite #Hawaii
October 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Spinel peridotite mantle xenolith and accidental fragment of Koʻolau. Basalt (note the plag phenocrysts) hosted in melilite nephelinite tuff.
Moanalua vent, Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
#geoscience #geology #volcanology #volcano #mantle #xenolith #spinel #peridotite #Hawaii
Moanalua vent, Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
#geoscience #geology #volcanology #volcano #mantle #xenolith #spinel #peridotite #Hawaii
Makapuʻu-Stage #Koʻolau Basalt has the most radiogenic Sr87/86 of #Hawaiʻi #lavas, low εNd, Hf176/177, and Pb206/204, and high La/Nb and Sr/Nb indicating a filament of recycled material (secondary garnet #pyroxenite via #eclogite) of the Hawaiian ULVZ associated with the Pacific LLSVP.
#geology
#geology
October 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Peridotite mantle xenolith hosted by basanite
Nuʻuanu Pali vent (640-600 ka), Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Collection of @volcanoesinthesea.bsky.social
#peridotite #xenolith #geology #geoscience #volcano
Nuʻuanu Pali vent (640-600 ka), Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Collection of @volcanoesinthesea.bsky.social
#peridotite #xenolith #geology #geoscience #volcano
September 28, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Peridotite mantle xenolith hosted by basanite
Nuʻuanu Pali vent (640-600 ka), Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Collection of @volcanoesinthesea.bsky.social
#peridotite #xenolith #geology #geoscience #volcano
Nuʻuanu Pali vent (640-600 ka), Honolulu Volcanics, Koʻolau, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Collection of @volcanoesinthesea.bsky.social
#peridotite #xenolith #geology #geoscience #volcano
Not a rock or mineral but a me training for #rugby pic....hopefully will translate into the ability to also carry so many mantle and crustal xenoliths.
September 27, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Not a rock or mineral but a me training for #rugby pic....hopefully will translate into the ability to also carry so many mantle and crustal xenoliths.