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Geologic Unit: Sugar Loaf
Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sugar Loaf basalt*
  • Modifications:
    • Named
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Basalt
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Oahu
Publication:

Stearns, H.T., 1935, Geography and geology, [Island of Oahu, Hawaii], Part 1, IN Stearns, H.T., and Vaksvik, K.N., Geology and ground-water resources of the Island of Oahu, Hawaii: Hawaii Division of Hydrography Bulletin, no. 1, p. 3-198.


Summary:

Named for and occurs at Sugar Loaf Crater (Puu Kakea), the cinder cone at vent from which basalt poured over 800-ft cliff into Manoa Valley. [Honolulu 7.5' quad] Island of Oahu. Part of "Tantalus chain of craters." Included in upper part of Honolulu volcanic series. Is massive gray dense, roughly columnar-jointed basalt overlain with aa clinker. Is 40 ft thick at Moiliili quarry. Microscopic specimens are nephelite-melilite basalt. "Fire fountain deposits" of Sugar Loaf and Tantalus vents intermingle. Ball lava occurs near Sugar Loaf vent. Overlies reef limestone of Waimanalo stand of the sea. Assigned latest Pleistocene or Recent age.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sugar Loaf lava
  • Modifications:
    • Geochronologic dating
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Oahu
Publication:

Gramlich, J.W., Lewis, V.A., and Naughton, J.J., 1971, Potassium-argon dating of Holocene basalts of the Honolulu volcanic series, IN Note and Discussion: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 82, no. 5, p. 1399-1404.


Summary:

K-Ar ages on nepheline-melilite from Sugar Loaf lava from Honolulu Volcanic Series range from 68 +/-3 ka to 66 +/-3 ka.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sugarloaf flow
  • Modifications:
    • Age modified
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Oahu
Publication:

Ferrall, C.C., 1981, Evidence for Honolulu volcanic series eruptions less than 12,000 years before present [abs.]: American Geophysical Union, EOS Transactions, v. 62, no. 17, p. 431.


Summary:

Low density of estuarine and lagoonal deposits indicate deposition during last advance of sea from the worldwide minimum [approx.] 18,000 yr B.P. Presence of volcaniclastics over these young marine sediments at -40 m implies maximum age of [less than approx] 12,000 yr B.P. Sugarloaf flow may have erupted as late as 6,000 yr B.P.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Sugar Loaf Basalt†
  • Modifications:
    • Abandoned
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Oahu
Publication:

Langenheim, V.A.M., and Clague, D.A., 1987, Stratigraphic framework of volcanic rocks of the Hawaiian Islands, Part II, IN The Hawaiian-Emperor volcanic chain, Chapter 1, OF Decker, R.W., Wright, T.L., and Stauffer, P.H., eds., Volcanism in Hawaii: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, v. 1, 1350, p. 55-84. [http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_42485.htm]


Summary:

Sugar Loaf Basalt (Stearns, IN Stearns and Vaksvik, 1935) abandoned as formally named unit and called Sugar Loaf flow (and associated cinder cone and ash deposits), informal unit of Honolulu Volcanics.

Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).


For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.

Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.

"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).

Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).

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