921 What's Under Hawaii is a Mystery...

26 Feb 2026The Hawaiian volcanic island chain is formed by a mantle plume, a dendritic tree-like structure of channels and branches, rising from the core-mantle boundary. While mantle plumes are commonly attributed to core-mantle boundary dynamics, an alternative theory suggests that large impact events, like those from iron meteorites, could also generate mantle plumes. This theory, known as “drip tectonics,” proposes that the impact’s heat and downward convection could create and sustain mantle plumes.