OLIVINE XENOLITHS IN BASALT LAVA - Auvergne, France
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Olive-green mass of olivine crystals
Puy-de-Dôme, Auvergne, France
Xenoliths are pieces of ‘foreign’ material found as inclusions in igneous rock. Here the xenoliths consist of a mass of crystals of the iron mineral olivine within basalt lava.
These olive green xenoliths originate at great depth in the Earth’s mantle and are brought to the surface by volcanoes. The gem-quality variety of olivine is known as the gemstone peridot.
This example is from the Auvergne in France and was formed during a period of volcanic activity some 11,000 years ago.
This example is from the Auvergne in France and was formed during a period of volcanic activity some 11,000 years ago.
Click on a picture for a larger image
Size: 11 x 7 x 7 centimetres
Weight: 827 grams
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