RHYOLITE LAVA - Glen Coe Volcano, Scotland
« backRHYOLITE LAVA
420 million years old
420 million years old
Glen Coe Volcano, Scotland
The beautiful valley known as Glen Coe in Scotland was once the site of a catastrophic volcanic eruption. About 420 million years ago extensive flows of andesite and rhyolite lavas were produced from explosive eruptions, accompanied by glowing clouds of extremely hot gas and rock (pyroclastic flows). Eventually the roof of the magma chamber collapsed, forming a caldera some 10 kilometres in diameter.
Evidence of this event is preserved in the rocks of the glen, including cross sections through the lava flows.
The beautiful valley known as Glen Coe in Scotland was once the site of a catastrophic volcanic eruption. About 420 million years ago extensive flows of andesite and rhyolite lavas were produced from explosive eruptions, accompanied by glowing clouds of extremely hot gas and rock (pyroclastic flows). Eventually the roof of the magma chamber collapsed, forming a caldera some 10 kilometres in diameter.
Evidence of this event is preserved in the rocks of the glen, including cross sections through the lava flows.
This is an example of the highly explosive lava known as rhyolite, showing the flow banding.
Click on a picture for a larger image
Size: 13 x 9 x 4 centimetres
Weight: 865 grams
-6141-p.jpg?v=9768D94C-5803-4CFB-B732-AC055B1CC688)
-6141-p.jpg?v=2D8A77E4-D5FF-46BD-BB0E-D62610FEFF20)
-6141-p.jpg?v=17D2E4C2-C18A-49A1-88DD-4FCE45D00C3F)
