VESICULAR LAVA FROM AN 1858 ERUPTION OF VESUVIUS - Vesuvius, Italy
« back
VESICULAR LAVA
Vesuvius, Italy
From an eruption of Vesuvius in 1858
When lava erupts at the surface it is often full of gas bubbles which formed as the pressure was released on eruption. When the lava hardens into rock the bubbles are left as cavities which are known as vesicles. A volcanic rock with gas bubble cavities is known as vesicular.
If these cavities become filled with crystals of minerals, the filled cavities are known as amygdales and the rock is known as amygdaloidal.
This example has numerous cavities but it also contains crystals of various minerals. It was collected in the 1950s and has an accompanying label which unfortunately has been water damaged.
Click on a picture for a larger image
Size: 10 x 8.5 x 5 centimetres
Weight: 341 grams
|
