VOLCANIC BOMB - Stromboli, Italy

VOLCANIC BOMB

Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, Italy

When a volcano erupts it often throws out large blobs of molten lava which cool and solidify as they travel through the air. These volcanic ‘bombs’ can take a variety of forms but often acquire aerodynamic shapes by the flow of air during their flight.

This fine example is from Stromboli, the most active volcano in Europe, which has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2,000 years. It is slightly twisted in form as a result of spinning during flight, and contains fragments of previously solidified lava.

This specimen is from an old collection. It is not known when it was collected.

Please note: This specimen weighs over 5 kilograms!

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