Tinted detail of a photo: Polarised-light micrograph of a large bright blue crystal with a dark rim and cracks, surrounded by a dense mesh of small needle-shaped crystals in pink, yellow and blue.
GMPV
Geochemistry, Mineralogy, Petrology & Volcanology

Lava dome

Building a lava dome: one block at a time

Building a lava dome: one block at a time

Lava domes form when lava is extruded from a volcanic vent, but is too viscous to flow far away. Think of thick treacle that does not flow as easily as runny honey, and so when it is extruded, it forms a “lava pile” around the vent. Lava domes commonly form within the crater of a …[Read More]