Rocks and Minerals
Since the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is home to the volcano Kīlauea, there are lots of different rocks such as lava, ash, black sand, Lapilli, and more.
Lava, which the natives call 'A'a, come from the volcanoes and as the lava flows downslope, they carry lots of cooled lava fragments and create different layers.
Volcanic ash is made up of rocks, minerals, and volcanic glass fragments. While most ash is soft and fluffy, like ash from burning paper, or wood; this ash is hard, and does not dissolve in water. It is also very abrasive, and is similar to crushed window glass. Volcanic ash is created during explosive eruptions by the breaking of solid rocks and the violent separation of cooled magma, making them into tiny pieces.
Since the Hawaiian islands are made of many different volcanoes, the cooling lava or magma from those lava flows can form many different Igneous rocks and minerals. There are four different types of lava bu the main two are Mafic and Felsic. Mafic is a silicate mineral with high concentrations of iron and magnesium elements. Felsic is also a silicate mineral with a high concentration of feldspar and Quartz minerals. While magic rocks are dark in color, Felsic is light.
Lava, which the natives call 'A'a, come from the volcanoes and as the lava flows downslope, they carry lots of cooled lava fragments and create different layers.
Volcanic ash is made up of rocks, minerals, and volcanic glass fragments. While most ash is soft and fluffy, like ash from burning paper, or wood; this ash is hard, and does not dissolve in water. It is also very abrasive, and is similar to crushed window glass. Volcanic ash is created during explosive eruptions by the breaking of solid rocks and the violent separation of cooled magma, making them into tiny pieces.
Since the Hawaiian islands are made of many different volcanoes, the cooling lava or magma from those lava flows can form many different Igneous rocks and minerals. There are four different types of lava bu the main two are Mafic and Felsic. Mafic is a silicate mineral with high concentrations of iron and magnesium elements. Felsic is also a silicate mineral with a high concentration of feldspar and Quartz minerals. While magic rocks are dark in color, Felsic is light.