Thursday, August 31, 2023

Out of the Jurisdiction: Basalt Columns

We have seen basalt columns all over Iceland.  They form after volcanic eruptions when the magma cools.  Most often the cooling takes place from the top down, creating vertical basalt columns.

But in the Vatnajokull National Park, there are remarkable formations in which the basalt crystals formed circular patterns from magma that cooled from all sides concurrently,

3 comments:

Taken For Granted said...

Wonderful looking geology. Enjoy the rest of your trip and keep the photos posted.

Linda said...

We have some in the Appalachian mountains in Virginia.

William Kendall said...

Fascinating!