Pyroclastic

Rocks
I.G.Kenyon

Pyroclastic Rocks
Consist of fragmental volcanic
material blown into the atmosphere
by explosive activity
Mainly associated with
felsic volcanoes

Pyroclastic Rocks 2 Main Groups

Material ejected from the volcano as
liquid globules which solidifies in the
air and is deposited as solid particles
Material ejected from the volcano
as solid fragments, this solid
material has been fractured
by the explosive activity

Materials Ejected in a Liquid State

Peles Hair
Volcanic Bombs
Pumice
Scoriae

Peles Hair
A fine mass of
hair-like glass
Formed by lava being
exuded through a small
orifice and blown
about by the wind
Resembles candy
floss in
appearance

1cm

Volcanic Bombs
Larger masses of liquid
lava thrown into the air
They rotate and take on
characteristic shapes
Spindle-bombs and breadcrust bombs
are most common-usually vesicular
Vary in size from small droplets
to several cubic metres

Volcanic Bombs
Some bombs have a
characteristic breadcrust
surface, others resemble
cauliflowers or cowpats
depending on the way
they land and solidify.

Bombs develop a rounded or almond

shape as they are twirled through the air.

Volcanic bombs are large

fragments of molten lava up
to 1m in diameter expelled
during an eruption.

Section through a Volcanic Bomb

Highly vesicular interior

5cm

Breadcrust exterior, finer

grained and less vesicular
due to more rapid cooling

Pumice
Highly vesicular material
derived from acid lavas
Very high porosity
and low density
So light that it may
float on water

Pumice
Specimen from
Mt. Teide, Tenerife
Mineralogy: quartz,
feldspar and mica
Volcanic,
felsic igneous
rock
Low density, high
porosity, floats on water

Vesicles up to
3cm in diameter

Microscopic grain size, very rapid

cooling at the earths surface

2cm

Scoriae
Associated with mafic lavas
Vesicular but denser than pumice
Globules of lava are ejected and
the exterior chills and solidifies
Interior is still hot and molten
Upon landing they are still soft and
are flattened into pancake shapes

Section through Strombolian Scoriae Cone

Bedding dips 32SE
The cone has been half excavated for
use in the construction industry

Some layers rich in

volcanic bombs

2m

Strombolian refers to the style of

pyroclastic eruption in which
fragments of incandescent,
vesiculating basaltic magma are
ejected to a moderate height, landing
as solid scoria to form a cone

Strombolian Scoriae Cone

Volcanic bombs occur
up to 50cm in diameter

The structure is very friable

and has an unstable surface
Scoriae clasts range
in size from 3 to 15cm

Material Ejected in a Solid State

Agglomerate-fragments >64mm in diameter

Lapilli fragments 64mm - 2mm in diameter

Ash, Tuff & Dust fragments <2mm in diameter

Agglomerate Volcanic Breccia

Derived from agglomero
meaning gather into a heap
Formed of volcanic or country rock
in the vent or as part of the cone
Produced by explosive activity which
often shatters the top of the cone
Coarse material is ejected a relatively short
distance before settling back to earth
Comprises angular fragments >64mm
surrounded by finer tuff and lapilli

Agglomerate Volcanic Breccia

5cm

Large angular fragments

up to 10cm in diameter

Vent
Agglomerate
Large fragments surrounded
by material of ash and lapilli size

AgglomerateVolcanic Breccia, Arico, Tenerife

Chaotic mixture of boulders over

2m to ash <2mm in diameter

Lapilli Particles 2 64mm

Derived from lapillus
meaning a little stone

Most commonly small

pea to walnut sized

Tuff Particles <2mm

The lithified equivalent of volcanic ash
Classified according to the nature
of the pyroclastic fragments
Crystal Tuffs composed of mainly crystals
Lithic Tuffs composed of fragments of rock
Vitric Tuffs composed of glassy fragments
Welded Tuffs (Ignimbrites) hot fragments
welded together in Nues Ardentes eruptions

The Formation of Ignimbrites

Associated with Pyroclastic Flows
Nues Ardentes style eruptions
Glowing fireclouds 300-1000C
Particles weld together on settling

Activity on Augustine, Alaska, photograph by M.Krafft

The Chimiche Ignimbrite, Arico, Tenerife

It is unwelded as the
particles were cool by the
time they had fallen 10-15km
through the atmosphere
back to earth

15m

This deposit covers more than 150 km2 of the ChimicheArico part of the island. It is thought to represent the
collapse of a 10-15 km high plinian eruptive column

Volcanic Ash Unconsolidated

material <2mm in diameter

Road cutting in the Guimar Valley, Tenerife

The