Geology Project 009 - Red Crater Dyke - Tongariro Volcano, New Zealand
Red Crater is one of the youngest vents of New Zealand’s Tongariro Volcano. It lies within a scoria cone which rests on top of older Tongariro lava flows. It began erupting approximately 3000 years ago. The most recent confirmed volcanic activity from Red Crater was reported between 1855 and 1890.
A prominent feature of Red Crater is the lava dike on the wall of the cone, in the center of the image above.
This feature was formed as molten magma moved to the surface through a vertical channel in the crater wall. Having solidified at its outer surface, the dike was later left partially hollow when the magma drained from below as the eruption ceased. Being more resistant than the surrounding scoria, this structure was left exposed while the surroundings were eroded by wind and rain.
The red colour of the cone is from high temperature oxidation of iron in the rock
Geology Project 009 - Red Crater Dyke - Tongariro Volcano, New Zealand
Red Crater is one of the youngest vents of New Zealand’s Tongariro Volcano. It lies within a scoria cone which rests on top of older Tongariro lava flows. It began erupting approximately 3000 years ago. The most recent confirmed volcanic activity from Red Crater was reported between 1855 and 1890.
A prominent feature of Red Crater is the lava dike on the wall of the cone, in the center of the image above.
This feature was formed as molten magma moved to the surface through a vertical channel in the crater wall. Having solidified at its outer surface, the dike was later left partially hollow when the magma drained from below as the eruption ceased. Being more resistant than the surrounding scoria, this structure was left exposed while the surroundings were eroded by wind and rain.
The red colour of the cone is from high temperature oxidation of iron in the rock