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Deep-ocean pillow basalt

Deep-Ocean Pillow Basalt

Exhibition Text

This sample was dredged from a seafloor spreading center near Japan. The shiny black surface is glass, a product of rapid cooling of lava underwater. The white crystals in the glassy crust are plagioclase, a common mineral in most rocks.

Loaned by the Geological Survey of Japan

For Educators

Topic: Earth Science