Lava pillars main content.

Lava pillars

Part of Hall of Planet Earth.

Lava Pillars AMNH/R.Mickens

Exhibition Text

These pillars were collected on the East Pacific Rise.  The cold water solidified the surface, which insulated the molten lava inside.  Seawater trapped under the molten flow percolated upward, cooling the surrounding lava and creating pillars of solid rock within the flow. When the flow level decreased, the pillars remained.

Provided by Prof. Dan Fornari, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

For Educators

Topic: Earth Science

Subtopic: Volcanoes

Keywords: Ocean bottom, Volcanoes, Magmas, Mid-ocean ridges, Lava, Volcanism

Audience: General