The Water Like Lava Which Hasn’t Erupted for 90 Million Years; Komatiite

Approximately 90 million years ago, a shield volcano erupted an unusual type of lava which flowed like water and quickly travelled downhill at speeds exceeding 60 miles or 100 kilometers per hour. This rare lava, referred to as Komatiite, formed very thin layers of material much like a dusting of snow. The eruption marked the first time in more than 2 billion years that it had erupted as the earth's mantle used to be warmer. Today, komatiite lavas are associated with large gold and nickel deposits.

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Graphics of eruption dates are courtesy of the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institute. https://volcano.si.edu/

Thumbnail Photo Credit: USGS, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory

0:00 A Strange Eruption in Colombia
0:40 Spinifex Structure
1:05 Komatiite Lava
1:48 Heat in the Mantle
2:12 Archean Period Volcanics
3:09 Why Komatiite Flowed Like Water
3:54 Where Komatiites are Found Today
4:11 Associated with Gold & Nickel
Google Earth imagery used in this video: ©Google