Lava cave

Classic lava tube passage

A lava cave is any cave formed in volcanic rock, though in typical use it usually means caves formed by volcanic processes, which are more properly termed volcanic caves. Sea caves, and other sorts of erosional and crevice caves, may be formed in volcanic rocks, but are unrelated to volcanic processes and typically form long after the volcanic rock was emplaced.

Types

There are many types of lava caves, with these being the most notable:

  • Ice caves Some lava tubes are referred to as ice caves because they contain ice within.[3]
  • Liftup caves are related to pressure ridges and the inflationary process. Liftup caves can form on the edges of pressure ridges or pressure plateaus. When the concave edge of a ridge or plateau begins to expand outward it commonly leaves a void. Liftup caves are usually no more than 5–10 feet (1.5–3.0 m) though longer ones have been discovered up to 30 ft (9.1 m) long.[6]

See also

Images

References

  1. Halliday, W.R. (2004). "Volcanic Caves". In Gunn, John. Encyclopedia of Caves and Karst Science. Dearborn, London: Fitzroy. pp. 760–764.
  2. Palmer, A.N. (2007). "Caves in Volcanic Rocks". Cave Geology. Dayton, Ohio: Cave Books.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Larson, Charles V. (1993). "An Illustrated Glossary of Lava Tube Features". p. 56.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Larson, Charlie & Jo (1987). "Other Types of Volcanic Caves". Central Oregon Caves. Vancouver, Washington: ABC Publishing. p. 44.
  5. Nieuwenhuis, L. (August 1991). "Floor Modifications in Small Lava Tubes" (PDF). Sixth International Symposium on Vulcanospeleology: pp. 259–261. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
  6. 6.0 6.1 Chitwood, Lawrence A. (1989-01, Vol.2 no. 1 pp. 1-2,4). "Inflated Lava" (PDF). Desert Ramblings, The Newsletter of the Oregon Natural Desert Association. Retrieved 2009-08-09. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. Halliday, W.R. (November 1995). "A record year in Hawaii". NSS News.
  8. Chappell, W.M.; Durham, J.W. & Savage, D.E. (1951): Mold of a Rhinoceros in Basalt, Lower Grand Coulee, Washington. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America, 62(8): 907-918.
  9. Kaler, K.L. (1988): The Blue Lake Rhinoceros. Washington Geologic Newsletter, 16(4): 3-8.