Lava spine
A lava spine (or lava spire) is a vertical growth of solid lava that is forced from a volcanic vent. A lava spine can either be formed by viscous lava slowly being pushed out of the vent, or by magma that has solidified within the vent before being pushed out.[1]
In February 1983, the dome activity of Mount St. Helens culminated in a spine that reached a height of about Script error: No such module "convert". before collapsing after two weeks, but in 2005 another lava spine (called the Whaleback) lasted until it collapsed in July 2005. In November 2005, a new spine, called "the slab" grew continuously until late 2006, though it continually collapsed under its own weight; the growth finally stopped in January 2008, when Mount St. Helens' eruption ended. Another example is a spine that appeared on the lava dome of the Soufrière Hills Volcano in Montserrat prior to the volcano's eruption in 1997. [2]
Gallery
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A spire of lava on top of the lava dome of Soufrière Hills volcano
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A lava spine at the summit of Mount Pelée in 1902
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"Whaleback", Mount St. Helens
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See also
References
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