I don't understand what pyroclastics are. Could you tell me what
they are and what they have to do with volcanoes.
Blair Greenberg
Hi Blair,
Pyroclastic refers to any volcanic rock that was hurled through the air by
volcanic activity. A pyroclastic eruption is one in which the great
majority of activity involves fountaining or explosions. A pyroclastic
deposit is the resulting layer or pile of material that has fallen to the
ground by one or many pyroclastic eruptions. A pyroclastic rock is the
hardened, solidified, or compressed version of an originally loose
pyroclastic deposit.
The word is a combination of "pyro" or fire, and "clastic" or made up of
many pieces. The other major product of volcanoes is lava.
As you might imagine there are all types of pyroclastic eruptions,
pyroclastic deposits, pyroclastic rocks, and pyroclastic particles. For
example "volcanic ash" refers to the finest-grained type of pyroclastic
particle. It wall often form a pyroclastic fall deposit, which when it
hardens (if it hardens) will be called tuff. Another type of pyroclastic
particle is called cinder, and this refers usually to basaltic material
thrown out in a lava fountain. Cinder is full of bubbles (vesicles), and
usually is thrown high enough so that when it lands it has solidified and
won't stick together. That is why cinder cones consist of loose piles of
cinder, and are so difficult to walk up.
So you see, "pyroclstic" has everything to do with volcanoes.
Sincerely,
Scott Rowland
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