Pillow Basalts form when basaltic (ultrmafic) magmas erupt underwater. If youve ever lit up snakes on the 4th of July or another holiday you have seen a tiny analogous structure form. The water almost instantly quenches the surface of the very liquid and runny eruption and the molten interior must break through the crust and ooze out in new toothpaste like bursts of magma. These pile repeatedly on top of each other forming structures like you see in this picture. Spreading centers of the earths crustal plates are typical locations for this activity. The mid Atlantic Ridge is typical. The Volcanic activity associated with the Hot Spot under the Hawaiian Islands also forms Pillow Basalts when the magma reaches the sea.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 04:23:37 +0000
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