Global Volcanism Program | Image GVP-07945

$The giant pumice beds at Primavera volcano represent an unusual sedimentation event following formation of La Primavera caldera. Individual pumice blocks from 0.3 to more than 6 m across are enclosed within fine-grained volcanic ash-rich lake sediments. The giant pumice blocks originated by eruption of rhyolitic lava into a caldera lake. The pumice fractured into large blocks that floated to the surface, rafted across the lake, and settled to the bottom after becoming waterlogged. Subsequent deposition of fine-grained lake sediments buried the pumice blocks. Photo by Jim Luhr, 1979 (Smithsonian Institution).$

The giant pumice beds at Primavera volcano represent an unusual sedimentation event following formation of La Primavera caldera. Individual pumice blocks from 0.3 to more than 6 m across are enclosed within fine-grained volcanic ash-rich lake sediments. The giant pumice blocks originated by eruption of rhyolitic lava into a caldera lake. The pumice fractured into large blocks that floated to the surface, rafted across the lake, and settled to the bottom after becoming waterlogged. Subsequent deposition of fine-grained lake sediments buried the pumice blocks.

Photo by Jim Luhr, 1979 (Smithsonian Institution).

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Sierra la Primavera