Glass Threads Spun From a Volcano’s Bubbly Magma
The New York Times • • science
Key Points:
- Pele’s hair are extremely thin strands of volcanic glass named after Pele, a Hawaiian mythology figure, and have been observed in volcanic regions like Hawaii and Iceland.
- These delicate strands form when bubbly magma is stretched and can reach lengths of up to two feet, often light brown or yellow in color.
- Pele’s hair can travel significant distances carried by the wind, as seen recently when strands from Kilauea volcano landed 20 miles away in Pahala, Hawaii.
- The formation process involves bits of lava being tossed into the air and stretched by volcanic gas jets, then spun out by the wind.
- This research on Pele’s hair was recently published in the journal Geology by a team of scientists and glass artists.
