EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


Grotta di Serracozzo Lava Tube

February 14, 2023

Emanuele_epod_DSC_4668_124801_resized_20221221_121424136 (003)

Emanuele_epod_DSC_4684_01_125320_resized_20221221_121423805 (003)

Photographer: Emanuele Nifosi
Summary Author: Emanuele Nifosi

Earlier this winter I went on a trekking excursion on the flanks of
Mt. Etna to Serra delle Concazze. Along the way, we stopped at
the " Grotta di Serracozzo," a lava tube created during the
1971 eruption of Etna. This grotto is 350 m (~1,150 ft) long.
At the entrance it’s about 3 m (10 ft) wide and 6 m (20 ft) high but
then narrows the further in you go. The fractured lava walls of the
grotto are striking, recalling aligned and symmetrical squares. They’re
created by thermal contraction.

The volcanological guide pointed out that the rock, unlike what it
might seem, is not wet. Rather, whenever water contacts the surface
rapid oxidation occurs that alters the chemical elements contained
within the rock, making it appear damp. Note that as you can see in the
bottom photo, light and fresh air enter this grotto through several
natural chimneys.

Photo details: Top Photo - Nikon D700 camera; NIKKOR 35-105 lens, 35
mm; f/5.6; ISO 800; 1 sec. exposure; flash rear + slow (handheld).
Photo taken on 12 December 2022, h17:08 (UTC +1)

Bottom Photo - Nikon D700 camera; NIKKOR 35-105 lens, 35 mm; f/4; 1/80
sec. exposure; ISO 800. Photo taken on 12 December 2022, 5.01 pm,


Serra delle Concazze, Catania, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 37.756310,
15.053764


Related EPODs

Grotta di Serracozzo Lava Tube Volcanoes of the Northern Oregon
Cascade Range Mushroom Rock State Park Subterranean Cathedral
of Salt in Sicily Opalized Fossil of a Cycad Cone Radial Stress
Fracture
More...

Geology Links

* Earthquakes
* Geologic Time
* Geomagnetism
* General Dictionary of Geology
* Mineral and Locality Database
* Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness
* This Dynamic Earth
* USGS
* MyShake - University of California, Berkeley
* USGS Ask a Geologist
* USGS/NPS Geologic Glossary
* USGS Volcano Hazards Program

-
Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the Universities
Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu

--- up 50 weeks, 1 day, 21 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (21:1/186)