These fresh, dark-colored lava flows in the summit crater of Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania were erupted on 21 July 2004 from the spatter cone (about 12 m high) at the upper left, as well as other vents. The chemistry of these carbonatite lava flows causes rapid alteration of the flows, which can give them a light-colored surface within a few days of eruption. Frequent eruptions of small-volume lava flows in the summit crater began in 1983 and gradually filled the previously deep crater.

Photo by Frederick Belton, 2004 (Tennessee State University).

This image is made available under the Creative Commons BY-NC 4.0 license terms.

Galleries: Lava Flows

Keywords: carbonatite | lava flow | lava | vent | eruption

Ol Doinyo Lengai