Surprising Science — August 20, 2014

Watch Your Fingers! Geologist on Hawaiian Volcano Collects Lava Samples.

Think your job has you under a lot of pressure? Here’s one that’s put you above a lot of pressure… magma pressure, that is.

From the U.S. Geological Survey:

“At the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, we’ve got one job that really packs in the heat! Here, an HVO geologist shields his face from intense heat as he dips a rock hammer into an active pāhoehoe toe. After scooping out the lava it is placed in the water to quench it. HVO routinely collects lava samples for chemical analysis, which can give insight into changes in the magmatic system.”

Photo credit: U.S. Geological Survey / Flickr

Kahaualea Ahupua`a, Leilani Estates, Hawaii

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