Vesicles in basalt (3D recon)

Alternate views of a 3D reconstruction of a portion of vesicular basalt showing the non-spherical nature of the bubbles and their three-dimensional connectivity. Differences in modal vesicle sizes of units from the bottom and top of basaltic lava flows preserve a quantitative record of paleoelevation at the time of eruption. When combined with geochronology on the flows, determinations of the paleoelevation yield quantitative rates of continental uplift. (Sample courtsey of Dr. Dork Sahagian, University of New Hampshire).

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