BUBBLE FILLING   BUBBLE FILLING
Altered Basalt
Locality Unknown

Molten lava erupted by volcanoes freezes very quickly, leaving holes where gas bubbles used to be. These holes in the rock soak up fluids like a sponge. A variety of minerals can settle out from the fluids and collect along the bubble walls. You are looking at a cut through the edge of a bubble in volcanic glass. This bubble has been completely filled up. A thin layer of quartz crystals was deposited first, followed by the layer of celadonite (orange). A piece of celadonite later broke off the wall and is sealed in place by calcite which filled the rest of the bubble.

Crossed polarizers

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