
An Erebus crystal
Erebus crystal is an
anorthoclase mineral, a type of
feldspar found in the immediate area surrounding
Mount
Erebus
in
Antarctica
near
McMurdo Station
. . This particular feldspar crystal is rich in
sodium,
potassium,
and
aluminum silicate.
Similar
crystals can also be found on Mount Kenya
.
Though the formation and growth of these crystals is not well
understood, it is evident that the crystals grow in the magma
beneath Mount Erebus and are ejected out of the mountain encased in
glassy
volcanic bombs. This glass
structure quickly weathers away leaving the mountainside covered in
crystals.
References
- The Antarctic Sun: Mount Erebus Throws Fit (Page
2)
- Origins: Antarctica: Field Notes: Five Senses on
Erebus