The flow of basalt lava from air into water – its structural expression and stratigraphic significance

Abstract

When basalt lava flows from air into water it leaves a distinctive record of the waterlevel of the time in the form of lava sheets overlying and passing down into vitric breccia and/or pillow lava. Relative movements of waterlevel and a volcanic pile or terrain over a period of time may be readily deciphered from such records.