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Story: Volcanoes

Mayor Island

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Mayor Island

Mayor Island (Tūhua) is the top of a large rhyolite volcano in the western Bay of Plenty. The central ring of cliffs marks the edge of a caldera formed by an explosive eruption about 7,000 years ago. The black volcanic glass known as obsidian is found in some lava flows on the island.

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GNS Science

Reference: CN9167/9

by Lloyd Homer

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How to cite this page

Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, Volcanoes – Pacific Ring of Fire, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8697/mayor-island (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, published 2 March 2009.