Story: Volcanoes

Minerals from Mayor Island

Minerals from Mayor Island

The bright bottle-green crystals (called aegirine) are from the Tūhua Tephra, erupted from Mayor Island (Tūhua) about 7,000 years ago. The crystals are unusual – they’re found only in material from Mayor Island, so are used to identify Tūhua Tephra. This sample came from a core at Lake Rotomānuka, near Hamilton.

Using this item

University of Waikato
Photograph by David J. Lowe

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, 'Volcanoes - Tephra layers – a record of past eruptions', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8732/minerals-from-mayor-island (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, published 12 Jun 2006