Kōrero: Volcanoes

The summit of Mt Tarawera consists of a group of rhyolite lava domes extruded in the final stages of the Kaharoa eruption, about 1314 AD. The early explosive phases of this eruption spread rhyolitic ash over much of northern and eastern North Island. The photograph shows Wahanga, the northern dome of the summit cluster, which exhibits the steep sides and flat top typical of a rhyolite lava dome. Mt Tarawera sprang to life again on 10 June 1886. An explosive eruption of basalt blasted a line of craters through the domes, draping them with layers of basaltic scoria and ash.