From Kilauea poured a shower of gems

The eruption of the Hawaiian volcano Kilauea has shed a rain of tiny green gems on the streets and beaches of the Big island.

Olivine — a green mineral, which in its magnesium-rich form is known as peridot. The peridot have been used for centuries to create jewelry, and in some cases can cost $ 450 per carat.

This week, local residents shared photos of the small olivines in social networks. They call them "little jewels of Kilauea" and say: "Literally a rain of gems!"

Cheryl Ganseki, a geologist from the University of Hawaii in Hilo, which is studying the composition of lava of Kilauea, said that there are two reasons why gemstones are often found because of the eruptions.

"Lava, which erupts now very rich in crystals, and therefore residents find the olivines. They can also be transported in the particles of pumice (lava quickly cooled), which scattered the area around the volcano or remained after weak lava rocks split."

Olivine is often found in samples of lava and rock in Hawaii. Stanley Mertzman, a volcanologist from the College of Franklin and Marshall says:

"Olivine crystals that people find on the ground appear from discarded bubble basalt. The olivine is simply released from the surrounding basaltic liquid, pahoehoe (thick lava)".

Kilauea blew again on Thursday, spitting out the ashes on the Big island. Volcano erupts more than 40 days, endangering people, homes and businesses.

Translated by «Yandex.Translator»