Pumice, Obsidian, Tuff

Tuff:

 Pyroclastic texture
 Mainly ash (<2 mm) = explosive eruption to shred lava.
o If dominated by larger particles = volcanic breccia.
 May be hard or soft depending on degree of welding
 Not the same as tufa (a sedimentary rock)
 Ash fall tuff vs ash flow tuff (surge, pyroclastic flow)
 Mainly felsic to intermediate (rhyolitic to andesitic)
 Mafic (basaltic) less common unless lava-water interaction
Obsidian and Pumice: both volcanic glass, felsic composition

Obsidian:

 Not really a mineral or rock (no crystals, glassy texture)

 FELSIC composition (despite color). Iron impurities.
 Erupted as lava flow usually near end of eruption
 Lava is low in water content and lower temp (~800°C/1400°F)
 Devitrifies (“de-glassifies”) over time so no “old” obsidian
 Becomes hydrated over time and develops spherulites
(“snowflake obsidian”)

Pumice:

 Foamy, gas-rich obsidian (glass)

 Vesicular texture, light color (very thin vesicle walls)
 May contain crystals
 Erupted as pyroclast (tephra), explosive
 Naughty, explosive volcanoes: stratovolcano, caldera, lava dome