Misplaced Pages

Pumice: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 17:26, 3 June 2005 editRussBot (talk | contribs)Bots1,405,750 editsm Robot-assisted disambiguation: Roman← Previous edit Revision as of 10:28, 5 June 2005 edit undoAlan Liefting (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, File movers, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers134,250 editsm rm less relevent image.Next edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
] volcano on ], ]. Density of specimen approx 0.25 ]/]. Scale is in ].]]
], below that is pumice and in lower right hand color is ] (light color).]]
'''Pumice''' is a light, porous type of ] ]. It is formed during explosive ] eruptions when liquid ] is ejected into the air as a froth containing masses of gas bubbles. As the lava solidifies, the bubbles are frozen into the rock. Any type of igneous rock — ], ], ] or ] — can form pumice given suitable eruptive conditions. When larger amounts of gas are present, the result is a finer-grained variety of pumice known as '''pumicite'''. '''Pumice''' is a light, porous type of ] ]. It is formed during explosive ] eruptions when liquid ] is ejected into the air as a froth containing masses of gas bubbles. As the lava solidifies, the bubbles are frozen into the rock. Any type of igneous rock — ], ], ] or ] — can form pumice given suitable eruptive conditions. When larger amounts of gas are present, the result is a finer-grained variety of pumice known as '''pumicite'''.


It is considered a ] because it has no crystal structure. Pumice varies in density according to the thickness of the solid material between the bubbles; many samples float in ]. It is widely used to make lightweight ] and as an ], especially in polishes and ] exfoliants. It is considered a ] because it has no crystal structure. Pumice varies in density according to the thickness of the solid material between the bubbles; many samples float in ]. It is widely used to make lightweight ] and as an ], especially in polishes and ] exfoliants.


] volcano on ], ]. Density of specimen approx 0.25 ]/]. Scale is in ].]]


When used as an additive for ], a fine-grained version of pumice called ] is mixed with ] to form a light-weight, smooth, plaster-like ]. This form of concrete was used as far back as ] times. When used as an additive for ], a fine-grained version of pumice called ] is mixed with ] to form a light-weight, smooth, plaster-like ]. This form of concrete was used as far back as ] times.

Revision as of 10:28, 5 June 2005

Specimen of highly porous pumice from Teide volcano on Tenerife, Canary Islands. Density of specimen approx 0.25 g/cm³. Scale is in cm.

Pumice is a light, porous type of pyroclastic igneous rock. It is formed during explosive volcanic eruptions when liquid lava is ejected into the air as a froth containing masses of gas bubbles. As the lava solidifies, the bubbles are frozen into the rock. Any type of igneous rock — andesite, basalt, dacite or rhyolite — can form pumice given suitable eruptive conditions. When larger amounts of gas are present, the result is a finer-grained variety of pumice known as pumicite.

It is considered a glass because it has no crystal structure. Pumice varies in density according to the thickness of the solid material between the bubbles; many samples float in water. It is widely used to make lightweight concrete and as an abrasive, especially in polishes and cosmetic exfoliants.


When used as an additive for cement, a fine-grained version of pumice called pozzolan is mixed with lime to form a light-weight, smooth, plaster-like concrete. This form of concrete was used as far back as Roman times.

Stub icon

This article about a specific mineral or mineraloid is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Categories: