2006-10-25 08:51:55 · 14 answers · asked by half_a_job 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
"Ash" is actually small rock particles, by arbitrary definition finer than 2mm. This makes the particles comparable to sand in standard soils classifications.
Ash is a product of explosive volcanoes, which are normally (though not always) rich in quartz, so that is often the dominant mineral in ash particles. However, such explosion often result in very rapid cooling before mineral crystals can grow, so much ash is actually glass, with microscopic razor edges. That is why breathing volcanic dust, and gettiing it in your eyes etc, can be so dangerous.
2006-10-27 03:58:08 · answer #1 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ash in general is mineral, even if produced from organic substances.
Volcanic ash is not really the same as ash produced by combustion, but fine mineral dust blown out (or precipitated from spray lava) by explosions or jets of steam or other hot gases within the shaft.
2006-10-25 15:57:17 · answer #2 · answered by jorganos 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Volcanic ash is composed mostly by glass, with some minerals (plagioclase, quartz, and biotite), some rock fragments (called lithics). Volcanic ash, or the deposit teffra are very porous since the eruption is triggered by the expulsion of tons of gas, mostly water and lesser CO2 and SO2.
This ash has nothing to do with the ash produced by combustion of wood or coal, which is a very fine powder formed mostly by a mixture of oxides mostly CaO and iron oxides (precipitated by the impurities in the coal).
2006-10-26 12:59:42 · answer #3 · answered by Scientist13905 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why would it be organic? Whats living down inside of a volcano? No, its all rock and dust, the only way it would be organic is if there are some plants at the top of the volcano that get caught in the plume. It would be cinder, ash, all types of igneous material.
2006-10-25 16:00:06 · answer #4 · answered by bmwdriver11 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ash consists of mineral and rock. It is not organic. The only organic things that have any possibility at surviving at those tempertures are possibly Archaebacteria.
2006-10-25 15:55:38 · answer #5 · answered by John B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An eruption that creates ash or tephra is most definatly mineral. Ash is normally composed of rock fragments, glass and gasses. Ash is normally considered to be fragments of less than 2mm.
2006-10-25 19:24:53 · answer #6 · answered by CW 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Volcanic ash consists of very fine rock and mineral particles less than 2mm in diameter.
2006-10-25 15:55:52 · answer #7 · answered by sugarplum9903 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Purely mineral.
2006-10-25 15:57:15 · answer #8 · answered by Vincent G 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
not organic. not mineral at eruption but becomes mineral later maybe. certainly toxic.
2006-10-27 19:12:15 · answer #9 · answered by cherub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
mineral/ash as the volcanoe is basicaly being sick !
2006-10-25 16:50:20 · answer #10 · answered by SCARFACE 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋