Volcanic slag
- Date: 1962 (sampling)
- Location: Isla Bartolomé, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
- Collection: History of Sciences
Why did Ghent University embark on an expedition to the Galápagos Islands in 1962?
During the late 1950s, there was a growing concern among scientists about the conservation of the Galápagos Islands’ biodiversity. The largest threat to that biodiversity was the unregulated tourism and the immigration of farmers from the Andes government, which was encouraged by the government. De 1962 expedition was organised in the context of this concern. The members of the expedition attempted to gather as much information as possible about the Galápagos Islands’ soil condition.
What makes these rocks interesting to this day?
This particular collection continues to be one of the largest collections with respect to the geological composition of the Galápagos Archipelago. The collection does not just contain rock samples taken from Santa Cruz Island; it also holds rocks found on other islands that are part of the Archipelago. Not only did scientists collect soil samples, but they also collected samples of the underlying volcanic rocks.
What kind of rock is this?
This particular volcanic slag, an extrusive rock predominantly composed of volcanic ash and glass, is surprisingly light and has many holes. Its red colour is believed to be caused by weathering.
