Volcanic Bomb
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The Story
These unusual rocks form when an explosive volcano ejects viscous globs of lava during an eruption. Volcanic bombs can be extremely large and may travel many miles from the vent where they originated. As the magma flies through the air, it acquires an aerodynamic shape which, if it hardens well enough before falling back to the ground, may retain its characteristic shape and pattern. These bombs are some of the best we have ever found – in size, shape, and surface patterning. Add to that the fact they also fluoresce, and you have a truly unique geologic specimen.
Their story began way below the surface of the planet, as liquid magma in the mantle, some of which was violently blasted out of a volcano. As these blobs flew through the air, they were aerodynamically sculpted and shaped, acquiring characteristic flow lines and “keels”. Finally, the bomb returned to Earth and impacted on the surface, where it was buried in ashfall and other sediments. Later the whole region was uplifted in a mountain-building episode and those sediments were eroded, releasing the volcanic bombs we find there today.
Volcanic bombs can be a significant hazard – causing severe injuries to people in an eruption zone. In 2018, 23 people were injured near the Kilauea volcano as a result of a basketball-sized volcanic bomb hitting their tour boat. No one was killed, but it sure gave them something to talk about later!
These particular bombs were ejected from volcanoes which abounded in northern Nevada about 8 million years ago. The bombs erode out of the Miocene sediments in which they landed and are found on the surface today. Most of them were hollow when they originally formed and, over ensuing millions of years, became lined with milky white chalcedony which fluoresces various shades of green and sometimes light pink.
These specimens not only showcase the dynamic processes of volcanic eruptions but also serve as valuable records of the region’s geological history.
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Volcanic Bomb (EB1)
Notes specific to this specimen: Large, excellent, classic fusiform bomb with superb aerodynamic striations. Natural split reveals chalcedony interior which fluoresces a vibrant green. This specimen is first class.
SIZE: 12″ x 5″ x 4″
NAME: Various forms
AGE: Pliocene Epoch- 5 million years
UNIT: Banbury Formation
SITE: Elko County, Nevada
DATE: 2020Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin.
$585.00Volcanic Bomb (EB1)
$585.00 -
Volcanic Bomb (EB12)
Notes specific to this specimen: Large, rare, combination fusiform bomb. This is the result of three individual magma projectiles running into each other in flight. In this case the merge of these three individuals was early in the ejection event but after the individual projectiles had started acquiring their own individual character. The combination of these three bombs resulted in one very large cigar-shaped bomb which acquired it’s own form which dominated the final shape before falling back to Earth.
SIZE: 15″ x 6″ x 5″
NAME: Various forms
AGE: Pliocene Epoch- 5 million years
UNIT: Banbury Formation
SITE: Elko County, NevadaDATE: 2020
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin.
$695.00Volcanic Bomb (EB12)
$695.00 -
Volcanic Bomb (EB14)
Notes specific to this specimen: Rare double bomb. These unique specimens form when two magma projectiles run into each other in flight before they completely harden. In this case the merge was early in the ejection event, before the two projectiles had started to acquire their own individual character. Instead the combination of the two was almost obliterated by the overall form taking shape before they fell back to Earth.
SIZE: 9″ x 6″ x 4″
NAME: Various forms
AGE: Pliocene Epoch- 5 million years
UNIT: Banbury Formation
SITE: Elko County, NevadaDATE: 2020
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin.
$695.00Volcanic Bomb (EB14)
$695.00 -
Volcanic Bomb (EB2)
Notes specific to this specimen: Rare, beautifully-shaped double bomb. These unique specimens form when two magma projectiles run into each other in flight before they completely harden. Each had started to acquire it’s own individual character before they combined and fell to Earth.
SIZE: 4″ x 6″ x 3″
NAME: Various forms
AGE: Pliocene Epoch- 5 million years
UNIT: Banbury Formation
SITE: Elko County, Nevada
DATE: 2020Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin.
$385.00Volcanic Bomb (EB2)
$385.00 -
Volcanic Bomb (EB4)
Notes specific to this specimen: Large classic plump fusiform bomb with great aerodynamic striations. It looks like it encountered another in flight but did not complete the merging with it. Natural breaks reveals chalcedony interior which fluoresces a vibrant green. A great specimen.
SIZE: 10″ x 5″ x 4″
NAME: Various forms
AGE: Pliocene Epoch- 5 million years
UNIT: Banbury Formation
SITE: Elko County, NevadaDATE: 2020
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin.
$265.00Volcanic Bomb (EB4)
$265.00 -
Volcanic Bomb (EB6)
Notes specific to this specimen: Complex plump fusiform bomb with smooth aerodynamic striations. Apparently ran into another bomb during flight and part of that bomb is still attached but is not complete. Natural breaks reveal chalcedony interior which fluoresces a vibrant green. Unusual.
SIZE: 7″ x 4″ x 4″
NAME: Various forms
AGE: Pliocene Epoch- 5 million years
UNIT: Banbury Formation
SITE: Elko County, NevadaDATE: 2020
Documentation: This authentic fossil specimen comes with a Certificate of Authenticity and Origin.
$310.00Volcanic Bomb (EB6)
$310.00
