Project Description
This is the only building in La Graciosa almost fully formed by palagonitised deposits of clearly marked hydromagmatic features, with abundant pyroclastic structures associated with surtseyan eruptive mechanisms. The hydromagmatic materials are crowned by strombolian volcanic products with lava fall and emission deposits towards the north, through a horseshoe crater open in that direction. Many authors consider that the hydromagmatic and subaerial deposits, are part of the same eruptive event. However, the presence of a level of fossil beach between them, as well as the dismantling of the hydromagmatic building and the exhibition of its magmatic feeding system where the lava flows directly lean on, show how it was formed in two eruptive stages separated by a calm period. There are also important alveolization processes of the volcanic materials, on two layers, with abundant tafonis with panel structures.
This geosite has a mainly volcanological interest, and a secondary geomorphological and stratigraphic interest. The volcano-sedimentary structures that can be observed, are spectacular, from a volcanic and geomorphological point of view, as well as for its landscape value. Among them, not only does the best example of slumps on the Canary Islands stand out, but also spherical structures with a diameter above 1 dm, showing sizes not described in the specialised biography corresponding to accretional lapilli; the one of the highest magnitude on the archipelago