Story: Geology – overview

Ignimbrite cliffs

Ignimbrite cliffs

Welded Ongatiti ignimbrite is exposed in steep cliffs capping the hills near Te Kūiti. Originally erupted as an enormous cloud of incandescent ash and pumice about 1.2 million years ago, the ignimbrite blanketed the landscape in the central part of the North Island. Now exposed by erosion, the ignimbrite rests on top of mudstone, which is almost entirely covered by grass. Fallen blocks of ignimbrite litter the hillside.

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Photograph by Steve Edbrooke

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How to cite this page:

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, 'Geology – overview - Quaternary volcanism', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/8398/ignimbrite-cliffs (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, published 12 Jun 2006