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Definition of volcanic glass
: natural glass produced by the cooling of molten lava too rapidly to permit crystallization
Examples of volcanic glass in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web Carved from obsidian, or volcanic glass, thousands of the triangular objects, known as mata'a, litter the surface of the island.
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Fox News, "Easter Island discovery: Experts shed new light on the mystery of the civilization’s 'collapse'," 11 Feb. 2020 Volcanic ash is typically a mixture of volcanic glass, minerals or crystals and other rock fragments expelled during the eruption.
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Amy Gunia, Time, "Taal Volcano in the Philippines Has a History of Deadly Eruptions. Here's What Could Happen Next," 14 Jan. 2020 As minutes became hours, waves choked with shards of volcanic glass and splintered rock rippled back and forth, coating the peaks in a layer of impact rock called suevite, the scientists said.
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Fox News, "Scientists uncover new evidence of the asteroid that killed off the dinosaurs," 10 Sep. 2019 Strands of volcanic glass called as Pele's hair was accumulating on the ground in Leilani Estates and surrounding neighborhoods, and winds may blow lighter particles farther away, scientists said.
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Caleb Jones, Fox News, "Current lava flows are hottest, fastest of latest eruption," 1 June 2018 Strands of volcanic glass called as Pele’s hair was accumulating on the ground in Leilani Estates and surrounding neighborhoods, and winds may blow lighter particles farther away, scientists said.
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Washington Post, "Current lava flows are hottest, fastest of latest eruption," 30 May 2018 Pele's hair: Pele's hair — fine strands of volcanic glass fibers — is formed from lava fountains and rapidly moving lava flows, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
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Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "What in the world are vog, laze and Pele's hair? A volcano glossary," 1 June 2018 Residents also have had to contend with poisonous gases given off by the lava, which can include laze -- hydrochloric acid and volcanic glass particles.
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Paul P. Murphy, CNN, "Lava flow evaporates Hawaii's largest freshwater lake within hours," 6 June 2018 Lava from the volcano has also been spewing a deadly plume containing tiny particles of volcanic glass.
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James Rogers, Fox News, "Hawaii volcano: Kilauea lava boiled away Big Island's largest freshwater lake," 13 June 2018
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'volcanic glass.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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The first known use of volcanic glass was in 1780
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