Where is Pumice found?
Pumice
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Open the appPumice occurs in specific geological environments. Knowing where to look, and in what kind of rock, is the difference between going home empty-handed and finding a great specimen.
Where to find Pumice
Aeolian Islands, Italy
Particularly the island of Lipari, famous for extensive pumice deposits from ancient and recent eruptions.
Santorini, Greece
Known for its massive pumice deposits from the Minoan eruption and other caldera-forming events.
New Zealand
The Taupo Volcanic Zone contains vast pumice deposits from numerous large-scale eruptions, including the Oruanui and Taupo eruptions.
Oregon, USA
Crater Lake National Park and surrounding areas have significant pumice deposits from the eruption that formed Crater Lake.
Indonesia
Many volcanic islands, such as Sumatra and Java, have extensive pumice deposits from explosive eruptions like Krakatoa and Toba.
Japan
Numerous volcanic regions, including Kyushu and Hokkaido, feature pumice deposits from active volcanoes.
Collecting tips
- Look for Volcanic Regions. Pumice is exclusively found in areas with active or geologically recent explosive volcanism. Focus your search on volcanic fields, stratovolcanoes, and caldera rims.
- Identify Pyroclastic Deposits. Pumice is a component of pyroclastic fall deposits (ash and lapilli layers) and ignimbrites (welded or unwelded ash-flow tuffs). Look for layers of light-colored, frothy rock fragments.
- Check for Buoyancy. A definitive test for pumice is its ability to float on water due to its high porosity. If you find a lightweight, vesicular rock, try placing a small piece in water.
- Examine Texture and Color. Pumice is typically light-colored (white, gray, cream) and has a distinctive frothy, spongy, and rough texture. It feels very light for its size.
- Coastal and Riverine Deposits. Pumice can be transported long distances by water. Look for pumice pebbles and cobbles along coastlines, lake shores, and riverbeds downstream from volcanic sources.
Quick Check
- Color:
- Light (white, gray, cream, pale yellow)
- Luster:
- Dull to vitreous (glassy)
- Streak:
- White
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