Steam Vent in Kilauea Iki crater

Closer look at a steam vent. The rocks are hydrothermally altered, oxidizing and hydrating from the steam. The original glass changes to form clays, zeolites, carbonates and other minerals. The green color may be biological from lichen, algae, or other microbes. The reddish color is from oxidation of iron bearing minerals to hematite. The whitish color may represent zeolites or carbonates.

Location