What would you say if we told you that the size of a particle has an effect on how it behaves? Sound crazy? It’s not.
There are many examples in nature where small particles have very different properties than large ones. For example, ash and lapilli are two types of pyroclastic particles that come from volcanic eruptions.
They both look similar, but they’re actually quite different! Check out this blog post to find out more about these two pyroclastics and what makes them unique!
What are pyroclastics and what do they come from?
Pyroclastic particles form when hot, gas-rich rocks cool quickly. When this happens, the rock breaks up into small pieces that fly away at high speeds (150 mph). These fragments of volcanic material can range in size from tiny dust to large boulder-sized blocks.
Why is the term “pyroclastic” interesting? The word “pyro” means fire or heat; so a pyroclastics particle reflects something that comes from fire or heat! –
How big is an ash particle and how does it differ from lapilli? An ash particle is usually around 0.05 mm wide for smaller eruptions.
