Beautifully coloured clay soils around the Krisuvik solfataras (boiling mud pools), South West Iceland

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In a high temperature geothermal area, with temperatures of 200C or more at 1000m depth, the surface rocks are greatly altered into clay, beautifully coloured by patches of chemical deposits. In the steaming hot waters of solfataras or boiling mud pools hydrogen sulphide is oxidiised into sulphuric acid, making the water very acid. This hot acid dissolves minerals from the surface rocks, so altering them into clay. The clay is coloured grey by iron sulphide and red by iron oxide deposits. The clay is also mixed with light coloured silica (silica oxide), yellow sulphur and white gypsum (calcium sulphate).

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Size: 5218px × 3465px
Location: Krisuvik High Temperature Geothermal Area, Reykjanes Peninsula, South West Iceland
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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