Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lava Tube

  • Living reference work entry
  • Latest version View entry history
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms

  • 19 Accesses

Synonyms

Drain pipe of solid lava; Lava tunnel; Pyroduct (Kempe 2012); Rheogenic cave (Halliday 2004a); Volcanic flow drain (Larson 1993)

Definition

“A conduit formed of hardened lava, on or within a lava flow through which lava flows to an advancing flow front, also a cavernous segment of the conduit remaining after flow ceases” (Larson 1992).

“Roofed conduits of flowing lava, either active, drained, or plugged” (Halliday 2004a).

Description

Slightly sinuous and/or branched tunnels in the near subsurface, subparallel to the surface itself. Their cross-sectional forms are usually arched, round, oval, or keyhole shaped, due to accretion of lava to the sidewalls and the downcutting of lava flows into the underlying rocks. Lava tubes typically form in the pahoehoe type of basaltic lava, and seldom in aa type. At the surface, lava tubes may exhibit characteristic features such as linear to sinuous elongated depressions (pit crater), chains of pits or craters (pit crater chain), or skylight...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Blair DM, Chappaz L, Sood R, Milbury C, Bobet A, Melosh HJ, Freed AM (2017) The structural stability of lunar lava tubes. Icarus 282:47–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleacher JE, Greeley R (2004) Preliminary lava tube-fed flow abundance mapping on Olympus Mons. 35th Lunar Planet Sci, abstract #1378, Houston

    Google Scholar 

  • Bleacher JE, Greeley R, Williams DA, Cave SR, Neukum G (2007) Trends in effusive style at the Tharsis Montes, Mars, and implications for the development of the Tharsis province. J Geophys Res 112:E09005. https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JE002873

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bleacher JE, Richardson PW, Garry WB, Zimbelman JR, Williams DA, Orr TR (2011) Identifying lava tubes and their products on Olympus Mons, Mars and implications for planetary exploration. 42nd Lunar Planet Sci Conf, abstract #1805, Houston

    Google Scholar 

  • Braden S (2011) Sinuous chain of depressions. http://lroc.sese.asu.edu/news/index.php?/archives/234-Sinuous-Chain-of-Depressions.html

  • Bunnell D (2008) Caves of fire: inside America’s lava tubes. National Speleological Society, Huntsville

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvari S, Pinkerton H (1998) Formation of lava tubes and extensive flow field during the 1991–1993 eruption of Mount Etna. J Geophys Res 103(B11):27291–27301. https://doi.org/10.1029/97JB03388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chappaz L, Sood R, Melosh HJ, Howell KC, Blair DM, Milbury C, Zuber MT (2017) Evidence of large empty lava tubes on the Moon using GRAIL gravity. Geophys Res Lett 44:105–112. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL071588

  • Coombs CR, Hawke BR (1992) A search for intact lava tubes on the Moon: possible lunar base habitats. In: The second conference on lunar bases and space activities of the 21st century, vol 1, pp 219–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Cushing GE (2012) Candidate cave entrances on Mars. J Caves Karst Stud 74(1):33–47. https://doi.org/10.4311/2010ex0167r

  • Daga A et al (n.d.) Lunar and Martian lava tube exploration as part of an overall scientific survey. A white paper submitted to the Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2013–2022. http://www.lpi.usra.edu/decadal/leag/AndrewWDagaFINAL.pdf

  • Greeley R (1971) Lava tubes and channels in the lunar Marius Hills. Earth Moon Planet 3(3):289–314. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00561842

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greeley R (1987) The role of lava tubes in Hawaiian volcanoes. In: Decker RW, Wright TL, Stauffer PH (eds) Volcanism in Hawaii. USGS Professional Paper 1350. United States Government Printing Office, pp 1589–1602

    Google Scholar 

  • Greeley R, Hyde JH (1972) Lava tubes of the Cave basalt, Mount St. Helens, Washington. Geol Soc Am Bull 83:2397–2418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greeley R, Spudis PD (1981) Volcanism on Mars. Rev Geophys Space Phys 19(1):13–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregg TKP, Greeley R (1992) Formational constraints on Venusian “canali”. Lunar Planet Sci Conf 23:449–450, Houston

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimes K (2008) Small Subcrustal Lava caves: examples from Victoria, Australia. In: Espinasa R, Pint J (eds) Proceedings of the X, XI, and XII international symposia on vulcanospeleology, vol 19. Association for Mexican Cave Studies Bulletin, pp 35–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Halliday WR (2004a) Volcanic caves. In: Gunn J (ed) Encyclopedia of caves and karst science. Fitzroy Dearborn, New York, pp 761–764

    Google Scholar 

  • Halliday WR (2004b) Pseudokarst. In: Gunn J (ed) Encyclopedia of caves and karst science. Fitzroy Dearborn, New York, pp 605–608

    Google Scholar 

  • Haruyama J, Hioki K, Shirao M, Morota T, Hiesinger H, van der Bogert CH, Matsunaga T (2009) Possible lunar lava tube skylight observed by SELENE cameras. Geophys Res Lett 36:L21206. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL040635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hon K, Kauahikaua J, Denlinger R, Mackay K (1994) Emplacement and inflation of pahoehoe sheet flows: observations and measurements of active lava flows on Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Geol Soc Am Bull 106:351–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hon K, Gansecki C, Johnson J (2004) Lava flows and lava tubes – what they are, how they form. DVD film, Volcano Video Productions, Hilo

    Google Scholar 

  • Horz F (1985) Lava tubes – potential shelters for habitats. Lunar bases and space activities of the 21st century (A86-30113 13–14). Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, pp 405–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaku T, Haruyama J, Miyake W, Kumamoto A, Ishiyama K, Nishibori T, Yamamoto K, Sarah TC, Michikami T, Yokota Y, Sood R, Melosh HJ, Chappaz L, Howell KC (2017) Detection of intact lava tubes at Marius Hills on the Moon by SELENE (Kaguya) Lunar Radar Sounder. Geophys Res Lett 44:10,155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kauahikaua J, Cashman KV, Mattox TN, Heliker CC, Hon KA, Mangan MT, Thornber CR (1998) Observations on basaltic lava streams in tubes from Kilauea Volcano, island of Hawai’i. J Geophys Res 103:27,303–27,323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kempe S (2012) Volcanic rock caves. In: Culver DC, White BW (eds) Encyclopedia of caves, 2nd edn. Elsevier/Academic, Waltham, pp 865–873

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Kempe S, Werner MS (2003) The Kuka‘iau Cave, Mauna Kea, Hawaii, created by water erosion, a new Hawaiian cave type. J Cave Karst Stud 65(1):53–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempe S, Bauer I, Bosted P, Coons D, Elhard R (2010) Inflationary versus crusted-over roofs of pyroducts (Lava tunnels). In: Proceedings 14th international symposium on vulcanospeleology, pp 93–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Keszthelyi L (2008) Inflated pahoehoe at Rima Hadley. 39th Lunar Planet Sci Conf, abstract #2339

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson CV (1992) Nomenclature of lava tube features. In: Rea GT (ed) 6th international symposium of vulcanospeleology, Hilo, August 1991. National Speleological Society

    Google Scholar 

  • Larson CV (1993) An illustrated glossary of lava tube features. Washington Speleological Survey Bulletin, vol 87. Vancouver/Washington. http://www.worldcat.org/title/illustrated-glossary-of-lava-tube-features/oclc/31766802&referer=brief_results

  • Lavoie KH, Winter AS, Read KJH, Hughes EM, Spilde MN, Northup DE (2017) Comparison of bacterial communities from lava cave microbial mats to overlying surface soils from Lava Beds National Monument, USA. PLoS One 12(2):e0169339. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leone G (2014) A network of lava tubes as the origin of Labyrinthus Noctis and Valles Marineris on Mars. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 277:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Léveillé RJ, Datta S (2010) Lava tubes and basaltic caves as astrobiological targets on Earth and Mars: a review. Planet Space Sci 58(4):592–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller AZ, Pereira MFC, Calaforra JM, Forti P, Dionísio A, Saiz-Jimenez C (2014) Siliceous Speleothems and Associated Microbe-Mineral Interactions from Ana Heva Lava Tube in Easter Island (Chile). Geomicrobiol J 31(3):236–245. https://doi.org/10.1080/01490451.2013.827762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peterson DW, Holcomb RT, Tilling RI, Christiansen RL (1994) Development of lava tubes in the light of observations at Mauna Ulu, Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Bull Volcanol 56:343–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riedel SJ, Sakimoto SEH (2002) Topographic constraints on lava tube effusion rates for Alba Patera, Mars. Lunar Planet Sci 33:1410, Houston

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson MS, Ashley JW, Boyd AK, Wagner RV, Speyerer EJ, Ray Hawke B, Van Der Bogert CH (2012) Confirmation of sublunarean voids and thin layering in mare deposits. Planetary and Space Science 69:18–27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pss.2012.05.008

  • Sakimoto SEH, Baloga SM (1995) Thermal controls on tube-fed planetary lava flow lengths. Lunar Planet Sci 26:1217–1218, Houston

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakimoto SEH, Crisp J, Baloga SM (1997) Eruption constraints on tube-fed planetary lava flows. J Geophys Res 102(E3):6597–6613. https://doi.org/10.1029/97JE00069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sauro F, Pozzobon R, De Berardinis P, Massironi M, De Waele J (2017a) Digital Terrain Model (DTM) morphometry of sinuous pit chains and atypical pit craters related to colossal inflated lava tubes on Mars. In: 17th International Congress of Speleology Sydney (Australia), vol 1, p 375

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauro F, Pozzobon R, De Berardinis P, Massironi M, De Waele J (2017b) Morphometric comparison and genetic implications of terrestrial, lunar and martian lava tubes. In: European Planetary Science Congress 2017 (Riga), vol 11, EPSC2017-584

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauro F, Pozzobon R, Massironi M, De Berardinis P, Santagata T, De Waele J (2020) Lava tubes on Earth, Moon and Mars: A review on their size and morphology revealed by comparative planetology. Earth Sci Rev 209:103288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103288

  • Shick H (2008) Understanding lava tubes and lava caves. Trafford, Victoria, 125 p

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood C (1976) Caves in rocks of volcanic origin. In: Ford TD, Cullingford CHD (eds) The science of speleology. Academic, London, pp 127–150

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nyugat-magyarországi Egyetem, Földrajz és Környezettudományi Intézet, Szombathely, Hungary

    Péter Gadányi

  2. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Italian Institute of Speleology, Bologna University, Bologna, Italy

    Francesco Sauro

  3. Institut für Planetologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany

    Carolyn H. van der Bogert

Authors
  1. Péter Gadányi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Francesco Sauro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Carolyn H. van der Bogert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Péter Gadányi .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

    Henrik Hargitai

  2. Institute for Advanced Study, Collegium Budapest, Budapest, Hungary

    Ákos Kereszturi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Gadányi, P., Sauro, F., van der Bogert, C.H. (2022). Lava Tube. In: Hargitai, H., Kereszturi, Á. (eds) Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_474-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_474-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-9213-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9213-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Earth and Environm. ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Lava Tube
    Published:
    12 February 2023

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_474-2

  2. Original

    Lava Tube
    Published:
    09 September 2014

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_474-1

Search

Navigation