The ash, dust, gases, and lava released by volcanic explosion. The gases are volatile matter composed principally of about 90% water vapor, and carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen. The ash or dust is pyroclastic ejecta and lava is molten extrusive material consisting mainly of magnesium silicate. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed)
    

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Eruption of Mount Vesuvius; lava covering dwellings. Gouache painting by Mauton, 1834.

An eruption of Mount Etna at night; people in a boat in the foreground. Coloured aquatint by F. Weber after A. d'Anna.

An eruption of Mount Vesuvius at night; boat and two men in the foreground. Coloured aquatint by J.W. Edy after J. More, 1800.

Athanasii Kircheri Soc. Iesv. Diatribe. De prodigiosis crucibus, quae tam supra vestes hominum, quam res alias, non pridem post vltimum incendium Vesuuij montis Neapoli comparuerunt / [Athanasius Kircher].

Observations on Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and other volcanos: in a series of letters, addressed to the Royal Society / from the Honourable Sir W. Hamilton ... ; to which are added, explanatory notes by the author, hitherto unpublished.

Volcanic eruptions

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Catalogue

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius; lava covering dwellings. Gouache painting by Mauton, 1834.

Observations on Mount Vesuvius, Mount Etna, and other volcanos: in a series of letters, addressed to the Royal Society / from the Honourable Sir W. Hamilton ... ; to which are added, explanatory notes by the author, hitherto unpublished.

An eruption of Mount Vesuvius at night; boat and two men in the foreground. Coloured aquatint by J.W. Edy after J. More, 1800.

Italy (?): a volcano erupting in the background; boats and sailors in the foreground. Gouache painting, ca. 1830.

Krakatau : the destruction and reassembly of an island ecosystem / Ian Thornton.