What Causes Lava Tubes

Lava tubes. Lava tubes are by-products of volcanic processes themselves. They form either as the result of surface cooling of lava flows or the result of sequential lava flows, with later flows going underneath the older ones and cavities by a process called inflation.

Are lava tubes caused by erosion?

Lava tubes can be entered at the beginning and at the end of the tube. In between there are two kinds of openings or skylights, hornitos and roof collapses. Hornitos formed while the lava was still flowing, collapses are a result of subsequent erosion.

What type of lava creates lava tubes?

Formation. A lava tube is a type of lava cave formed when a low-viscosity lava flow develops a continuous and hard crust, which thickens and forms a roof above the still-flowing lava stream.