New Zealand’s only ignimbrite cave

 

Today we discovered a rare ignimbrite cave in New Zealand after a landslide exposed its entrance. It’s within ignimbrite that is estimated to be around 8 million years old. It’s amazingly preserved and untouched by the elements. The cave remains in a pristine state and its walls are still a flawless white.

Ignimbrite caves are exceptionally uncommon, formed during intense volcanic events where superheated gases and volcanic debris flow at incredible speeds, eventually cooling and solidifying into rock. As far as we’re aware, there are no other known ignimbrite caves in New Zealand.