Mens Short Sleeve Shirt: Charcoal formed approximately 50,000 years ago when lava from a Washington State volcano engulfed tree, carbonizing it.

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When lava flows over vegetation, the intense heat can carbonize organic material—especially wood—turning it into charcoal. This process doesn’t just leave behind scorched remnants; it creates a valuable scientific resource.

How It Happens

• Thermal Conversion: Lava temperatures can exceed 1,000°C. When it engulfs living or recently dead trees, the wood combusts and carbonizes, forming charcoal.
• Preservation: If the lava flow cools quickly or encases the charcoal, it can protect it from further oxidation or decay, preserving it for thousands of years.
• Radiocarbon Dating: Scientists use this charcoal to date volcanic eruptions. Since carbon-14 decays at a known rate, the age of the charcoal tells us when the lava flow occurred.