Unique Tanzanian volcano erupts the coldest lava on Earth

An image captured from the International Space Station (ISS) on October 6, 2020, reveals the current state of the Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano in Tanzania. The photograph shows a distinct summit structure featuring an ash cone with a central dark spot of fresh lava that resembles a crown. Unique Chemical Composition and Lava Behavior Ol Doinyo Lengai is distinguished among the world's active volcanoes by the type of material it erupts. The volcano produces natrocarbonatite lava, which is rich in sodium, potassium, and calcium carbonate but contains low levels of silica. This chemical makeup results in three primary physical characteristics: