Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Volcanic Caves of Lanzarote: A Natural Laboratory for Understanding Volcano-Speleogenetic Processes and Planetary Caves

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands Geopark: From Earth to Space

Part of the book series: Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism ((GGAG))

Abstract

The volcanic island of Lanzarote hosts an impressive variety of cavities formed by different volcanic processes. The presence of well preserved lava fields belonging to historic eruptions and more ancient and weathered quaternary and pliocene terrains and the association with an arid climate provide the unique opportunity of studying volcanic caves at different stages of evolution on the same volcanic island. The different mechanisms of lava tube emplacement can be observed in great detail, from the most recent pyroducts of different sizes formed during the Timanfaya eruption (1730–1736) to the exceptionally voluminous conduits of the Corona volcano, formed during the Last Glacial Maximum and partially submerged by the sea level upraise during the Holocene. In addition, other type of cavities, like explosive and geyser vents, “hornitos” and sinkholes in pyroclastic deposits offer the opportunity to extend the study to other important volcano-speleogenetic processes in different settings. All these cavities are easily accessible and present a variety of morphological, mineralogical, biological and microbiological significances, allowing for a wide range of multidisciplinary studies. The countless analogies with lava tube collapses and other potential volcanic cave features detected on the Moon and Mars also provide an unprecedented research ground that offers hints to solve some open issues in the interpretation of still unresolved planetary cavities. These characteristics make the Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands UNESCO Global Geopark an exceptional case where the protection and scientific outreach has been extended to the volcanic subsurface. In this chapter we offer a review of the current knowledge and existing scientific studies on the volcanic caves of Lanzarote and we discuss future researches and protection issues that need to be addressed in order to fully include this geoheritage in strategic plans of environmental protection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ashmole N, Ashmole M, Oromí P (1990) Arthropods of recent lava flows on Lanzarote. Vieraea 18:171–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Ashmole NP, Oromi P, Ashmole MJ, Martín JL (1992) Primary faunal succession in volcanic terrain: lava and cave studies on the Canary Islands. Biol J Lin Soc 46:207–234

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson A, Griffin T, Stephenson P (1975) A major lava tube system from Undara Volcano, North Queensland. Bull Volcanol 39:266–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becerril L, Martí J, Bartolini S, Geyer A (2017) Assessing qualitative long-term volcanic hazards at Lanzarote Island (Canary Islands). Nat Hazards Earth Syst Sci 17:1145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benitez A (1909) Historia de las Islas Canarias. Benitez, AJ, S.ta Cruz de Tenerife

    Google Scholar 

  • Bessone L, Sauro F, Maurer M, Piens M (2018) Testing technologies and operational concepts for field geology exploration of the Moon and beyond: the ESA PANGAEA-X campaign. In: EGU general assembly 2018, Vienna, pp EGU2018-4013

    Google Scholar 

  • Bravo T (1964) El volcán y el malpais de la Corona. La Cueva de Los Verdes y Los Jameos. Cabildo Insular de Lanzarote Arrecife, Spain

    Google Scholar 

  • Bunnell D (2008) Caves of fire: inside America’s lava tubes. National Speleological Society

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvari S, Pinkerton H (1998) Formation of lava tubes and extensive flow field during the 1991–1993 eruption of Mount Etna. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 103:27291–27301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carracedo J, Badiola ER, Soler V (1992) The 1730–1736 eruption of Lanzarote, Canary Islands: a long, high-magnitude basaltic fissure eruption. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 53:239–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carracedo J, Singer B, Jicha B, Guillou H, Badiola ER, Meco J, Torrado FP, Gimeno D, Socorro S, Láinez A (2003) La erupción y el tubo volcánico del Volcán Corona (Lanzarote, Islas Canarias). Estud Geol 59:277–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Castro JB (1779) De una cueva que se halla en la isla de Tenerife a distancia de una milla del ligar de Icod, hacia el norte, examinada el 14 de noviembre de 1776, por Don José, Don Augustín de Béthencourt de Castro y Molina, Don José de Monteverde y Molina, Cristóbal Alfonso y otros (unpublished), Depto. Zoologia, Univ. La Laguna

    Google Scholar 

  • Chil G (1876) Estudios históricos, climatológicos y patológicos de la islas Canarias. I. Miranda

    Google Scholar 

  • C.R.C.E. (1976) Memorias de las expediciones organizadas para la exploración del volcán nuevo de Tinguatón. Archivos Fed Terr Canaria de Espeleologia (unpublished)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cushing GE (2012) Candidate cave entrances on Mars. J Cave Karst Stud 74:33–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Santolo AS, Forte G, De Falco M, Santo A (2016) Sinkhole risk assessment in the metropolitan area of Napoli, Italy. Procedia Eng 158:458–463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott WR (2012) Protecting caves and cave life. In: Encyclopedia of caves, 2nd edn. Elsevier, pp 624–633

    Google Scholar 

  • Forti P (2005) Genetic processes of cave minerals in volcanic environments: an overview. J Cave Karst Stud 67:3–13

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuster JM, Santín SF, Ruiz JS (1968) Geología y volcanología de las Islas Canarias: Lanzarote. CSIC, Instituto Lucas Mallada

    Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Valdecasas A (1984) Morlockiidae new family of Remipedia (Crustacea) from Lanzarote (Canary Islands). Eos 60:329–333

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez-Pimentel JL, Miller AZ, Jurado V, Laiz L, Pereira MF, Saiz-Jimenez C (2018) Yellow coloured mats from lava tubes of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain) are dominated by metabolically active Actinobacteria. Sci Rep 8:1944

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guarino PM, Nisio S (2012) Anthropogenic sinkholes in the territory of the city of Naples (Southern Italy). Phys Chem Earth Parts A/B/C 49:92–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halliday W (2004) Volcanic caves. In: Encyclopedia of caves and karst science

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartung G (1857) Die geologischen Verhältnisse der Inseln Lanzarote und Fuerteventura, Neue Denkschr. d. allgem. Schweizerischen Ges fd ges Naturwissenschaften, Bd. XV, Zürich

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernandes JJ (1998) El patrimonio Espeleologico de Canarias y sus Vulcanos. Subterránea 1:32–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Hernández-Pacheco E (1910) Estudio geológico de Lanzarote y de las Isletas Canarias. Mem Real Soc Esp Hist Nat

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill CA, Forti P (1997) Cave minerals of the world. National Speleological Society

    Google Scholar 

  • Hong I-S, Yi Y, Kim E (2014) Lunar pit craters presumed to be the entrances of lava caves by analogy to the Earth lava tube pits. J Astron Space Sci 31:131–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooton EA (1925) The ancient inhabitants of the Canary Islands. Corinthian Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Huerta P, Martín-García R, Rodríguez-Berriguete Á, Fernández ÁLI, Martín-Pérez A, Alonso-Zarza AM (2015) Gypsum speleothems in lava tubes from Lanzarote, Canary Islands. Did you say gypsum? In: 31st IAS meeting of sedimentology, Krakow, p 240

    Google Scholar 

  • Iliffe TM, Wilkens H, Parzefall J, Williams D (1984) Marine lava cave fauna: composition, biogeography, and origins. Science 225:309–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Isler O (1986) 1986 international expedition to the Tunnel de la Atlantida. Caves Caving 45:16–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Kempe S (2012) Volcanic rock caves. In: Encyclopedia of caves, 2nd edn. Elsevier, pp 865–873

    Google Scholar 

  • Koelbel K (1892) Beitrage zur Kenntnis der Crustaceen der Kanarischen Inseln. Ann KK Naturhist Hofmuseums 7:105

    Google Scholar 

  • Léveillé RJ, Datta S (2010) Lava tubes and basaltic caves as astrobiological targets on Earth and Mars: a review. Planet Space Sci 58:592–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martín J, Díaz M (1984) El tubo vulcanico de Los Naturalistas. Lapiaz 13:51–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Mendo A, Ortega L (1988) El túnel de La Atlántida. Geo 14:9–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller AZ, Gonzalez-Pimentel JL, Stahl S, Castro-Wallace S, Sauro F, Pozzobon R, Massironi M, Maurer M, Bessone L, Martínez-Frìas J (2018) Exploring possible Mars-like microbial life in a lava tube from Lanzarote: preliminary results of in-situ DNA-based analysis as part of the PANGAEA-X test campaign. In: EGU general assembly 2018, Vienna, pp EGU2018-1258

    Google Scholar 

  • Montoriol-Pous J (1965) Contribución al conocimiento mineralógico y mineralogénico de un nuevo tipo de yacimiento de yeso descubierto en los>> tubos de lava>> de la isla de Lanzarote (Canarias). Bol Real Soc Esp Hist Nat Secc Geol, 77–85

    Google Scholar 

  • Montoriol-Pous J, De Mier J (1969) Estudio morfogenetico de las cavidades volcanicas desarrolladas en el malpais de la Corona (Isla de Lenzarote, Canarias). Karst 6:22

    Google Scholar 

  • Montoriol-Pous J, De Mier J, Montserrat i Nebot A (1991) Estudi vulcano-espeleológic de la Cueva de las Palomas (Lanzarote, Canáries). Espeleòleg 39:11–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Oromí P (2008) Biospeleology in Macaronesia. Assoc Mex Cave Stud Bull 19:98–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Oromí P, Martín JL (1990) Recorrido histórico y perspectiva actual de la espeleología en Canarias. Actas Fae Ciencias L’niv La Laguna, Tomo Homenaje T. Bravo

    Google Scholar 

  • Oromı P, Hernández J, Izquierdo I, Martın J, Medina A (1989) Catálogo de las cavidades volcánicas de Canarias. II. Lanzarote. Unpublished report, Consejerıa Territorial del Gobierno de Canarias

    Google Scholar 

  • Riquelme C, Marshall Hathaway JJ, Enes Dapkevicius MDL, Miller AZ, Kooser A, Northup DE, Jurado V, Fernandez O, Saiz-Jimenez C, Cheeptham N (2015) Actinobacterial diversity in volcanic caves and associated geomicrobiological interactions. Front Microbiol 6:1342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santagata T, Sauro F, Massironi M, Pozzobon RDel Vecchio U, Lazzaroni M, Damiano N, Tonello M, Tomasi I, Martínez-Frìas J, Mateo Medero E (2018) Subsurface laser scanning and photogrammetry in the Corona lava tube system, Lanzarote, Spain. In: EGU general assembly 2018, pp EGU2018-5290

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauro F, Massironi M, Pozzobon R, Hiesinger H, Mangold N, Martinez-Frías J, Cockell C, Bessone L (2018a) The ESA PANGAEA field geology training prepares astronauts for future missions to the Moon and beyond. In: EGU general assembly 2018, Vienna, pp EGU2018-4017

    Google Scholar 

  • Sauro F, Pozzobon R, Deberardinis P, Massironi M, De Waele J (2018b) Morphometry of terrestrial, lunar, and martian lava tube candidates. In: Lunar and planetary science conference

    Google Scholar 

  • Segura JS (2016) Entre túmulos, cuevas y restos humanos. Análisis historiográfico de las evidencias bioantropológicas de la Arqueología de Lanzarote. Vegueta. Anu Fac Geogr Hist 16:519–546

    Google Scholar 

  • Signorelli S, Jover F, Pacheco M, Zafrilla S, Cárdenas A (2007) The Jameos del Agua cave (Lanzarote, Canary Islands): some morphological and geological features of a spectacular lava tube adapted to auditorium. In: 2nd workshop on volcanic rocks. ISRM international symposium on rock engineering for mountainous regions, Sao Miguel, Azores, Portugal, 13–16 July

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith C (2015) Caves of Lanzarote, p 12

    Google Scholar 

  • Solana M, Kilburn C, Badiola ER, Aparicio A (2004) Fast emplacement of extensive pahoehoe flow-fields: the case of the 1736 flows from Montana de las Nueces, Lanzarote. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 132:189–207

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stretch R, Viles H (2002) The nature and rate of weathering by lichens on lava flows on Lanzarote. Geomorphology 47:87–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tonello M (2017) Origin and evolution of an inflated lava tube between the Mio-Pliocene volcanic complex of Famara and the quaternary lava flows of La Corona in Lanzarote. University of Padova, p 111

    Google Scholar 

  • Torrese P, Pio Rossi A, Unnithan V, Borrmann D, Lauterbach H, Ortenzi G, Jährig T, Pozzobon R, Sauro F, Santagata T, Nuechter A, Sohl F (2018) Reconstructing the subsurface of planetary volcanic analogues: ERT imaging of Lanzarote lava tubes complemented with drone stereogrammetry, surface and in-cave LiDAR and seismic investigations. In: EGU general assembly 2018, Vienna, pp EGU2018-14285

    Google Scholar 

  • Van den Boom P (2010) Lichens and lichenicolous fungi from Lanzarote (Canary Islands), with the descriptions of two new species. Cryptogam Mycol 31:183–199

    Google Scholar 

  • Vieira R, Van Ruymbeke M, Fernández J, Arnoso J, Toro CD (1991) The Lanzarote underground laboratory. Cahiers Centre Eur Géodynam Séismol 4:71–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson J (1997) Guidelines for cave and karst protection. IUCN

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkens H, Iliffe TM, Oromí P, Martínez A, Tysall TN, Koenemann S (2009) The Corona lava tube, Lanzarote: geology, habitat diversity and biogeography. Mar Biodivers 39:155–167

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood C (1974) The genesis and classification of lava tube caves. Trans Br Cave Res Assoc 1:15–28

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge Elena Mateo Mederos, the Geopark staff, the whole Cabildo of Lanzarote and the Municipality of Haría for the support in the researches related to the Corona Lava tube. Our acknowledgement also goes to all people involved in the surveys with VIGEA (Marta Lazzaroni, Umberto Del Vecchio, Norma Damiano, Ivana Guidone) and with the Club Vulcanfaya-Vertical of Lanzarote and Espeleo Limburg. A special thanks also to the photographers Robbie Shone, Carmen Smith, Cristopher Binding and Juan Pedro Camejo Casanova for allowing the use of their photographs.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Italian Institute of Speleology, Bologna, Italy

    Francesco Sauro

  2. University of Padua, Department of Geosciences, Padua, Italy

    Riccardo Pozzobon, Ilaria Tomasi, Matteo Tonello & Matteo Massironi

  3. Virtual Geographic Agency, Modena, Italy

    Tommaso Santagata

  4. Instituto de Geociencias, IGEO (CSIC-UCM), Madrid, Spain

    Jesús Martínez-Frías

  5. Espeleo Limburg/Speleo Nederland, Holanda, Netherlands

    Laurens M. Johannes Smets

  6. Club Vulcanfaya-Vertical, Lanzarote, Spain

    Gustavo David Santana Gómez

Authors
  1. Francesco Sauro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Riccardo Pozzobon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tommaso Santagata
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ilaria Tomasi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Matteo Tonello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jesús Martínez-Frías
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Laurens M. Johannes Smets
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Gustavo David Santana Gómez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Matteo Massironi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco Sauro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Casa de los Volcanes, Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands UGG, Cabildo de Lanzarote, Arrecife, Spain

    Elena Mateo

  2. Earth Dynamics and Observation, Institute of Geosciences, IGEO (CSIC-UCM), Madrid, Spain

    Jesús Martínez-Frías

  3. IGME, Madrid, Spain

    Juana Vegas

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Sauro, F. et al. (2019). Volcanic Caves of Lanzarote: A Natural Laboratory for Understanding Volcano-Speleogenetic Processes and Planetary Caves. In: Mateo, E., Martínez-Frías, J., Vegas, J. (eds) Lanzarote and Chinijo Islands Geopark: From Earth to Space. Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-13130-2_9

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation