Volcanic Eruption Of Mount Undararca

Undara Lava tubes consist of a lava field remaining from a massive volcanic eruption of Mt Undara which occurred 190,000 years ago. During the Cenozoic, there was wide spread igneous activity in Eastern Australia. Volcanism commenced in the late Cretaceous (approximately 70 Ma) and continued through the Cenozoic. The cenozoic is the current geological era. It began 66 million years ago and continues today. About 23.3 km³ of lava flowed from the Mt Undara volcano at an estimated rate of 1000 m³ a second. This lava flowed about over 160km to the north west and 90km to the north. The tubes were formed when these rivers of lava crusted over on the outside forming an insulated tube for the rest of the lava to flow along. Eventually the liquid lava