Oldest Pillow Lava Isua, Greenland [247 g ~ 3.8 Ga]

Isua Pillow Lava – Archean Submarine Basalt, Isua

This striking slice of Archean pillow lava came from the legendary Isua Greenstone Belt of southwest Greenland, one of Earth’s oldest surviving pieces of oceanic crust, dating to roughly 3.8 billion years old. Formed when basaltic lava erupted onto a primordial seafloor and quenched instantly in water, this specimen preserves a tangible record of the early oceans and volcanic activity — only a few hundred million years after Earth’s formation.

Geological Significance of the Isua Pillow Lavas

Isua rocks are central to our understanding of the early Earth. Their pillow and flow textures show that by 3.8 Ga, the planet already had a stable hydrosphere and active submarine volcanism. These lavas record:

• Submarine eruption of basalt onto the ancient seafloor.
• Rapid quenching of molten rock into a fine-grained, jet-black matrix.
• Metamorphic overprinting introduced light silica-rich bands and accentuated internal flow structures.
• Vesicles and cavities that hint at trapped volcanic gases from eruption.

Geologists use Isua specimens like this to determine early plate interactions, heat flow, and the conditions of Earth’s first oceans. For educators and collectors, it is a rare opportunity to hold physical evidence of some of the earliest known volcanic rocks on the planet.

Specimen Details & Provenance

This specimen displays a dynamic contrast between its natural exterior and polished interior face. The cut surface reveals jet-black basalt shot through with striking ivory and smoky gray bands, along with scattered vesicles and fracture-filling veins. The reverse side retains the weathered pillow rind, with earthy browns and grays characteristic of Isua’s ancient, iron-rich terrain.

Specifications

• Locality: Isua Greenstone Belt, Greenland
• Geologic Age: ~3.8 billion years (Archean Eon)
• Size: 129 mm L × 70 mm W × 23 mm D
• Weight: 247 grams
• Condition: Lightly sprayed for photographic purposes to enhance color and contrast in the images.

What’s Included

• Certificate of Authenticity from Sciencemall-USA
• Custom tag and tag stand for mini-museum style display
• Printed information about the specimen, its geological context, and significance

Why Collectors Value This Specimen

Isua material is limited, academically important, and increasingly difficult to obtain in substantial, display-worthy pieces. This specimen offers:

• A large, cut-and-diamond lap flat-polished face that clearly shows internal pillow textures.
• Excellent contrast between dark basalt, pale silica bands, and vesicular zones.
• Documented Archean provenance from one of the world’s most famous early-crust localities.
• Display-ready presentation ideal for a “mini museum” shelf, classroom, or office.

Add This Deep-Time Lava to Your Collection

For serious geology collectors, teachers, and Deep-Time enthusiasts, this Isua pillow lava is more than a volcanic rock—it is a preserved moment from the primeval Earth, when early oceans and submarine eruptions were reshaping a still-cooling planet. It makes an exceptional centerpiece for any scientific or educational collection!

This scientific material is Guaranteed Authentic. It was professionally and legally collected and arrives with a Certificate of Authenticity, tag, tag stand, and information about the specimen.