Sulphur Crystals. Sulphur Bay. Rotorua. New Zealand.
S 38° 08.540 E 176° 15.990
60H E 435724 N 5778138
A walking track around the shoreline of Lake Rotorua, through Sulphur Bay, shows wonderful displays of sulphur crystals formed in sinter rock in this natural geothermal area.
Waymark Code: WM9A5Y
Location: North Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 07/20/2010
Views: 10
The shoreline at Sulphur Bay is covered with delicate yellow crystal formations. There is signage explaining the formation of this thermal wonderland.
The yellow and black colours in the rocks are sulphur crystals formed from rising hydrogen sulphide gas. Black crystals are formed under hotter temperatures (112deg C) and yellow crystals are formed at slightly less (98deg C).
Sulphuric acid rapidly carbonises wood turning it black, much the same as fire does. There are examples of carbonised wood here too.
Grey coloured sinter rock formed from silica deposited by alkaline spring water, and yellow sulphur crystals can be seen forming in cracks in the sinter rock where gases have been able to escape.
Co-ordinates for the Start of the walking path: S 38° 08.380 E 176° 15.540 (also Parking Area)
Sulphur Bay walkway starts at the Rotorua lakefront. The path takes walkers along the promenade to a path leading to Motutara Point (Sulphur Bay). This area of the lake is on top of an active geothermal area, so the water is a cloudy white. Further round the point there are boiling mud pools and sulphur vents. The earth’s crust is thin in places so visitors should stick to the pathway at all times.
Type of Display: Geological
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