ROTORUA BLOW-OUT

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXIII, Issue 11683, 7 July 1932, Page 5

ROTORUA BLOW-OUT

SCIENTIST EXPLAINS OUINE-

mutu upheaya 1

BLOCK AGE OF ' STEAM OTTANNULS NEAR SURE ACE. (Press Association.! WELLINGTON, July !; - A' report on the recent thermal blowing-out at Ohinemutu and i ho thermal activities around Rotorua lias been made by Mr. ,L- L. Grange, of the Geological Survey branch 01 tli'o .Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He says, mtoi alia:— "The eruption seems to have been similar to four that have taken place at Rotorua within, tho last six vein's Two hypotheses might be advanced to explain these blow-outs. One. D that, a greater amount of heat is coining from a deep-sea led source, and the 'other is that tho.ro must have been a blockage of the steam channels near the surface. “If the first hypothesis were correct, it would mean that there was a possibility of a big eruption, but the fact that at the time of the Oliinemntu blow-out the temperatures of the main springs at Ohinemutu and on the. lake front near the pavilion hath, were the same ns when absolved in 1927, and that the activity was of comparatively short duration, is against- the view that there eio d eon-seated changes in live hot spring' area. “The rocks are being actively decomposed by steam and mineral waters, soluble substances are removed and brought toAlio’ surface from underground. collapse takes place, the steam channels are blocked and minor eruptions occur."