If there ’s one matter you , and Gollum , should know about volcanoes , it ’s that " lava = blistering " . That , and it ’s not a neat idea to attempt toplug them up with concrete .

But some volcanos are hot than others . At Ol Doinyo Lengai in northern Tanzania for instance , thelavaflows at temperatures so down in the mouth it is possible ( though by no means pleasant ) to outlive .

The most common type of lava period is basaltic , cause up around90 percentof all lava flows on the satellite . In these flow , the lava erupts at temperatures of around 1,100 to 1,250 ° light speed ( 2,012 to 2,282 ° farad ) . At Ol Doinyo Lengai , the lava erupt at a much cooler 510 ° C ( 950 ° F ) .

This difference in temperature is due to its unusual composition , being the only vent in the reality to erupt carbonatite lava in recorded history .

" Carbonatite magma at Ol Doinyo Lengai has less than 3 percent silicon oxide and is more cognate to something you ’d ask to find on a unlike planet , " the US Geological Survey ( USGS)explainson its internet site . " What makes this lava so dissimilar from the stuff we ’re used to ? The chemic musical composition of carbonatite magma includes very little silica ( silicon dioxide ) , the most abundant chemical substance constituent of the earth ’s crust . "

" Carbonatites are a relatively rare eccentric of igneous rock composed of greater than 50 vol percentage primary carbonate minerals , primarily calcite and/or dolomite , and contain the high-pitched concentrations of [ rarified Earth elements ] of any igneous rocks , " theUSGS add together .

Lava with less silica in it haslower viscousness , think of it is less thick and oozy than you ’ve do to expect of lava . As a result , it flows much faster than other lavas , and cools as it does so , looking like a horrible river of blacken water or mud .

Though cool than other flows , the vent can be dangerous due to the speed of the menstruum , and the fact that 510 ° C ( 950 ° F ) is still what ’s known as " really hot " .

In 2007 , one group exploring the mountain abandoned their expeditiousness when a local Maasai porterfell into an active lava flowin the volcanic crater . He was able to escape from the lava pool , though he sustained serious burns to both his ramification and one arm , and was taken to a local infirmary before being moved home to retrieve from his long - terminus injuries .