# Pumice

Pumice is a lightweight volcanic rock that floats on water. It is formed when lava cools quickly and traps gas bubbles inside, creating a porous and abrasive texture.

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

![Pumice](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bims-kos_hg.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Hannes Grobe 07:59, 27 October 2007 (UTC), CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bims-kos_hg.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pumice is a very lightweight rock, typically white, gray, or cream. It has a distinctive foamy, sponge-like appearance due to countless tiny gas bubbles trapped within it. This makes its texture rough and airy, unlike any other common rock.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## Interesting facts

- Ancient artists used pumice to polish sculptures and smooth surfaces, like a natural sander!
- Gardeners add pumice to soil, helping plants get better air and drainage for roots!
- Gigantic floating pumice islands, miles wide, can appear after huge volcanic eruptions!
- Pumice forms when gas-rich lava cools incredibly fast, freezing into a bubbly rock!

## Special abilities

- **Float Power:** Pumice has low density due to its porous structure, allowing it to easily float on water after volcanic eruptions.
- **Scrubbing Strength:** Pumice is made of volcanic glass shards, making it an excellent natural abrasive for polishing and cleaning.
- **Insulation Shield:** Pumice contains trapped air bubbles, which gives it excellent insulating properties against heat and cold.

## Measurements & details

- **Color Range:** white, gray, cream, black
- **Hardness:** 6
- **Luster:** dull
- **Specific Gravity:** 0.7

## Traits

- [Igneous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/igneous): Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava).
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Volcanic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/volcanic): This habitat trait describes species found in volcanic regions, including areas with recent lava flows, volcanic ash, or on volcanic islands, often characterized by unique soil compositions.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Pumice is safe to touch but can be abrasive, so handle it carefully to avoid scratches.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pumice?

Compare crystal habit, luster, transparency, cleavage and surface texture. Minerals with different compositions can share almost the same color. Mineral Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What colors can Pumice be?

white, gray, cream, black

### How hard is Pumice?

6

### What kind of luster does Pumice have?

dull

### What is Pumice's specific gravity?

0.7

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

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Source: [Pumice: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pumice)