Astounding Ash

Posted on by tahoefence

Astounding Ash 45 years ago this weekend, Mount St. Helens erupted. For 9 hours, ash was dispersed over an area nearly 22,000 square miles. While the damage from the eruption was devastating, including the loss of lives and properties, it produced about 540 million tons of ash. The Romans used volcanic ash from eruptions they witnessed in the making of their concrete. Some of the seawalls the Roman Empire built from this method still exist. The use of volcanic ash is being revisited by builders and engineers now in making lighter and more sustainable concrete. It's even being considered as an efficient energy storage medium for renewable power in concentrated solar power systems. Pictured: Solar Powered Wood Cantilever Slide Gate by Tahoe Fence with a Concrete Pad Mounted Operator in Tahoe City (Placer County.)Astounding Ash

45 years ago this weekend, Mount St. Helens erupted.

For 9 hours, ash was dispersed over an area nearly 22,000 square miles. While the damage from the eruption was devastating, including the loss of lives and properties, it produced about 540 million tons of ash.

The Romans used volcanic ash from eruptions they witnessed in the making of their concrete. Some of the seawalls the Roman Empire built from this method still exist.

The use of volcanic ash is being revisited by builders and engineers now in making lighter and more sustainable concrete. It’s even being considered as an efficient energy storage medium for renewable power in concentrated solar power systems.

Pictured: Solar Powered Wood Cantilever Slide Gate by Tahoe Fence with a Concrete Pad Mounted Operator in Tahoe City (Placer County.)