Tanzania’s Ol Doinyo Lengai spews out bizarre black lava, which could help solve mysteries of the planet’s mantle. But getting your hands on a sample is not easy.

Ol Doinyo Lengai had an impressive explosive eruption in 2008 (see below) that produced an ash plume and throughout its recent history, carbonatite ash falls and tephra are found.

Tanzania's outlandish Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, the only volcano on Earth that is currently erupting carbonatite lava, has been sinking at a rate of 1.4 inches per year for the past decade.

At Ol Doinyo Lengai, the lava erupts at a much cooler 510°C (950°F). This difference in temperature is due to its unusual composition, being the only volcano in the world to erupt carbonatite ...

In 2009, volcanologists collected gas samples from Ol Doinyo Lengai to unearth the reason behind its unique carbon-based lavas. Curiously, they found that the makeup of gases was ...

In July 2007, Ol Doinyo Lengai erupted, sending ash at least 11 miles downwind and spewed lava that traveled .6 miles down the volcano's western flank.

The cloud-topped summit of Ol Doinyo Lengai, an active volcano that last exploded in 2008, looms over the crater highlands, with the outlines of hardened lava flows striping the slopes.

Tanzania's outlandish Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, the only volcano on Earth that is currently erupting carbonatite lava, has been sinking at a rate of 1.4 inches per year for the past decade.

At Ol Doinyo Lengai, the lava erupts at a much cooler 510°C (950°F). This difference in temperature is due to its unusual composition, being the only volcano in the world to erupt carbonatite ...

Tanzania's outlandish Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, the only volcano on Earth that is currently erupting carbonatite lava, has been sinking at a rate of 1.4 inches per year for the past decade.