What's Behind the Gemstones 'Raining' From the Kilauea Volcano

" " Lava spews from a new fissure on Luana Street after the eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea volcano on May 5, 2018 But likely, no olivine came from it US.

Geological Survey via Getty Images In mid-May Mount Kilauea in Hawaii erupted violently, sending a plume of debris soaring 30,000 feet into the sky Since then, the very active shield volcano has been spewing hot magma and ash, destroying around 600 homes As an ostensible encore, this week, social media exploded with reports of gemstones "raining" from the sky nearby, sending bystanders scurrying to collect evidence of the once-in-a-lifetime event The gems in question are part of a rock-forming group of minerals called olivine, a type of magnesium iron silicate that's more commonly known by its gemstone name, peridot.

Olivine is by no means rare on Hawaii It's found in huge amounts in rocks all over the area and on the islands' . Source