Chapter 4 - The Geology of La Gomera

Abstract

The island of La Gomera is situated approximately 40km west of Tenerife. Many geological similarities (age, mineralogical, and isotopic composition of the lavas, morphology, and structure) between La Gomera and the Teno and Anaga massifs on Tenerife exist. The main distinction that sets La Gomera apart from the remaining Canary Islands is a long, and still continuing, eruptive break. La Gomera’s lack of recent activity allowed erosion to deeply incise the island and lay bare rock sequences that would remain buried in more active islands. Gomera’s last continuous phase of volcanic activity seems to have ceased approximately 4 million years ago, and there are no signs of recurring activity on the island, and thus it is most probably in its postshield erosional stage. A wide range of eroded volcanic landforms is therefore present, including spectacular examples of relief inversion of the principal feeder conduits of previous eruptions. La Gomera hosts the most spectacular examples of dyke intrusions and trachyte domes in the Canaries.