# Name that feature **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 23, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699 "2020-10-23T18:07:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/1 "2020-10-23T18:07:46Z")
https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=-52.9819571,73.2622259&z=17&output=embed&dg=ntvb&q=Natius%2BBlue Any theories or conjecture on what this conical-looking geological feature might be that’s found on an isolated and uninhabited island in the Indian Ocean? ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/2 "2020-10-23T18:20:00Z")
Looks like your classic [stratovolcano](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stratovolcano) to me. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/3 "2020-10-23T18:27:19Z")
I’d say the small cone near the water might be a cinder cone. > **[Cinder cone](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinder_cone)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > A cinder cone (or scoria cone) is a steep conical hill of loose pyroclastic fragments, such as volcanic clinkers, volcanic ash, or scoria that has been built around a volcanic vent. The pyroclastic fragments are formed by explosive eruptions or lava fountains from a single, typically cylindrical, vent. As the gas-charged lava is blown violently into the air, it breaks into small fragments that solidify and fall as either cinders, clinkers, or sc... ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/4 "2020-10-23T18:33:08Z")
After reading the article and description, that seems likely ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/5 "2020-10-23T18:38:30Z")
The partial crater next to it is interesting, too. (I assume that’s what that is. I’m very much an amateur at geology.) ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/6 "2020-10-23T20:02:39Z")
The whole small island looks like a stratovolcano. The westernmost snowy area is clearly a caldera. Ditto the main island topped by Mawson peak. It’s neat there’s a glacier sweeping around the peak from teh east, down around to the southwest then on to the sea. Classic Fire and Ice. The OP’s feature is not very large, about 400’ in diameter at the base. With a baby offspring about 600 feet WSW from it also along the shoreline ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/7 "2020-10-23T20:12:37Z")
Late add: The wikis on the **[islands in general](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heard_Island_and_McDonald_Islands)** and on **[Mawson Peak](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawson_Peak)** specifically have some interesting info. There have been some recent eruptions. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/8 "2020-10-24T15:05:12Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > I’d say the small cone near the water might be a cinder cone. I considered that but we have lots of them here in Arizona and the texture doesn’t look quite right – although it’s hard to tell with the Google-resolution. I automatically reached for the Streetview button before I stopped myself. The size is more commiserate with a cinder cone. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-feature/923699/9 "2020-10-24T15:18:14Z")
It’s most specifically a [parasitic cone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitic_cone) (AKA a satellite cone, flank vent etc.). It’s the kind of cinder cone that isn’t the main crater.