Lanzarote, Las Palmas Province, Canary Islands, Spaini

Regional Level Types
Lanzarote	Island
Las Palmas Province	Province
Canary Islands	Group of Autonomous Communities
Spain	Country

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Lanzarote is one of the Canary Islands, an autonomous community of Spain, located in the eastern Atlantic Ocean about 125 km west of the coast of Morocco. The island covers an area of approximately 846 km² and is the fourth largest of the Canary Islands. It is the easternmost of the main islands, lying just north of Fuerteventura, from which it is separated by the narrow La Bocayna Strait. The capital is Arrecife.

Geographically, Lanzarote is characterised by a stark, arid volcanic landscape, with low relief compared to the western Canary Islands. The island lacks high mountains; its highest point is Peñas del Chache in the Famara massif, reaching 670 m. Much of Lanzarote consists of extensive lava fields (malpaís), volcanic cones, and ash-covered plains, giving the island its distinctive black, red, and ochre coloration. Rainfall is very low, and surface water is scarce, with agriculture traditionally adapted through innovative techniques such as stone windbreaks and ash-covered fields (enarenado).

Geologically, Lanzarote is entirely volcanic and represents one of the oldest exposed islands of the Canary hotspot chain, with subaerial volcanism beginning around 15 million years ago. The island is built mainly of alkaline basaltic lava flows, scoria cones, and pyroclastic deposits. Its most dramatic geological feature is the Timanfaya volcanic field, formed during prolonged eruptions between 1730 and 1736, followed by further activity in 1824. These historic eruptions covered roughly a quarter of the island with lava and ash, creating the Montañas del Fuego and profoundly reshaping the landscape. Volcanic activity is currently dormant but not considered extinct, and significant residual geothermal heat remains at shallow depth.

The mineral and extractive resources of Lanzarote are limited and largely restricted to volcanic construction materials, including basalt, lapilli (picón), and scoria, historically used for building and road construction. There is no significant metallic mineralisation. From a mineralogical perspective, the island is notable for volcanic minerals such as olivine, augite, plagioclase, and secondary minerals formed in lava cavities and fumarolic environments, though these are of limited abundance and are generally protected within designated natural areas.

Historically, Lanzarote was inhabited by the indigenous Majos people prior to European conquest in the early 15th century, making it one of the first Canary Islands incorporated into the Crown of Castile. The devastating 18th-century eruptions led to population displacement and long-term economic hardship, but also to unique agricultural adaptations that remain culturally significant today. In the modern era, Lanzarote has developed a strong identity centred on landscape conservation, influenced notably by the artist César Manrique, and much of the island is protected.

Administratively, Lanzarote is governed by its Cabildo Insular and includes several municipalities. The island was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993. Its exceptionally well-preserved historic lava fields, youthful volcanic landforms, and accessible eruptive products make Lanzarote a key reference site for studying basaltic volcanism, lava–landscape interactions, and the relationship between volcanic geology and human adaptation in an arid island environment.

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

44 valid minerals. 1 erroneous literature entry.

Rock Types Recorded

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities