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The geology of Martinique originated from volcanic eruptions, but has different rocks than nearby Lesser Antilles volcanic island arc islands all of which formed in the last 40 million years in the Cenozoic. A high-alumina basalt ranges from olivine basalt to tridymite-rich dacite. Calc-alkaline volcanic rocks are rich in hornblende and orthpyroxene andesite, hornblende andesite and quartz-hornblende dacite are also common. Mount Pelee is one of the most active Caribbean volcanoes with 20 eruptions in the last 5000 years. It also heats groundwater, generating hydrothermal eruptions at sulfur springs in 1751 and 1851.

References

1. Westercamp, D. (1975). "Petrology of the volcanic rocks of martinique, West Indies". Bulletin Volcanologique. 39 (2): 175–200. Bibcode:1975BVol...39..175W. doi:10.1007/BF02597827.
2. Traineau, H.; Westercamp, D.; Benderitter, Y. (1989). "Case study of a volcanic geothermal system, Mount Pelée, Martinique". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 38 (1–2): 49–66. Bibcode:1989JVGR...38...49T. doi:10.1016/0377-0273(89)90029-2.
3. Nagle, F.; Stipp, J.J.; Fisher, D.E. (1976). "K-Ar geochronology of the Limestone Caribbees and Martinique, Lesser Antilles, West Indies". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 29 (2): 401–412. Bibcode:1976E&PSL..29..401N. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(76)90145-X.

• Geography of Martinique
• Natural history of Martinique
• Geology of Overseas France
• Geology of the Caribbean
• Geology by dependent territory