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The question asks about an inference about lava and talks about iridium in the answer choice. However, when the passage talks about iridium, it is discussed as iridium hexafluoride—that is, in gas form. Does the gas from a volcanic explosion count as part of the lava?

melmoththewanderer wrote:The question asks about an inference about lava and talks about iridium in the answer choice. However, when the passage talks about iridium, it is discussed as iridium hexafluoride—that is, in gas form. Does the gas from a volcanic explosion count as part of the lava?

Before it talks about the iridium hexafluoride, it talks about the large amount of iridium located in the lower regions of the Earth's mantle. This is then released during the eruption in the form of the gas. So...kind of? I guess as an answer to your question. It's more about the lava, which is coming from deep within the Earth, having that iridium from the lower levels of the mantles and then erupting with it as a gas; but the important factor is that the lower levels have more iridium than the surface.