This is real volcanic ash from the 1980s major eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington, USA! These are specimens from the old Hobberlin Museum collection. The vials measure roughly 1.25" tall and can be shipped worldwide!

On May 18, 1980, Mount St. Helens catastrophically erupted in what became the most disastrous volcanic eruption in United States history. 

Following a series of intensifying earthquakes, the accumulated pressure resulted in a significant explosion of energy that annihilated a large portion of the mountain's flank. The sudden flash of extreme heat flash melted the accumulated ice and snow, along with several entire glaciers. The resulting lahars (volcanic mudslides) flowed out nearly 80km, leaving behind a trail of destruction.

The eruption column rose roughly 80,000 feet (24 km or 15 mi) into the atmosphere, and the plume of ash was deposited across eleven states and five Canadian provinces.

In total there were approximately 57 human deaths (thousands of wildlife casualties) and an estimated $1.1 billion USD in property damage (not adjusted for inflation).