The majesty of an erupting volcano

This week, 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley brought viewers to the summit of an active volcano in Iceland, a sight so spectacular that Pelley said he couldn't help but feel small.

"We were on a glacier, an ancient glacier," said Pelley. "The explosive force of it was remarkable. There would be a thunderous roar, and you would see this ash go shooting up into the sky...Lava was hitting the ice and just vaporizing it."

"One thing is for sure," he said, "the Earth is in control of what's happening to mankind. That is something we often forget."

The volcano's name was also menacing: Eyjafjallajökull (pronounced AY-uh-fyat-luh-YOE-kuutl). For volcanologist Haraldur Sigurdsson, a native of Iceland, the pronunciation was easy. For Pelley, not so much.

In the video player above, you'll hear a conversation with Pelley and producer Nicole Young about their volcanoes story-- and what goes through a reporter's mind when standing very, very close to an active eruption. To see their full 60 Minutes story, click here.