SCI Q3, Chapter 1: Volcanoes

Volcano generally refers to an opening or vent in a planet’s crust from which molten rock, ash
(pulverized rock and pumice) and gasses escape from below.

1.1 TYPES OF VOLCANOES BASED ON:

1.1.1 Frequency Of Eruption:

Active Volcanoes Inactive Volcanoes
volcanoes erupt or show unusual signs of activity (ie. volcanoes didn't erupt; show no unusual signs of
earthquakes and gas emissions); have a record of activity; have not erupted for the past 10,000 years;
eruptions within the last 600 years; those that their physical form is being changed by agents of
erupted 10,000 years ago. weathering and erosion.

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1.1.2 Volcanic Features:
Composite Volcano or Shield Volcano Cinder Cones or Pyroclastic
Stratovolcano Cones
a tall mountain with a crater on almost flat and broad like a usually small; made up of
top; height is explained by volcanic warrior’s shield; magma has a pyroclasts or fragments of volcanic
materials that eventually cool and lower percentage of silica (less rocks that form steep slopes
harden after eruption, piling on top viscous); lava flows easily and around their wide crater; often
of another; magma has high reaches a great distance. formed in groups near a large
content of silica, making the lava volcano; most erupt only once.
thick or viscous. (eg. Moauna Loa, Kilauea, and
other Hawaiian volcanoes) (eg. Paricutin Volcano in
Mexico, Jolo in Sulu Archipelago in
Philippines)

1.1.3 Location:
Continental Submarine Subglacial
forms along the margin of a are underwater vents or fissures volcanoes that have formed when
continent where oceanic crust in the Earth's surface from which lava erupts beneath glacial ice.
subducts beneath continental magma can erupt.
crust.

1.2 FORMATION OF VOLCANOES

1.2.1 Anatomy of A Volcano

Ash Cloud Occurs where a violent explosive eruption ejects volcanic ash into the atmosphere.

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 Volcano Crater A circular depression around a volcanic vent. This is where the lava, ash and rock
erupt out of a volcano. 

Volcanic Ash A mixture of rock, mineral, and glass particles expelled from a volcano during a
volcanic eruption. Volcanic ash is a term for fine-grained material that is ejected
during explosive volcanic eruptions.

Volcanic Vent The place at the Earth's surface where lava flows, tephra (pyroclastic materials),
and fragmented rocks are erupted.

Lava Flows are streams of molten rock that pour or ooze from an erupting vent. Lava is
erupted during either non-explosive activity or explosive lava fountains.

Parasitic Cone The cone-shaped accumulation of volcanic material that is not part of the central
vent of a volcano. It forms from eruptions from fractures on the flank of the
volcano. 

Volcanic Sill A planar sheet of magma which is parallel to the surrounding rock. Sills store
magma compared to dikes which transport magma.

Magma Chamber The location beneath the vent of a volcano where molten rock (magma) is stored
prior to eruption.

Magma is different from the lava. Magma is composed of molten rock and is stored in the Earth's
crust. Lava is magma that reaches the surface of our planet through a volcano vent. When lava harden, it
becomes an igneous rock.

1.2.2 Volcanoes at Convergent Boundaries

Convergent boundaries occur when two plates move towards each other (converge). While the motion
of the plates is the same, the resulting landforms can be very different depending on the type of plates
involved.
When a continental and an oceanic plate converge, the oceanic plate is always subducted. This is
because oceanic crust is much denser than continental crust. As the oceanic plate sinks deeper, it becomes so

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hot that the crust releases fluids trapped inside. The resulting magma rises through the other plate which is the
continental plate forming steep-sided volcanoes also known as stratovolcanoes.

1.2.3 Volcanoes at Divergent Boundaries

Divergent boundaries occur when two plates move away from each other (diverge), creating a long,
narrow depression called a rift valley.
When two oceanic plates diverge, magma rises through the rift valley, creating mid-ocean ridges that
appear like volcanic mountain ranges on the ocean floor. This is where seafloor spreading takes place.

1.2.4 Hot Spot Volcanoes

Hot spot volcanoes are a type of volcano that forms in the middle of a tectonic plate, away from the
boundaries where most volcanoes are found. They are caused by a "hot spot" of magma that rises from deep
within the Earth and melts through the plate to create a volcano. Hot spots are unique because they do not
occur at the boundaries of Earth’s tectonic plates, where all other volcanism occurs. Instead, it occurs at
abnormally hot centers known as mantle plumes.
The hot spot remains fixed, while the tectonic plate moves over it, it creates a chain of volcanoes. Thus,
the farther the volcano is from the hot spot, the older it is and it becomes progressively younger as you move
closer to the hot spot.

1.3 VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

A volcanic eruption is a phenomenon that occurs when molten rock, ash, and gas escape from a
volcano. Volcanic eruptions can be explosive or nonexplosive, and they can have a range of impacts on the
environment and human populations.

1.3.1 Phreatic Eruption

Phreatic eruption, also known as ultra vulcanian, steam-blast, or
hydrothermal eruption, occurs when magma heats up groundwater or surface
water, causing it to rapidly turn into steam. The resulting pressure causes the
steam to explode out of the volcano, sending ash, rocks, and steam into the air.
This type of eruption is characterized by ash columns and only blasts out
fragments of pre-existing solid rock from the volcanic conduit, with no new magma
being erupted. Phreatic eruptions can occur before, during, or after a traditional
volcanic eruption. The distinguishing feature of phreatic explosions is that they only
blast out fragments of pre-existing solid rock from the
volcanic conduit; no new magma is erupted.

1.3.2 Phreatomagmatic Eruption

Phreatomagmatic eruptions result from the
interaction of water and magma, causing violent water-lava
interactions that make up the eruption. The temperature difference
between magma and water causes a sudden increase in pressure,
leading to explosive eruptions. These eruptions can eject various
volcanic materials, including ash, pumice, and rock fragments.
Unlike phreatic eruptions, phreatomagmatic eruptions often produce
both magmatic and phreatomagmatic components, including juvenile
clasts.

1.3.3 Vulcanian Eruption

Vulcanian eruptions are a type of explosive eruption that occurs when
highly viscous magma is ejected from a volcano. During a Vulcanian eruption,
magma rises to the surface of the volcano and encounters a layer of rock that is
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 more resistant to flow. This causes pressure to build up within the magma
chamber, which can eventually result in an explosive eruption.
One of the defining characteristics of a Vulcanian eruption is the high level
of explosivity, which can result in tall eruption columns that reach up to 20 km high.
Giuseppe Mercalli, who named the eruption type, described it as "explosions like
cannon fire at irregular intervals.” This type of eruption produces some of the most
explosive events in the volcanic record.

1.3.4 Plinian Eruption

Plinian eruptions are known as the most powerful type of eruption which are
tremendously explosive eruptions that create ash columns that spread out into an
umbrella shape and reach several tens of miles into the stratosphere. It is
characterized by continuous gas blasts and explosive ejection of viscous lava, gas-
rich magma, and large volumes of volcanic rock known as pumice.

1.3.5 Strombolian Eruption

It involves a periodic weak to violent eruption characterized by fountain lava.
Strombolian eruptions are driven by the bursting of gas bubbles within the magma.
These gas bubbles within the magma accumulate and coalesce into large bubbles,
called gas slugs. These grow large enough to rise through the lava column. Upon
reaching the surface, the difference in air pressure causes the bubble to burst with
a loud pop.
Strombolian eruptions are characterized by short-lived and explosive
eruptions of lavas with intermediate viscosity, often ejected high into the air.
Columns can measure hundreds of meters in height. The lavas formed by
Strombolian eruptions are a form of relatively viscous basaltic lava, and its end
product is mostly scoria.

Magma – an important material in volcanic activity; the type of magma determines the type of eruption
and the type of cone formed.

Basaltic Magma – generated by direct melting of the Earth's mantle, the region of the Earth below the
outer crust.

Andesitic Magma – generated at convergent plate boundaries where the oceanic lithosphere is
subducted; commonly erupts from stratovolcanoes as thick lava flows

Granitic Magma – (rhyolitic) generated at convergent plate boundaries where the oceanic lithosphere
is subducted.

1.3.6 PROPERTIES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF MAGMA:

Property Basaltic Andesitic Granitic

Silica content Least (about 50%) Intermediate (about 60%) Most (about 70%)

Viscosity Least Intermediate Most

Tendency to form Least Intermediate Highest

pyroclastic material

Tendency to form Highest Intermediate Least

lava

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More silica content = More viscous = Higher tendency to form pyroclastic material = Lower Tendency to form lava
Less silica content = Less viscous = Lower tendency to form pyroclastic material = Higher Tendency to form lava

1.3.7 ERUPTION STYLES ARE EXPLAINED THROUGH:

● Magma temperature – affects the viscosity of the lava, with hotter magma generally being less
viscous. The higher the temperature, the lower its viscosity.
● Chemical composition – magma that has a high proportion of silica tends to be more viscous, making
it thicker and more prone to explosive eruptions. The higher the silica content, the more viscous it
becomes.
● Amount of dissolved gasses – The higher the amount of gasses, the lower the viscosity.

1.4 BENEFITS OF VOLCANIC ERUPTION

1. The soil surrounding the volcano 2. Formation of new islands – 3. Widening of nearby shorelines
is very fertile – eruptions bring a submarine volcanoes in relatively – continental volcanoes close to
fresh supply of nutrients to the soil shallow waters can, after several shore widen the land when their
through the breakdown and explosions, form new islands. lava flow reaches the sea and
chemical decomposition of rocks or harden when cooled by
weathering. seawater.

4. Small enterprises from the 5. New scenery and land 6. Soothing and energizing effect
debris and ashes formation of water and hot springs

1.4.1 ENERGY FROM VOLCANOES

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY – is the heat from the Earth’s interior.

Can be generated in two ways:

Geothermal Power Plants – Generate electricity by Geothermal Heat Pumps - Use the Earth's
using heat from the Earth's core to turn turbines that constant temperature to heat or cool buildings and
power generators. homes.

GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS IN THE PHILIPPINES:

● Tiwi Geothermal Power Plant

● Mak-Ban Geothermal Power Plant in
Calawag, Laguna
● Palinpinon Geothermal Power Plant in
Valencia in Negros Oriental
● Bac-Man Geothermal Power Plant in
Bacon, Sorsogon

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SCI Q3, Chapter 1: Volcanoes – Worksheet

I. ENUMERATION.

1. What are the types of volcanoes based on the Frequency of Eruption?

2. What are the types of volcanoes based on Volcanic Features?

3. What are the types of volcanoes based on Location?

4. Enumerate the 3 types of magma.

II. GIVING DEFINITION/CHARACTERISTICS.

Give the definition or characteristic of the following:

a. Phreatic Eruption -

b. Phreatomagmatic Eruption -

c. Vulcanian Eruption -

d. Plinian Eruption -

e. Strombolian Eruption -

f. Volcanic Eruption -

III. COMPARING.

● Active Volcano VS Inactive Volcano

● Geothermal Power plants VS Geothermal Heat Pumps

● Volcanoes at Convergent Boundaries VS Volcanoes at Divergent Boundaries VS Hot Spot Volcanoes

● Composite Volcano or Stratovolcano VS Shield Volcano VS Cinder Cones or Pyroclastic Cones

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IV. CONNECT COLUMN A TO COLUMN B

Column A Column B

1. Ash Cloud a. A circular depression around a volcanic vent. This is where the lava, ash
and rock erupt out of a volcano.

2. Volcano b. Occurs where a violent explosive eruption ejects volcanic ash into the
Crater atmosphere.

3. Volcanic c. The location beneath the vent of a volcano where molten rock (magma)
Ash is stored prior to eruption.

4. Volcanic d. The place at the Earth's surface where lava flows, tephra (pyroclastic
Vent materials), and fragmented rocks are erupted.

5. Lava e. Flows are streams of molten rock that pour or ooze from an erupting
vent. Lava is erupted during either non-explosive activity or explosive
lava fountains.

6. Parasitic f. A planar sheet of magma which is parallel to the surrounding rock. Sills
Cone store magma compared to dikes which transport magma.

7. Volcanic g. The cone-shaped accumulation of volcanic material that is not part of the
Sill central vent of a volcano. It forms from eruptions from fractures on the
flank of the volcano.

8. Magma h. A mixture of rock, mineral, and glass particles expelled from a volcano
Chamber during a volcanic eruption. Is a term for fine-grained material that is
ejected during explosive volcanic eruptions.

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ANSWER KEYS:

II. NUMERATION.

Note: Can be in any order

1. Active Volcanoes
Inactive Volcanoes

2. Composite Volcano or Stratovolcano

Shield Volcano
Cinder Cones or Pyroclastic Cones

3. Continental
Submarine
Subglacial

4. Basaltic
Andesitic
Granitic

III. GIVING DEFINITION/CHARACTERISTICS.

Note: Answers do not have to be exact as long as the answer matches the concept, then it is correct.

a. Phreatic Eruption – A Phreatic eruption occurs when magma heats up groundwater or surface water,
causing it to rapidly turn into steam.
Characterized by ash columns and only blasts out fragments of pre-existing solid rock from the volcanic
conduit, with no new magma being erupted.

b. Phreatomagmatic Eruption - Phreatomagmatic eruptions result from the interaction of water and
magma, causing violent water-lava interactions that make up the eruption.
These eruptions can eject various volcanic materials, including ash, pumice, and rock fragments. Unlike
phreatic eruptions, phreatomagmatic eruptions often produce both magmatic and phreatomagmatic
components, including juvenile clasts.

c. Vulcanian Eruption - Vulcanian eruptions are a type of explosive eruption that occurs when highly
viscous magma is ejected from a volcano. Magma rises to the surface of the volcano and encounters a
layer of rock that is more resistant to flow.
Characterized by a high level of explosivity, which can result in tall eruption columns that reach up to 20 km
high.

d. Plinian Eruption - Are known as the most powerful type of eruption which are tremendously explosive
eruptions that create ash columns that spread out into an umbrella shape and reach several tens of miles
into the stratosphere.
Characterized by continuous gas blasts and explosive ejection of viscous lava, gas-rich magma, and large
volumes of volcanic rock known as pumice.
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 e. Strombolian Eruption - It involves a periodic weak to violent eruption characterized by fountain lava.
Are driven by the bursting of gas bubbles within the magma.
Characterized by short-lived and explosive eruptions of lavas with intermediate viscosity, often ejected high
into the air.

f. Volcanic Eruption - A volcanic eruption is a phenomenon that occurs when molten rock, ash, and gas
escape from a volcano.

IV. COMPARING.

Note: Answers do not have to be exact as long as the answer matches the concept, then it is correct.

● Active Volcano VS Inactive Volcano

Active volcanoes are volcanoes that actually erupt or show unusual signs of activity. Whilst Inactive volcanoes
that have not erupted for the past 10,000 years or show unusual signs of activity.
● Geothermal Power plants VS Geothermal Heat Pumps

Geothermal Power Plants generate electricity by using heat from the Earth's core to turn turbines that power
generators. On the other hand, Geothermal Heat Pumps use the Earth's constant temperature to heat or cool
buildings and homes.

● Volcanoes at Convergent Boundaries VS Volcanoes at Divergent Boundaries VS Hot Spot Volcanoes

Convergent boundaries occur when two plates move towards each other (converge). Divergent boundaries
occur when two plates move away from each other (diverge), creating a long, narrow depression called a rift
valley. Hot spot volcanoes are a type of volcano that forms in the middle of a tectonic plate, away from the
boundaries where most volcanoes are found.

● Composite Volcano or Stratovolcano VS Shield Volcano VS Cinder Cones or Pyroclastic Cones

A Composite Volcano or Stratovolcano is a tall mountain with a crater on top. Shield Volcano is almost flat and
broad like a warrior’s shield. Cinder Cones or Pyroclastic Cones are usually small, made up of pyroclasts or
fragments of volcanic rocks that form steep slopes around their wide crater and are often formed in groups
near a large volcano.

V. CONNECT COLUMN A TO COLUMN B

1. b
2. a
3. h
4. d
5. e
6. g
7. f
8. c

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