VOLCANISM

VOLCANISM
The word “volcano” comes from the Roman name

“Vulcan”- the Roman god of fire
A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to

a pool of molten rock below the surface of the
earth.
Volcanism
The process by which magma and associated
gases rise unto the Earth’s crust and are extruded
on the Earth’s surface or in the atmosphere.
Anatomy of a Volcano
What are the different
stages of volcanoes?
Active
a volcano which has erupted recently and there is a
possibility that it may erupt soon.
Dormant
is one which has not erupted in a long time but
there is a possibility it can erupt in the future.
Extinct
a volcano which has erupted thousands of years
ago and there’s no possibility of eruption
Why do volcanoes erupt?
Plate tectonics
an interesting story of continents drifting

from place to place breaking apart,
colliding, and grinding against each other
The Nature of Volcanic
Eruptions
Factors Affecting Eruptions
Factors that determine the violence of an
eruption
• Composition of Magma
• Temperature of Magma
• Dissolved gases in the Magma
Characteristics of Magma
Basaltic Magma - SiO₂ 45-

55 wt%, high in Fe, Mg, Ca,
low in K, Na Temperature of
Andesitic Magma - SiO₂ 55- Magma
65 wt%, intermediate in Fe, Basaltic Magma –
Mg, Na, and K
1000 to 1200 °C
Rhyolitic Magma - SiO₂ 65-
75%, low in Fe, Mg, Ca, high Andesitic Magma –
in K, and Na 800 to 1000 °C
Rhyolitic Magma –
650 to 800 °C
The Nature of Volcanic
Eruptions
• Viscosity
is the measure of a material’s resistance to flow.
Factors affecting viscosity
Temperature (hotter magmas are less viscous)
Composition (silica content)
1. High silica – high viscosity (rhyolitic lava)
2. Low silica – more fluid (basaltic lava)
• Dissolve gases
Mainly water vapor and carbon dioxide
A vent is an opening in the surface of Earth
through which molten rock and gases are released.
Summary Table
Magma Type Chemical Solidified Temperature Viscosity Gas Content
Composition Rock
Basaltic SiO₂ 45-55 Basalt 1000- 1200 Low Low
wt%, high in °C
Fe, Mg, Ca,
low in K, Na
Andesitic SiO₂ 55-65 800-1000 °C Intermediate Intermediate
wt%, Andesite
intermediate
in Fe, Mg, Ca,
Na, K
Rhiyolitic SiO₂ 65-75 Rhyolite 650- 800 °C High Highh
wt%, low in
Fe, Mg, Ca,
high in K, Na
Volcanic Material
• Lava Flows
Basaltic lavas are more fluid
Types of Lava
Pahoehoe lava (resembles braids in
ropes)
Aa lava (rough, jagged blocks)
• Gases
Mainly water vapor and carbon dioxide
One to 5 percent of magma by weight
Volcanic Material
• Pyroclastic Materials
particles produced in volcanic eruption
Types of Pyroclastic material
Ash and dust – fine, glassy fragments
Pumice – frothy, air-filled lava
Lapilli – walnut-sized particles
Cinders – pea-sized particles
Particles larger than lapilli
Blocks- hardened lava
Bombs – ejected as hot lava
What are the different types
of volcanoes?
Shield Volcanoes
broad, gently sloping volcanoes built from fluid basaltic lavas
Cinder Cones
Small volcanoes built primarily of pyroclastic material ejected from
single vent
Composite Cones
Volcanoes that composed of both lava and pyroclastic material
Calderas
Large depressions in volcanoes
Lava Plateaus
Fluid basaltic lava extruded from crustal fractures called fissures.
Intrusive Igneous Activity
can be referred to the extrusive igneous

rock material comes from highly heated
magma or intrusive rock material that
results from the cooling of magma inside
the earth structure.
Plutons
When the magma slowly cools inside the earth 's surface and
takes crystallized shape, those bodies of intrusive igneous rock
Sills and Laccoliths
Sills – resemble buried lava flows and may exhibit columnar
joints
Laccoliths – are lens-shaped masses that arch overlying strata
upward
Dikes – are tabular-shaped intrusive igneous features that cut
across preexisting rock layers
Batholiths – are large masses of igneous rock that formed
when magma intruded at depth and become crytallized, and
subsequently exposed by erosion.
Origin of Magma
Role of Heat
geothermal gradient- earth’s natural temperature
increases with depth but is not sufficient to melt
rock in the lower crust and upper mantle
Role of Water
causes rock to melt at a lower temperature
plays an important role in subducting ocean plates
Plate Tectonics and Igneous
Activity
Convergent Plate Boundaries
Ocean-Ocean
rising magma can form volcanic island arcs in
and ocean (Aleutian Islands)
Ocean-Continent
rising magma can form continental volcanics
arcs (Andes Mountains)
Divergent Plate Boundaries
The greatest volume of volcanic rock is produced along
the oceanic ridge system
Intraplate Volcanism
an igneous activity that occurs within tectonic plate away
from the plate boundaries
Mayon Cinder Cone
Volcano (Little Lake,
California
St. Augustine Volcano
(Alaska)

VOLCANISM

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VOLCANISM

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VOLCANISM

The word “volcano” comes from the Roman name

A volcano is a mountain that opens downward to

an interesting story of continents drifting

Basaltic Magma - SiO₂ 45-

can be referred to the extrusive igneous

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