Volcanoes

How do volcanoes work?

• Magma is forced onto Earth’s surface.

• It dries and hardens, this happens many times over thousands of years.

• Eventually a mountain called a volcano is formed.

Parts of a Volcano• Most volcanoes share a

specific set of features.

• The magma that feeds the eruptions pools deep underground in a structure called a magma chamber.

• At Earth’s surface, lava is released through openings called vents.

• Flowing lava in the interior travels through long, pipelike structures known as lava tubes.

Where do most volcanoes occur?

• Volcanoes occur at both divergent and convergent boundaries and also at hot spots.

Types of volcanoes

Types of volcanoes• Shield volcano: usually form at hot spots,

from non explosive eruptions

• Cinder cone volcano: form from explosive eruptions, very steep.

• Composite volcano: form from both explosive and non explosive eruptions.

Shield volcano

• Form from many layers of “runny” lava.• Very wide, not to steep.• Biggest type of volcanoes• Tallest mountain in the world is Mauna Kea

(measures from sea floor to top)• non explosive eruptions

Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Cinder cone volcano• Smallest type of volcano

• Most common

• Made from pyroclastic material (material shot out of a volcano)

• Form a large crater

• Explosive!

Paricutin, Mexico

Composite volcano:

• Eruptions alternate between explosive and non-explosive.

• Sometimes they have runny lava layers, other times the have pyroclastic materials form layers.

• Have a wide base and steep sides.

• Have a crater

• Mount Fuji

Mount Fuji

2 Types of eruptions

• Explosive: volcanoes that build enough pressure to blow its top, sending pyroclastic material into the air.

• Non explosive: Build only enough pressure to allow lava to run down its sides.

Non explosive eruption

• Mafic: refers to rocks and magma rich in iron and magnesium.

• This type of lava that is very runny.

• As magma nears the surface there is little pressure, causing gasses escape easily.

• Magma low in Silica have quiet eruptions

Explosive eruptions

• Felsic: means magma with high silica and feldspar content.

• Felsic magma traps water and gas bubbles, which leads to lots of pressure.

• Silica acts like a cork• Explosive eruptions are caused by a build

up of high pressure.• Convergent zones contain lots of water,

therefore have explosive eruptions.

Pyroclastic materials

• Material that is thrown into the air during an explosion.

• Volcanic bombs: large blobs of magma that harden in the air.

• Lapilli: pebble size rocks

• Volcanic ash: tiny powder like material

Four types of lava• Aa: lava that is thick and sharp

• Pahoehoe: lava that forms thin crust and wrinkles

• Pillow lava: lava that erupts under water, has a round shape

• Blocky lava: cooler, lava that does not travel far from eruption, jagged when it dries.

Aa

• lava that is thick and sharp

Pahoehoe:

• lava that forms thin crust and wrinkles

Pillow lava

• lava that erupts under water, has a round shape

Blocky lava

• cooler, lava that does not travel far from eruption, jagged when it dries.