Volcanoes

WHAT ARE VOLCANOES?

- A rupture in the crust where volcanic materials such as magma would go to the surface
from the magma chamber.
- Mostly found in plate boundaries (diverging/converging), some can form as a result of
hotspot volcanism (Hawaii Volcanic Chain)
PARTS OF A VOLCANO

1. Large magma chamber

2. Bedrock
3. Conduit (pipe)
4. Base
5. Sill
6. Dike
7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano
8. Flank
9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano
10. Throat
11. Parasitic cone
12. Lava flow
13. Vent
14. Crater
15. Ash cloud
TYPES OF ERUPTION
- Phreatic: Groundwater is superheated as it comes into contact with hot rock. Erupted
material is purely country rock. No new magma is recorded.
- Phreatomagmatic. Groundwater is superheated as it comes into contact with a rising
magma.
- Vulcanian: high viscosity, partial crystallization of magma (rocks are intermediate).
- Pilinian: Most violent eruption.
- Pelean – A violent type of eruption that records growth of the dome before collapsing
and that collapse would result to a release of different kinds of pyroclastic flows.
- Hawaiian: Produces mafic rocks that has low gas content. This type of eruption is known
for its effusive type of eruption where fountains of lava are observed.
- Magmatic: Release of gas because of decompression. If magma is low in viscosity, the
volcano will have a gentle and effusive eruption. If the magma is high in viscosity, then
the volcano will exhibit explosive eruptions.
- Strombolian: Moderate viscosity, gasses are dissolved, short-lived eruptions
MATERIALS EJECTED FROM VOLCANOES
- Gas: Includes carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride/sulfide/chloride, water
vapor
- Tephra: formed when magma experiences rapid expansion of gasses due to a decrease
in pressure as it flows to the surface.
o Remember: volcanic ash are particles that are smaller than 2mm in diameter
- Lava flows