Volcano Anatomy & Types

3 Main Types of Volcanoes

Shield

-Non explosive

-Made mostly of thin,
basaltic lava flows

-Large, island forming (Ex.
The Hawaiian Islands)

Composite (Stratovolcano)

-Most common

-Has the classic cone shape

-Very explosive - made mostly
of thick, granitic lava flows

-Has alternating layers of lava
flow and pyroclastic material

CInder Cone

-Smaller

-Tall, steep sides

-Lava is slightly thicker than the
shield (can throw cinders)

3 Main Types of Volcanoes

Shield

-Non explosive

-Made mostly of thin,
basaltic lava flows

-Large, island forming (Ex.
The Hawaiian Islands)

Composite (Stratovolcano)

-Most common

-Has the classic cone shape

-Very explosive - made mostly
of thick, granitic lava flows

-Has alternating layers of lava
flow and pyroclastic material

CInder Cone

-Smaller

-Tall, steep sides

-Lava is slightly thicker than the
shield (can throw cinders)

Volcanic eruptions are constructive in that they add new rock to existing land and form new islands.

Volcanic eruptions can be destructive when an eruption is explosive and changes the landscape of and around the volcano. 

Magma that reaches Earth's surface is lava.

Magma from the mantle rises to Earth’s surface and flows out an opening (vent)

Volcano forms around it from cooled lava, ash, cinders, and rock

Most volcanoes occur along plate boundaries; in the Pacific Ocean, volcanoes are common (Ring of Fire)

• Hot spots do not occur at plate boundaries BUT instead in the middle of a tectonic plate.

  • Yellowstone

  • Volcanic Island Chains
    

• Formed over a HOT SPOT

  • tectonic plate moves but the hot spot stays in one place

  • Forms new islands in a chain