lecture 9 Flashcards
volcano
opening in earths crust through which molten rock, hot rock fragments and gases escape in a volcanic eruption
lava
molten rock at earths surface erupted from volcano that can take different forms: bombs, flows and ash fall
magma
molten rock situated within the earth within a magma chamber or conduit
4 steps of volcanic eruptions
- eruption starts with magma at depth, gases are kept dissolved in solution by high pressure
- as magma rises, pressure is reduced. Gases come out of solution (exsolution) to form bubbles and decompression melting may occur. Surrounding bedrock can also melt and mix with magma
- bubbles propel the magma upwards, bubble volume may overwhelm the magma fragmenting it into pieces and explloding as a gas jet
- gas jet draws in surrounding air forming a bouyant plume
volcanic rocks
formed from lava that solidified above the surface (extrusive)
plutonic rocks
formed from magma that solidifed below the surface (intrusive)
what happens when lava or magma cools
solidifies and atoms arrange themselves into crystals
viscosity- magma characteristics
measure of internal resistance to flow, low viscosity flows easily and high viscosity flow slowly
- higher temperature = lower viscosity
- higher crystal content = higher viscosity
- higher siica content = higher viscosity
how does oceanic crust from at mid ocean ridges
new oceanic crust forms by decompression melting of asthenosphere. Magma at high temp, low H20 content, low SiO2 content and therefore low viscsoity
what forms a pillow shape of lava
when basalt erupts underwater, contact w/ cold water quenches the surface and the lava forms a distinctive pillow shape
icelandic type eruptions
iceland sits on a mid-ocean ridge that is above sea level. Because of the low viscosity, gas bubbles can escape and eruptions are peaceful
flood basalts- icelandic type eruptions
low viscosity basalt spreads out into a horizontal layer and over time stacks up to form flood basalts
what happens to magma at oceanic hot spots
hihg temperature, low H20 and low SiO2 so low viscosity, gas bubbles can escape and eruptions are peaceful
hawaiian type eruptions
basaltic lava spills out of fissures as lava fountains and flows downhill as lava rivers
shield volcano- hawaiin type eruptions
magma erupted in hawaii is more viscious than in iceland so builds giant shield volcano (Mauna Loa) By volume, largest sub-aerial volcano on Earth