Volcanic activity occurred in North America on May 18, 1980 caused much loss and turned

beautiful place into decapitated remnant. Volcanic activity is a process by which molten material
comes on the surface. Different igneous rocks have different magma composition like basalt
contains high percentage of silicate minerals. Mostly magma generated in upper mantle. Magma
can be explosive or non-explosive. Temperature and silica content changed magma viscosity.
Carbon dioxide causes pressure in magma. Confining pressure decreases below the magma when
magma chamber is forcefully ejected and this causes a series of violent explosions. Mostly lava
is basaltic lava almost 90% and this erupt by a process called submarine volcanism. Basaltic lava
is usually fluid and can flow and is of two types, Aa and Pahoehoe. Pahoehoe is much hotter and
more fluid then Aa lava. Tube like structure lava is called pillow lava. Gases are 1 to 8 % of total
volume in lava. Pyroclastic material is ejected from energetic lava. Conical mountains are
formed by the lava’s that occurred for thousands of year. Volcanic landform are present in a
variety of sizes and shapes. Fissure is the first step of volcanic activity and lava comes on surface
from a conduit and it end at surface opening called volcanic cone. The funnel type depression
formed called crater and when magma chamber empties then depression is called caldera.
The largest type of volcano is called shield volcano. They are found in Hawaiian Islands, Iceland
and in some area of Pacific Northwest. The examples of shield volcanos are Mauna Loa which is
earth’s biggest shield volcano, Kilauea which is most active volcano. Cinder cones lava are tall
and steep sharp volcano and form from very thick lava. They have high angle of repose. They
occur in groups. For example near Flagstaff, Arizona consists of 600 cones. The most dangerous
type of volcano is composite volcano. Alternating layers of lava and ash are present in composite
volcanoes. They have symmetrical form and are very complex in nature. Example of composite
volcanoes are Mount St. Helens and Mt Rainier. Volcanoes erupt very less as 1500 earth’s
known volcanoes have erupt only once or very few times in 10,000 years. People live near
volcanoes face hazards, pyroclastic flows, volcanic bombs. Example of hazards include
pyroclastic flow which consists of hot gases, Lahars which contains water, volcanic ash and
aviation that effect climate badly.
Some volcanoes do not erupt and solidifies under surface. Magma enters into pre-existing rock is
called host rock and structures form called intrusions or plutons. Some structures formed by
magma intrusion include Dikes which are discordant, sills which are horizontal concordant,
columnar joints which often have six sides, batholiths which occur as mammoth linear structures
and laccolith which are injected between sedimentary rocks. Magma comes from the partial
melting of rocks which is an incomplete melting. Melting begins from lowest melting point
minerals and then to higher melting point minerals. Temperature is not only the reason of
melting, pressure increases with depth also plays an important role. Reducing pressure also plays
an important role and it also lowers melting temperature. Decompression melting is triggered
when confining pressure drops sufficiently. Addition of water causes rocks to melt at lower
temperature. Most active volcanoes are along margins within circum-pacific belt is called Ring
of fire. Due to sea floor spreading, magma also erupt along divergent plate boundary. Along
convergent plate boundaries, there occurs curved chain of volcanoes is called volcanic arc.
Intraplate volcanism consists of large outpourings of basaltic lavas.
I have learned that lavas causes much destructions and people live near have to face much
troubles due to lava. Lava also causes environmental issues. Composite volcanoes are most
destructive of all volcanoes. Lava burns all the things in their way but lava also carries useful
minerals like silica. These minerals can be used to boost up country economy. If we could
control lavas then we can get useful benefits from them.
I have a question for you that what are the other benefits of lava?