Volcanicity

Volcanoes are classified as;

Active - Volcanoes that have erupted recently
Dormant - Volcanoes that have not erupted recently but have done in the last 2000yrs
Extinct - Volcanoes that have not erupted for many thousands of years

VULCANICITY
Is the process through which molten rock (magma) and gases from interior moves into the
earth’s crust or on to the earth surface along lines of weakness (fault lines).

What causes vulcanicity

Deep inside the earth heat and pressure exerted by the crust cause rocks to melt forming
molten rock known as magma, which is forced to rise along the lines of weakness (fault
lines).

Features formed: – features formed can either be;

1. Extrusive features: - the magma reaches the surface, cools and solidifies. When
magma reaches the surface it is known as lava.
2. Intrusive features: - magma solidifies below the earth‘s surface forming intrusive
volcanic features.

Types of Lava

1. Acidic lava: very thick, traps a lot of gas , water, rich in silica content violent
eruption and lava solidifies very quickly builds up steep cones.
2. Basic lava: this is a form of fluid poor in silica content flows for a very distance
before it solidifies, it builds up gently sloping cones, lava plateau and plains
3. Pyroclasts (Heated lava): when lava is short into the air, it breaks down into small
fragments or pieces (pyroclasts), which usually falls to the ground and form layers
of Ash/cinder. Layers of ash mix with layers of lava to form composite cones.

Extrusive features

When lava magma reaches the surface, it forms a variety of features depending on the
type of lava and the nature of the eruption. The following are the common features;

1. Lava Plateaus – formed from fissure eruptions of basic lava. When plates are
moving apart, they create fissures through which magma will be ejected rather
than through a central vent. The lava flows for very long distances before
solidifying filling up depressions and forming a plateau rather than a conical hill.

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 Volcanicity

2. Ash/cinder cone: - These are small but steep sided hills formed when explosive eruptions
throw lava high into the air. The lava breaks up into small fragments or pieces known as
pyroclasts (fire rocks). The erupted materials build up or accumulate around the opening
known as vent; layer after layer forming steep sided cones of about 150 meters high. The
hills are characterized by a large crater /caldera at the top because of violet eruptions.
Examples in Kenya are Suswa and Menegai hills

A Crater is a circular depression at the top of a volcanic mountain caused by a violent eruption.

3. Basic lava cone/shield volcano: This is a hill with gently slopping sides. Its formed when
hot fluid lava, with low silica content, flows from one or two faults in a quiet eruption. It
spreads out in flat layers. The layers build up a broad volcano with gently sloping sides,
shaped like a shield and hence the name shield volcano. Its common in Uganda- Rwanda
boarder along the Nyamulagira ranges.

4. Acid lava dome: These are doom shaped hills with steep convex slopes. They are formed
from acid lava which is thick and rich in silica content. It solidifies quickly on reaching the

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 Volcanicity

surface, forming a volcanic dome or cone of viscous lava.

Volcanic plug: The thick lava (viscous) lava, at times solidifies in the vent. After prolonged
erosion, the plug is exposed to the surface and appears as a pillar. Examples are the Tororo rocks
in Eastern Uganda.

5. A composite cone: These are large mountains which arise from alternating violent and
quite eruptions. A violent eruption releases pyroclasts which form a layer of ash and
cinders. Then the eruption changes to a quite one releasing lava over the top of ash layer,
when the cycle of ash and lave is repeated over and over in alternating layers, a
composite volcano is formed.
At times lava is diverted side ways from the vent forming dykes and parasite cones
.Examples are Mt. Kenya and Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

6. Caldera - an enlarged crater on top of volcano as a result of violent eruption.

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 Volcanicity

FORMATION OF A CALDERA

These are explosion craters. They are formed when

explosive eruptions of gases blow off the rocks at the
surface leaving a shallow circular depression. The
depressions are filled with water to form explosion
crater lakes. Examples are; L. Katwe, L. Nyamuruka,

Hot springs /geyser: These are features produced when heated water in volcanic areas flow out
quietly in form of hot springs or erupt periodically shooting out water /steam in the air in the
form of geysers. Examples – Kitagata in Bushenyi.

Intrusive features:

These are formed when magma solidifies underground. Magma forms in many different shapes
and sizes, the most common are: -

1. Batholiths: these are mostly massive rocks. They are dome shaped, formed at great depth
and at times they are exposed at the surface by denudational forces as inselbergs.
Examples are mumbende hills,
2. Dykes: formed when magma solidifies into vertical cracks, cutting across rock layers.
When affected by erosion dykes may stand as a ridge. There are ridges in most parts of
Turkana, the great dyke region of Zimbabwe and Sukulu hills South of Tororo town.

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 Volcanicity

3. Sills: formed when lava solidifies in between rock layers or bedding planes in sedimentary
rocks. After prolonged erosion, Sills may be exposed as escarpments and where they
occur across a river valley they cause water falls and rapids. Examples are Thika and
Thompson falls in Kenya.

4. Laccolith: this is magma which solidifies in a shape similar to a mushroom. Magma is

forced between bedding planes in sedimentary rocks and forms dome shaped features as
in the diagram below. After prolonged erosion, it may form upland.

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 Volcanicity

5. Lappolith: This is a saucer shaped intrusion of magma. After erosion it can be exposed as a
shallow basin. Examples are Arenas in Ankole.

Advantages of Vulcanicity

1. Volcanic mountains and lava plateau provide fertile volcanic soils which support
agriculture, e.g. Arabic coffee is grown on mountain Elgon, Mufumbiro, Kenya and
Kilimanjaro, coffee earns the country foreign currency and provides employment, other
crops grown include wheat, tea, pyrethrum, maize, bananas, vegetables, irish potatoes.
2. The highland areas are densely settled. This is due to the fertile soils and cool climate, e.g.
Bugishu, Kigezi, Kenya and Kilimanjaro highlands.
3. The volcanic features especially mountains are tourist attractions. They provide sporting
activities like mountain climbing. They generate income in form of foreign exchange and
provide employment to local people.
4. Volcanic mountains influence climate, lead to formation of relief rainfall which is
important for agriculture.
5. Some mountains are ice capped. They are a source of many rivers, which provide water
for domestic use and generate hydroelectric power.

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 Volcanicity

6. There are forest reserves on the slopes of mountains like Elgon, Mufumbiro Kenya, and
Kilimanjaro which are valuable source of timber and firewood. The forests also act as
wildlife conservation areas e.g. Bwindi impenetrable forests, has the largest population of
gorillas, which promote tourism.
7. Lava or magma is rich in minerals e.g. Tororo rock volcanic plug is a source of limestone
for the cement industry. Iron, tin uranium are found in the Mufumbiro ranges. Lake Katwe
which is an explosion crater is a centre for salt mining. The Kimberlite rock in Tanzania is
centre for gold mining. Minerals provide revenue and employment.
8. Hot springs or Geysers are potential source of Geothermal power (electricity).in Kenya,
the Olkaria Geothermal Power Station near lake Naivasha in Kenya, generates electricity.
9. There is fishing in lava-damned lakes, which provides food and employment.
10. The intrusive features Batholiths, dyke, sills, laccoliths and lappoliths once exposed to the
surface as inselbergs have the following advantages;
a) Good sites for quarrying. They are sources of stones used for construction.
b) Sills and Dykes once crossed by rivers create waterfalls which are good for hydro
power generation.
c) They are tourist attractions.

Disadvantages of Vulcanicity

1. Volcanic features especially mountains are communication barriers due to steepness.

2. lt is very expensive and risky to construct roads and railways in the hilly areas.
3. Volcanic eruption leads to loss of lives and property.
4. Heavy rainfall and steepness lead to soil erosion, mass wasting and landslides which are
common in Kigezi and Elgon areas.
5. Mountains act as barriers to rainfall especially on the leeward side (rain shadow areas)
this causes aridity.
6. Intrusive features like sills and dykes form waterfalls and rapids which hinder navigation
of rivers.
7. Where there are Inselbergs and Batholiths make agriculture practising difficult.

The Hazards from volcanoes

1. A cloud of red hot gas and ash which flows down the side of a volcano at 200km/hr
2. A mixture of ash with rain or glacier melt water which forms a deadly river of mud
3. Lava Flows - A river of molten rock 1000 degrees centigrade that can travel at 40mph
4. Ash Fall - Millions of tons of ash can bury buildings, roads etc.
5. Volcanic bombs - Rocks and lava the size of houses and cars can be hurled into the sky

What can be done to reduce the impacts of Volcanoes?

Preparation
1. Being able to predict volcanic eruptions makes it easier to prepare for them
2. Hazard maps are drawn up to show areas at risk

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 Volcanicity

3. People are evacuated to safe areas.

4. Lava flows may be diverted by spraying them with water, or even bombing them
5. Emergency services can be trained to be ready for an eruption and deal with injuries etc
6. Emergency supplies can be got ready such as food, water etc
7. Provide an after eruption plan to return the area to normal with plans for clearing up the
mess and repairing the damage.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Molten rock that has forced its way to the earth’s surface leads to the formation of;

Intrusive features
Dykes and sills
Volcanic features
Intrusive and extrusive features

2. Most lakes in East Africa were formed due to:

Tectonic Activity
Deposition
Damming
Glacial activity

3. The feature formed when magma cools along a bedding plane is called a:

Dyke
Laccolith
Batholith
Sill

4. Mt. Kilimanjaro is an example of:

a volcanic plug
an exposed batholith
a block mountain

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 Volcanicity

a composite volcanic

5. The ejection of solid, liquid and gaseous material from the earth crust to the surface

is called.

Faulting
Tectonic activity
Volcanity
Vulcanicity

6. A granite dome shaped feature found at the bottom of mountains is called;

Sill
Batholith
Dyke
Plug

7. A large widened volcanic depression found on top of a volcano is called;

Crater
Vent
Caldera
Plug

8. One of these mountains is not volcanic.

Rwenzori
Kenya
Elgon
Napak

9. The following are intrusive volcanic features except.

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 Volcanicity

Sill
Cone
Batholite
Dyke

10. Which of the following is an example of an active volcano.

Mt Elgon
Mt Kenya
Mt Kilimanjaro
Mt. Langonot

11. Which of the following forms of energy is associated with areas of recent vulcanicity in
Kenya.

Tidal energy
Solar energy
Geothermal energy
Hydro electricity

12. The caldera on top of Mount Menengai near Nakuru is a result of a volcanic.

Mountain getting extinct

Mountain erupting frequently
Mountain vent getting sealed
Mountain getting sunk

13. Which of the following features is not a volcanic landform.

A graben
Batholith
Sill

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 Volcanicity

Lavaplain

14. A feature formed when lava solidifies in a vent is called;

Lava plain
Volcanic plug
Limestone
Granite

15. Molten rock which has forced its way to the earth’s surface leads to the formation of:

Intrusive features
Dykes and sills
Volcanic features
Extrusive features

16. A volcanic eruption is more likely to be violent when;

The volcano is near the sea

The neck of the volcano is sealed by a plug
The lava is viscous
The lava reaches the surface through fissures

17. Which of the following statement describes the process of vulcanicity.

When magma and gaseous materials are intruded into the crustal layers.
When magma and gaseous materials are extruded into the crustal surface
When magma and gaseous materials are extruded into the earth's surface
When molten rock and gaseous materials are intruded into the mantle

18. Which of the following layers of the earth’s structure is associated with the origin of molten
magma.

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 Volcanicity

The lower and upper layers of the crust

The upper and lower layers of the core
The upper and lower layers of the sima
The lower and upper layers of the mantle

19. The steam jets within Ol Donyo Lengai indicate that volcano is;

Dormant
Active
Extinct
Never erupting

Activity .5

1. a) Define Volcanicity.

b) Name the extrusive features of Volcanicity.

2. a) Draw a well labelled diagram of a composite cone.

b) Draw a diagram showing three intrusive volcanic features.

3. Give the importance of volcanicity to man.

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