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CLASSIFICA
TION OF
VOLCANOE
S
Classification Of Volcanoes
Classification Of Volcanoes
A volcano is an opening in a planet or moon’s crust through which

molten rock, hot gases, and other materials erupt. Volcanoes often
form a hill or mountain as layers of rock and ash build up from
repeated eruptions. Volcanoes are classified as active, dormant, or
extinct. Active volcanoes have a recent history of eruptions; they are
likely to erupt again. Dormant volcanoes have not erupted for a very
long time but many erupt at a future time. Extinct volcanoes are not
expected to erupt in the future.
Inside an active volcano is a chamber in which molten rock, called
magma, collects. Pressure builds up inside the magma chamber,
causing the magma to move through channels in the rock and escape
onto the planet’s surface. Once it floes onto the surface the magma is
known as lava. Some volcanic eruptions are explosive, while others
occur as a slow lava flow. Eruptions can occur through a main magma
chamber, causing the magma to move through channels in the rock and
escape onto the planet’s surface. Once it flows onto the surface the
magma is know as lava.
Some volcanic eruptions are explosive, while others occur as a slow
lava flow. Eruptions can occur through a main opening at the top of the
volcano or through vents that form on the sides. The rate and intensity
of eruptions, as well as the composition of the magma, determine the
shape of the volcano. Volcanoes are found on a both land and ocean
floor. When volcanoes erupt on the ocean floor, they often create
underwater mountains and mountain ranges as the released lava cools
and hardens. Volcanoes on the ocean floor become island when the
mountains become so large they rise above the surface of the ocean.
The Three Classic Types Of Volcanoes
• Cinder Cone Volcanoes
• Composite Volcanoes (Stratovolcanoes)
• Shield Volcanoes
Cinder Cone Volcanoes
Cinder cones are the most common type of

volcano in the world. They may look like an
idealized depiction of a volcano as they are steep,
conical hills that usually have a prominent crater at
the top. Cinder cones are more technically known
as scoria cones. Scoria are irregularly-shaped,
highly vesicular (bubble-shaped cavities)
fragments of lava that are erupted into the air and
are typically solid when they land. Cinder is a more
colloquial term that is widely used in the United
States for pieces of scoria that are roughly nut- to
fist-size. Cinder cones are often surrounded by
dark lava flows erupted from near their base.
Composite Volcanoes
(Stratovolcanoes)
Composite volcanoes can be the most picturesque of all
volcanoes. A classic composite volcano is conical with a
concave shape that is steeper near the top. These mountains
commonly have snow-covered peaks standing high above the
surrounding mountainous terrain. Composite cones are large
volcanoes (many thousands of feet or meters tall) generally
composed of lava flows, pyroclastic deposits, and mudflow
(lahar) deposits, as well as lava domes. Composite volcanoes
are active over long periods (tens to hundreds of thousands of
years), and erupt periodically. Composite volcanoes are also
called stratovolcanoes. Some geologists avoid the use of the
term “stratovolcano” because these volcanoes typically are not
stratified and do not consist of orderly layers of lava flows and
pyroclastic deposits.
Shield Volcanoes
Although shield volcanoes are the largest volcanoes
on Earth, they do not form soaring mountains with
conical peaks like composite volcanoes. Instead, they
are broad volcanoes with gentle slopes and are
shaped somewhat like a warrior’s shield lying flat on
the Earth. Shield volcanoes have a convex shape as
they are flatter near the summit. Shield volcanoes are
truly massive with volumes that dwarf other types of
volcanoes, even large composite volcanoes. Shield
volcanoes are usually constructed almost entirely of
basaltic and/or andesitic lava flows which were very
fluid when erupted. They are built by repeated
eruptions that occurred intermittently over vast periods
of time (up to a million years or longer).

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CLASSIFICA

A volcano is an opening in a planet or moon’s crust through which

• Cinder Cone Volcanoes

• Composite Volcanoes (Stratovolcanoes)

Cinder cones are the most common type of

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