What is volcanic lava made of?

First earthquakes, then explosions begin. Suddenly the sky fills with ashes and lava begins to gush from the newly formed volcano. It flows incessantly: it swallows everything in its path, burning houses and roads with its very high temperatures.

The most heartbreaking thing that makes up one of the worst environmental tragedies to happen is knowing that we have no control over it. But after all, what volcano lava?

First, we should know that the interior of planet Earth consists of two layers, the core and the mantle. The latter extends to a depth of 30 to 2,900 kilometers and is filled with liquid rock called magma.

When ejected by a volcano, magma loses some gases and alkaline compounds and is called lava. For geologists, identifying the elements found in molten rock is crucial to understanding the physical aspects of matter.

the greatest founder lava Composed of the elements silicon and oxygen, it is silica, the same substance that makes up beach sand or glass. The silicates may be of metals such as magnesium, iron, sodium or potassium.

In addition, volatile compounds are also mixed in the boiling mass of liquid rock. These gases are decisive for the viscosity of the material: magmas that are richer in the material flow flow more easily.

What is volcanism?

When magma trapped inside the planet rises to the surface, it escapes, forming a geological structure called a volcano. An eruption represents a serious natural disaster and has been responsible for major mass extinctions of species in natural history.

This is because it releases magma in the form of lava. – volcanic ash and gases that pollute the air for kilometers. In addition, the dust clouds covering the area block the sunlight, creating an artificial winter that can last for years.

Volcanoes on our planet It can occur in two different ways. Due to tectonics, most cases of magma escape occur in areas where two tectonic plates meet.

This movement produces volcanoes highly explosive that shoots lava and boulders in all directions. In addition, the eruption begins after earthquakes, which can also bring tragedy to the people living in the vicinity.

The second type occurs in so-called hotspots (hot spots), places on the planet where the upper mantle reaches extremely high temperatures and occasionally spews lava to the surface.

This is the case for Hawaii and the Canary Islands, two regions where eruptions took place in 2021 that received media attention. However, these eruptions are usually lighter.

They are called effusive, do not contain a lot of volatile substances and lava has a low viscosity – flows slowly. So in these situations it is possible to evacuate neighborhoods, save lives and save greater tragedies.

lava classifications

According to its features, lava can be classified into three types: fluid, viscous or intermediate. More importantly are the types of flows that can be divided into three:

• aaa, a Hawaiian word meaning stony, denotes channels marked by an irregular surface caused by the rapid loss of gases. aspect lava As it moves, the cold material is pulled to the bottom and is covered by the advancing molten rock, resulting in the formation of two layers.
• pahoehoeDrained from Hawaiian “soft” lava basalt type. The surface is smooth and forms rounded shapes as it progresses as it forms small lobes. This behavior leads to the formation of very peculiar shapes, often referred to as sculptures. lava.
• wash on pillow underwater explosions or lava It flows until it reaches the sea. They get this name because they form spherical rocks similar to pillows. As the interior cools more slowly, it creates a glassy surface and becomes evident with cracks, wrinkles and lines.

lava type and the current causes various rocks to form around the planet. Therefore, volcanoes, although destructive, are also creative forces, and the entire surface of the planet that exists today was created by them.

even here. Our country is marked by volcanic activity from north to south. But don’t worry: There are no recent records of eruptions on Tupiniquin soil.