Why is the silica content of lava important?

Answer 1

The more silica crystal within the magma, the more viscous the magma is, because of crystals sticking together.

So magma with low silica content is runny, and wiht just flow gently out of a volcano, like in hawai, but viscous (sticky, like honey) magma will not, and gas gets trapped within it, and then explodes out, cause large scale explosive erruptions.

Answer 2

Lava from volcanoes will often contain silica. Lava with a high amount of silica flows slowly and will produce a volcano with sloping sides. Lava with a low content of silica flows quickly and spread great distances to form plateaus.

Answer 3

A low amount of silica will create a runny kind of lava found in shield volcanoes. That kind of lava is called Pahoehoe. A high amount of silica will make a thick kind of lava that is found in cinder cone volcanoes. That kind of lava is called Aa.

Answer 4

Silica content has an effect on the viscosity of the magma. A high silica content creates a more viscous magma. High viscosity magmas create explosive volcanoes such as cinder cones while low viscosity magmas create non-explosive volcanoes such as shield volcanos.

Answer 5

The silica contents of magma is largely responsible for the lava's viscosity, which determines whether the lava is erupted mildly or explosively.

Answer 6

the less silica there is the runnier the lava and the smaller the volcano is (visa versa)

Answer 7

It gives it violent or gentle eruptions.