There is an inverse relationship between magma viscosity and silicon content. Lavas erupting from basaltic volcanoes (like Hawaii) have a much lower viscosity and are much hotter than those erupted by volcanoes whose magmas are rich in silicon.
There may be up to 8 orders of magnitude viscosity difference between basaltic magmas (SiO2 contents or about 45 %) and rhyolitic magmas (SiO2 > 70 %).
Although other factors such as temperature and water content also affect the viscosity of magma, silica-rich magmas tend to be more viscous than silica-poor magmas in similar situations.
The percentage of silicon in magma greatly affects its viscosity.
1. Chemical Composition of the magma. 2. Concentration of the melt. 3. Presence of Volatiles. 4. Amount of Water present in the magma.
Factors that determine the force of an eruption are magma viscosity and gas content.
The silica content. A higher silica content results in a more viscous magma.
Although other factors such as temperature and water content also affect the viscosity of magma, silica-rich magmas tend to be more viscous than silica-poor magmas in similar situations.
magma that has more silica is more viscous
magma that has more silica is more viscous
low silica content (basaltic magma)
low silica content (basaltic magma)
Magma with high silica content
The percentage of silicon in magma greatly affects its viscosity.
The three elements that determine viscosity in magma are:TemperatureSilicaOxides (gases)Viscosity changes the way in which magma will flow. Magma with low viscosity will flow much more easily than high viscosity magma.
silica content
The silica content. A higher silica content results in a more viscous magma.
The properties of magma that help to determine the type of eruption are the magma's viscosity and its silica content. Those volcanoes that exhibit massive eruptions have a high viscosity and high silica content.
The two main factors that affect viscosity are temperature and silica content. Higher temperatures lower viscosity while higher silica content increases viscosity.