Divergent boundaries by submarine eruptions and intrusions of rhyolitic magma will form new crusts of the ocean. This commonly takes place in the hydrosphere.
Lava domes are large geological features created by rhyolitic magma. Rhyolitic magma promotes plinian eruptions. Plinian eruptions can happen very quickly and shoot lave several miles into the air.
If the divergent boundary is located between two ocean plates, the lava that erupts will likely be called mafic. This lava is relatively low in silica but high in magnesium and iron.
At divergent plate boundaries, you typically find basaltic magma. At convergent plate boundaries, where one plate is forced beneath another, you find andesitic to rhyolitic magma due to the melting of continental crust. At hot spots, which are unrelated to plate boundaries, you can find a variety of magma types depending on the composition of the mantle source.
Both rhyolitic and basaltic lava flows have been found in the Yellowstone Caldera. There are alro large deposits of rhyolitic tuff.
Rhyolitic magma typically produces explosive volcanic eruptions due to its high viscosity and gas content. This type of magma can trap gases, leading to increased pressure that results in violent eruptions when released. These eruptions often produce pyroclastic flows, ash clouds, and lava domes, making them among the most hazardous volcanic events. Examples of such eruptions can be seen at locations like Yellowstone and Mount St. Helens.
Lava domes are large geological features created by rhyolitic magma. Rhyolitic magma promotes plinian eruptions. Plinian eruptions can happen very quickly and shoot lave several miles into the air.
If the divergent boundary is located between two ocean plates, the lava that erupts will likely be called mafic. This lava is relatively low in silica but high in magnesium and iron.
At divergent plate boundaries, you typically find basaltic magma. At convergent plate boundaries, where one plate is forced beneath another, you find andesitic to rhyolitic magma due to the melting of continental crust. At hot spots, which are unrelated to plate boundaries, you can find a variety of magma types depending on the composition of the mantle source.
Both rhyolitic and basaltic lava flows have been found in the Yellowstone Caldera. There are alro large deposits of rhyolitic tuff.
Obsidian is an glassy, extrusive, igneous rock that is found in areas that have experienced rhyolitic eruptions. Obsidian is formed when the rhyolitic lava comes into contact with water. This quick-cooling results in the glassy texture of obsidian.
Caldera-forming eruptions do not involce lava flows but massive plumes of ash and pumice. The material produced is usually rhyolite. After a caldera-forming eruption, however, the composition can shift, especially since eruptions can be triggered by the mixing of different types of magma.
Divergent boundary volcanoes are associated with mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates are moving apart, resulting in upwelling magma forming new crust. These volcanoes tend to produce basaltic lava flows with gentle slopes and low viscosity. Convergent boundary volcanoes occur at subduction zones where one plate is being forced beneath another, leading to the melting of rock and explosive eruptions. These volcanoes typically produce andesitic or rhyolitic magma leading to more explosive eruptions with steep-sided cones.
Lava is melted rock. Other names for lava include a'a' or pahoehoe.
Rhyolitic magma has a high viscosity content, making it flow slowly. Because of its slow moving liquid rock, it doesn't flow very far from the main vent, producing a very tall composite volcano. Once lava is released from the main vent it flows down the sides of the volcano and hardens. Because it is slow moving, some times it doesn't get all the way to the ground before it hardens, that's why composite volcano's are vary tall. Rhyolitic magma is also high in gas and silica content, making it very explosive.
Pumice is produced in the lava from certain volcanic eruptions. It forms from gas-rich andesitic or rhyolitic lava and has so many gas bubbles that some pumice can float on water.
Rhyolitic lava is highly viscous and tends to flow slowly, allowing for greater control and less risk of widespread destruction compared to more fluid lavas like basaltic. However, rhyolitic eruptions can still produce explosive events due to the high gas content and pressure buildup within the magma. These explosions can generate pyroclastic flows, ash fall, and lahars, posing significant risks to nearby communities.
Magmas with high viscosity and gas content tend to produce violent volcanic eruptions. High viscosity magmas are thicker and have more difficulty releasing gas, leading to pressure build-up and explosive eruptions. This often occurs with felsic or rhyolitic magmas.