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Eruptions caused by magmas with high silica content, specifically felsic magma, are typically explosive in nature. This is due to the high viscosity of felsic magma, which traps gases until pressure builds up sufficiently to cause a violent release. As a result, these eruptions can produce pyroclastic flows and ash clouds, significantly impacting the surrounding environment. Examples include eruptions from volcanoes like Mount St. Helens and Mount Pinatubo.

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Why are felsic rocks melted by mafic magmas but mafic rocks are not melted by felsic magmas?

Felsic rocks have a lower melting point than mafic rocks and felsic magma has a lower temperature. In other words, felsic magma is not hot enough to melt mafic rock while mafic magma is hot enough to melt felsic rock.


What happen when felsic magma mix with basic magma?

When felsic magma mixes with basic magma, it can lead to the formation of intermediate magma. This mixture can have a different composition in terms of silica and mineral content compared to the original magmas. The interaction can also trigger new chemical reactions, potentially changing the physical properties and eruption behavior of the magma.


What plate boundary does felsic rock come from?

Felsic rocks, such as granite, primarily originate from convergent plate boundaries where continental crust collides and undergoes partial melting to form silica-rich magmas. These magmas then cool and solidify to create felsic rocks.


Plinian eruptions are the most powerful type of eruption They are usually caused by what kind of magma?

Plinian eruptions are caused by highly viscous magma with high eruptive column heights, explosive fragmentation of magma, and high gas content, often derived from silica-rich (silicic) magma. This type of magma tends to trap gases leading to highly explosive eruptions characteristic of Plinian events.


What kind of magmas produce violent volcanic eruptions?

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.

Related Questions

How are felsic magmas formed and what are the processes involved in their creation?

Felsic magmas are formed through the partial melting of continental crust rocks, which are rich in silica and aluminum. This process typically occurs at subduction zones or during continental collisions. The high silica content of felsic magmas makes them viscous and prone to explosive eruptions.


How are felsic magmas formed?

Heat from the mantle melts part of the lower crust


Why are felsic eruptions more explosive than mafic eruptions?

Felsic magmas have higher silica content, making them more viscous and prone to trapping gas bubbles. When trapped gas pressure builds up, it can lead to a more explosive eruption. Mafic magmas, on the other hand, have lower silica content and are less viscous, allowing gas to escape more easily, resulting in less explosive eruptions.


Why are felsic rocks melted by mafic magmas but mafic rocks are not melted by felsic magmas?

Felsic rocks have a lower melting point than mafic rocks and felsic magma has a lower temperature. In other words, felsic magma is not hot enough to melt mafic rock while mafic magma is hot enough to melt felsic rock.


What happen when felsic magma mix with basic magma?

When felsic magma mixes with basic magma, it can lead to the formation of intermediate magma. This mixture can have a different composition in terms of silica and mineral content compared to the original magmas. The interaction can also trigger new chemical reactions, potentially changing the physical properties and eruption behavior of the magma.


What is the difference between felsic intermediate and mafic igneous rocks?

Silica content increases from mafic to felsic, and Mg and Fe content decreases. These differences affect things such as viscosity, density and colour. Felsic magmas are the most viscous and least dense, and felsic rocks are the lightest in colour.


What plate boundary does felsic rock come from?

Felsic rocks, such as granite, primarily originate from convergent plate boundaries where continental crust collides and undergoes partial melting to form silica-rich magmas. These magmas then cool and solidify to create felsic rocks.


Does mafic magma explode?

Mafic magmas generally have lower viscosity and gas content compared to felsic magmas, so they tend to flow more easily rather than explode. However, in certain conditions where gas build-up is high and pressure is released rapidly, mafic magma may still explode, but it is less common than with felsic magmas.


Plinian eruptions are the most powerful type of eruption They are usually caused by what kind of magma?

Plinian eruptions are caused by highly viscous magma with high eruptive column heights, explosive fragmentation of magma, and high gas content, often derived from silica-rich (silicic) magma. This type of magma tends to trap gases leading to highly explosive eruptions characteristic of Plinian events.


What kind of magmas produce violent volcanic eruptions?

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.


Do volcanoes always produce lava flows?

No. Lava flow in a volcanic eruption is a factor of the temperature, chemistry, and amount of trapped gas in the lava. Highly viscous, felsic, gas charged magmas tend to explode upon eruption. Low viscosity, basaltic magmas tend to flow upon eruption.


Why are eruption of mafic magma are quiet while eruption of Felsic magma are explosive?

Mafic magma, which is low in silica content, has a lower viscosity, allowing gases to escape easily during an eruption, resulting in quiet flows. In contrast, felsic magma is high in silica, making it more viscous and trapping gases within. When pressure builds up in felsic magma, it can lead to explosive eruptions as the trapped gases are released violently. This fundamental difference in composition and viscosity accounts for the contrasting eruption styles.