Earth Science Stack Exchange
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Questions tagged [volcanology]

The properties and behaviour of volcanoes, from the genesis of magmas to their ascent and emission at the surface of the Earth (or other planetary environments).

The field of volcanology includes study of the formation, distribution, and classification of volcanoes; their structures; the types of material erupted (e.g. lava, ash, pyroclastic flows, gases); research into relationships between volcanic eruptions and other large-scale geologic processes; and eruption prediction.

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What evidence is there for geological mechanisms that formed the Siberian traps flood basalt?

The Siberian Traps are the modern day remnants of the flood basalt event. Its eruptions is widely believed to be a major contributing factor of the Permo-Triassic extinction event. In reading several sites on the matter, there seems to be two…
user889
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What conditions could produce 50 km long lava tubes?

Detection of a new 50 km long lava tube in the Moon has just been reported. See JAXA probe finds 50-km cavern under surface of the moon, this JAXA news page (the English page has not yet been updated, stay tuned) and Detection of intact lava tubes…
uhoh
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Is the momentum of a volcano's high-velocity ejecta mostly due to expanding gas?

When I was very young I was always amazed that water didn't come shooting up out of the first ice-fishing hole of the season, due to the weight of all the ice. It doesn't, because the weight of the same volume of liquid water would be even heavier.…
uhoh
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If I could drill a hole into the mantle, would it form a volcano?

Suppose I could drill a hole to mantle at any arbitrary point in the crust, will magma start to rise from the hole and finally become a volcano?
Gstestso
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What caused the high temperatures that resulted in the Cretaceous aged komatiite lavas of Gorgona Island, Colombia?

According to the San Diego State University (SDSU) webpage Unusual Lava Types, komatiite is ultramafic volcanic rocks, having very low silica contents (~40-45%) and very high $\ce{MgO}$ contents (~18%). These lavas are exceptional not only for…
user889
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What causes a volcano?

Inspired by the question, How does one measure what causes earthquakes?, I'd like to know what causes another great geological phenomenon - volcanoes?
Kenshin
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What drove the Puy de Dôme volcano?

The Puy de Dôme is an extinct volcano located pretty much smack in the middle of France. It last erupted some seven thousand years ago, which in geological terms is fairly recent - prehistoric humans might even have born witness to that eruption!…
user7793
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Does the size of Earth increase due to volcanism?

In a volcanic eruption, magma rushes to the 'outside' of the Earth. Does this mean the size of Earth also increases? If not, how is the volume left after the magma rushed out refilled?
Gstestso
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Do lava lakes exist in all volcanoes initially?

I know persistent lava lakes are rare, but do they occur in all volcanoes originally, and just not persist over time?
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It is possible to send a probe deep within the Earth?

The deepest borehole ever drilled is just 12km. Consider this as a possibility. A small self-propelled probe is created, its approximately the size of a football, and is very strong, made of materials with a melting point of a few thousand K. If…
Graham
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Can volcanic gases be emitted in any other way besides volcanic eruptions

What other sources of volcanic gas emissions can there be on earth?
user15313
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Do Pumice and obsidian pyroclasts from a single explosion have the same chemical composition?

Do Pumice and obsidian pyroclasts from a single explosion have the same chemical composition? For same vent, same eruption. Obsidian is a glass and pumice is a glass too. They must have the same chemical composition. Have they?
Muharrem Yavuz
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Is it possible for an active volcano to become less violent over time?

Suppose a violent, dangerous composite volcano whose eruptions destroy the nearby countryside exists. Would it be possible for this volcano to change such that future eruptions are less violent, and less dangerous to anyone living…
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Do overlying strata subside before/during volcanic exogenous dome emplacement?

Is subsidence (graben faulting) expected before/during a volcanic exogenous dome emplacement on the surrounding strata?
Muharrem Yavuz
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Are there lava flows inside a volcano?

(source: netdna-ssl.com) In these popular diagrams for the three types of volcanoes, it seems as though the lava flows are inside the mountain. I suspect that they're trying to show rivers flowing on the surface (with an awkward illustration),…
Alby Sullivan
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