4 Volcano

VOLCANOES
A volcano is a vent or opening on the

surface of the earth usually circular in
form through which hot molten material,
fragments of rocks, smoke, ash, dust
etc are ejected from highly heated
interior and are spread on the earth
surface and in the atmosphere.
With time volcanic material
accumulates and develops into a cone
around the vent and thus some scholars
consider the vent and the cone to be a
volcano.
STRUCTURE OF A VOLCANO
VOLCANIC VENT- It is the opening through which gases and
other materials erupt
VOLCANIC PIPE- The vent is connected with magma

chamber deep inside the earth by a narrow pipe which is
called as volcanic pipe.
VOLCANIC CONE- sometimes lave and other volcanic

materials (pyroclastic materials) deposited around the
mouth of a volcano and a cone shaped volcanic mountain is
formed which is known as volcanic cone.
VOLCANIC CRATER- the funnel shaped upper part of

volcanic pipe is known as volcanic crater.
CLASSIFICATION / TYPES OF VOLCANOES
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF FREQUENCY OF
ERUPTION
1. Active volcanoes- These volcanoes constantly eject volcanic materials.
They may erupt at any time.
Example- Stromboli of the Mediterranean sea.
2. Dormant or Sleeping volcanoes- These volcanoes may not have erupted during
known geological period. In other words these volcanoes become quiet for
some time after eruption and there is no indication for eruption but suddenly
they erupt very violently and cause great damage.
Example- Visuvious Volcano (Italy).
3. Extinct volcanoes- The volcanoes which have not recorded any eruption
in historic times are called extinct volcanoes. The vent is blocked and its
crater is filled with water, vegetation starts growing on the slopes.
Example- Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania, Africa)
CLASSIFICATION ON THE BASIS OF MODE OF
ERUPTION
1. FISSURE ERUPTION TYPE
Such volcanoes occur along long fractures and fissures. There is slow
upwelling of magma from below and the resultant lava spreads over the earth
surface. Sometimes the quantity of lava is so much that thick layer of lava is
deposited on the earth’s surface and when it solidifies if forms lava plain or lava
plateau.
Example- Kamoamoa fissure eruption
2. CENTRAL ERUPTION TYPE
These type of volcanoes occur through a central pipe and small
opening by breaking and blowing off the crustal surface. The eruption
is so rapid and violent that huge quantity of volcanic materials are
ejected upto 1000’s of metres in the sky and black clouds of smoke and
vapour is formed.
These are further sub divided into 5 types-
a) Hawaiian type
b) Strombolian type
c) Vulcanian type
d) Peleean type
e) Visuvious type
a) Hawaiian type- such volcanoes
erupt quietly due to less viscosity
of lava and non- violent nature
of gases. Such volcanoes have
been named after volcanoes of
Hawaii island because such
eruptions are common in Hawaii
island.
b) Strombolian type- in these types of
volcanoes eruptions are almost
rhythemic or continuous in nature but
some times they are interupted by
long intervals. Such volcanoes have
been named after Stromboli volcano
of Mediterranean sea.
c) Vulcanian type- such volcanoes erupt

with great force and intensity. The lava
is so viscous that it solidifies and
hardens quickly at the mouth of the
volcano between two eruptions. Such
volcanoes have been named after
vulcano volcano of Lipari island in
Mediterrannean Sea.
d) Peleean type- these are the
most violent type of volcanoes.
Each successive eruption occurs
with great force and intensity
making roaring noise. Such
volcanoes have been named
after pelee volcano of caribbean
sea.
e) Visuvious type- These are more

or less similar to vulcanian and
strombolian type of volcanoes,
with only difference the intensity
of ejection of lava and gases.
Such volcanoes have been
named after visuvious volcano.
WORLD DISTRIBUTION OF
VOLCANOES
Volcanoes are associated with weaker zones of the earth’s crust.
Most of the world’s active volcanoes are associated with plate
boundaries. About 15% are found along divergent plate margins and
80% along convergent plate margins.
Major Zones or Belts of Volcanoes
1. Circum Pacific Belt

2. Mid Continental Belt
3. Mid Atlantic Belt
1. CIRCUM PACIFIC BELT –
It includes the volcanoes of
the eastern and western
coastal areas of Pacific
ocean volcanoes scattered
over the Pacific Ocean. Here
volcanic eruptions are
caused due to collision of
American and Pacific plate
and Pacific and Eurasian
Plate. Most of the active
volcanoes are found here.
They almost erupt daily thus
this belt is also known as
‘Ring of Fire’.
2. MID CONTINENTAL
BELT - It includes volcanoes
of Alpine mountain chain,
the Mediterranean sea and
volcanoes of Africa. Here
volcanic eruption is caused
due to collision of Eurasian
and African.
3. MID ATLANTIC BELT – It

includes volcanoes along
both sides of Mid Atlantic
ridge. Here eruption occurs
due to the movement of
American plate and
Eurasian- African plate in
opposite direction.
Volcanoes of this belt are
of fissure eruption type.
VOLCANIC LANDFORMS
The volcanic landforms are grouped into two categories
A) Intrusive landforms
B) Extrusive landforms
A) INTRUSIVE LANDFORMS
When gases and vapour are

not strong during volcanic
activity, the ascending
magma do not erupt, rather
they intrude in gaps and
voids below the earth
surface. Landforms
produced in the interior of
the earth by cooling and
solidification of magma are
called Intrusive landforms.
1. BATHOLITH- These are long irregular and undulating forms of
solidified magma deep inside the earth.
2. LACCOLITH- These are formed due to intrusion of magma along the

bedding planes of horizontally bedded sedimentary rocks. When the
magma fills between two layers of rocks the vapour and gases push
the upper layer of rock upwards and thus a mushroom shaped
structure is formed known as laccolith.
3. PHACOLITH- When the magma is deposited in a wave like form it is

known as phacolith.
4. LOPOLITH- When the magma deposits in the form of concave shallow

basin it is known as lopolith.
5. SILL- When magma solidifies between the bedding planes it is known

as sill. Thin bed of magma is known as sheet.
6. DYKE- The wall like formation of solidified magma is known as dyke.

B) EXTRUSIVE LANDFFORMS
These landforms are created on the surface of the earth due to

accumulation of volcanic materials.
1. VOLCANIC CONE- When the lava and fragmented materials get

deposited around the mouth of the volcano and solidifies in the form of
a cone it is called as volcanic cone. Following are the major types of
volcanic cone.
a) Cinder cone- They are usually of low height and formed of volcanic dust,
ashes and fragmented materials. In the beginning the height of the
cone varies from few centimetres to few metres, then gradually the
size increases due to continuous accumulation of volcanic materials.
b) Composite cone- These are
highest of all the volcanic cones.
They are formed due to
accumulation of alternate layers
of lava and fragmented materials.
c) Basic lava cone- It is formed of

light and less viscous lava with
less quantity of silica. Thus lava
cools and solidifies after
spreading over a larger area
forming a long cone with
significantly low height.
d) Acid lava cone- They are

formed when the lava coming out
of the volcano are highly viscous
and rich in silica content. Hence
the lava cools and solidifies
immediately after appearing on
the earths’ surface. Therefore a
high cone with steep slopes is
formed.
e) Parasite Cone- When the
volcanic cones are enormously
enlarged, several branches of
pipes come out from main central
pipe. Volcanic materials come out
from these minor pipes and are
deposited around newly formed
vents and thus several smaller
cones are formed on the main
cone. These smaller cones are
known as parasite cones.
2. CRATER- The depression

formed at the mouth of the
volcanic vent is called crater.
It is usually funnel shaped.
When the crater is filled with
water, crater lake is formed.
3. CALDERA- The enlarged
form of crater is called
caldera.
4. LAVA PLAIN AND LAVA

PLATEAU- When there is
slow upwelling of magma
from below, the resultant
lava spreads over a vast
area. Flat plain is formed
after cooling and
solidification of lava. If the
lava begins to collect
during repeated eruptions
resulting in building up of
undulating surface, lava
plateau is produced.

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VOLCANOES

A volcano is a vent or opening on the

VOLCANIC PIPE- The vent is connected with magma

VOLCANIC CONE- sometimes lave and other volcanic

VOLCANIC CRATER- the funnel shaped upper part of

c) Vulcanian type- such volcanoes erupt

e) Visuvious type- These are more

Major Zones or Belts of Volcanoes

1. Circum Paciﬁc Belt

3. MID ATLANTIC BELT – It

The volcanic landforms are grouped into two categories

When gases and vapour are

2. LACCOLITH- These are formed due to intrusion of magma along the

3. PHACOLITH- When the magma is deposited in a wave like form it is

4. LOPOLITH- When the magma deposits in the form of concave shallow

5. SILL- When magma solidiﬁes between the bedding planes it is known

6. DYKE- The wall like formation of solidiﬁed magma is known as dyke.

These landforms are created on the surface of the earth due to

1. VOLCANIC CONE- When the lava and fragmented materials get

c) Basic lava cone- It is formed of

d) Acid lava cone- They are

2. CRATER- The depression

4. LAVA PLAIN AND LAVA

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