Download Explosive and Non - Saint Peter School | Danbury, CT

Explosive and Non-Explosive Eruptions
Non-explosive
• Most common type of eruption
• Produce calm flows of lava
• Can release large amounts of lava
• Produce little ash or dust
• Most of the rocks on the ocean floor come from these types of eruptions
• Magma from these eruption have less silica
• Magma is thinner and runnier
Explosive
• More destructive than a non-explosive Volcano
• Produces hot ash and gas
• Rock fragments shoot in the air
• Ash from this type of eruption can enter the earths atmosphere and stay there for
years
• Magma in these eruptions contain a lot of water
• Water turns into gas and expands which caused explosion
• Magma is packed with silica which causes it to move slow and cause blockages
inside the volcano. This cause pressure to build up and make the volcano
explosive.
• Produces Pyroclastic Material
o Hardened magma that is blasted into the air
 Volcanic Bombs
 Lapilli
 Volcanic Ash
 Volcanic Blocks
Types of Lava- Scientist classify lava by the surfaces it forms when cooled. ( smooth,
sharp, jagged)
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A’a
Pahoehoe
Blocky
Pillow