• Question: Matt, can you describe what the inside of a volcano looks like?

    Asked by wizzyg12 to Matt on 21 Jun 2013. This question was also asked by anon-33875.
    • Photo: Matthew Pankhurst

      Matthew Pankhurst answered on 21 Jun 2013:

      Hi wizzyg12, I can try!
      Try searching in google images for “stratovolcano”, that’s a good start!
      A lot of the volcano is made from older lava coming out, and building up like layers. The magma inside is red and sometimes white hot, and flows around a bit like oil if it’s really hot, and if it’s almost frozen, like honey. The rocks can be almost white if they have lots of white minerals in them, like quartz or feldspar (you can look these up on the internet as well!), and sometimes almost black if they have lots of black minerals like pyroxene.
      What my team and I try to do is work out exactly what the inside of active volcanoes look like (they are all different), because how they are in 3D affects how they erupt.

Comments

  • Photo: macke004

    macke004 commented on :

    What is your favourite volcano that you have been to?

  • Photo: Matt

    Matt commented on :

    That’s a tough one! I think I’ll cheat and say Hawaii – it’s all one really really big volcano (well, a few joined together). It’s highest point is about 4600m above sea level – it’s freezing up there! There’s beaches and wildlife all over it, and of course active volcanic crators with lakes of lava! check out hvo.wr.usgs.gov for more info on the scientists that work there – they monitor the volcanoes 24/7