ES 2232G: Exploring the Planets: Sun, Earth, Planets

Laboratory 03 – Volcanism

INTRODUCTION:

The most common rock forming minerals are made up of elements that are abundant in the
Earth’s crust and mantle. Minerals form in a specific order depending on the temperature at
which they solidify. This is known as Bowen’s Reaction Series which is the progression of
forming minerals when magma cools. Oxygen and Silicon are the most common elements in the
earth’s crust and mantle, minerals made up with these elements are known as silicate minerals,
they are the most common mineral group making up 90% of the earth’s crust.

Bowen’s reaction series is made up of two separate branches the continuous and discontinuous.
Minerals at the top of the branches crystalize first at high temperatures and as the magma cools
the minerals further down the branches begin to crystalize. Rocks made up of the minerals which
crystalize first are considered mafic (made up of minerals high in magnesium and iron) and rocks
consisting of minerals from further down the chain are felsic (made up quartz and feldspars), a
mixture of the two are considered intermediate in composition. Some examples are provided on
the next page.

For further background, see the Learning Module on OWL.

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 1

 DIORITE
-A medium grained igneous rock which
contains plagioclase, biotite and amphibole.

GABBRO
-A coarse grained igneous rock which
contains olivine, pyroxene and plagioclase.

GRANITE
-A coarse grained igneous rock with quartz,
plagioclase feldspars, biotite and muscovite.

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 2

 PERIDODITE
-A coarse grained igneous rock which
contains olivine and pyroxene

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 3

PART 1: CRYSTALLIZATION IN A MAGMA CHAMBER

800°C

Region 1

1000°C
Region 2

1100°C Region 3

Question 1: If the above triangle is a magma chamber with crystallization occurring at various
temperatures name, 2 minerals which are likely to form in each region:

Muscovite and
Region 1:_____________________________________
Quartz
Region 2:_____________________________________
Plagioclase and Biotite
Region 3:_____________________________________
Olivine and pyroxene

Question 2: What corresponding rocks are likely to form from each region and what
composition will they have (i.e., mafic, felsic, or intermediate)?

Region 1: Rock name: ______________

Gramte composition:______________
Felsia
Region 2: Rock name: ______________
Biorite Intermediate
composition:______________
Region 3: Rock name: ______________
Gabbro composition:______________
Mafic

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 4

PART 2: TYPES OF VOLCANOES

Question 3: Identify the type of each of the following volcanoes

A B

C D

Shield Volcano
A.______________________________
stratovolcano
B.______________________________
C.______________________________
Cinder Cone/scoria core volcano
D.______________________________
Lava dome

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 5

Question 4: Fill in the blanks concerning the following two figures:

The volcano in the figure below is a _________________

Stratovolcano when lavas are high in ____________
Silica
with _________%,
60 70
-
___________
explosive types of eruptions occur. These volcanos can also be produced
by _______________
mafic lavas which are ________
high temperature and __________
ION in gas content.

shield
The volcano in the figure below is a ___________________ it’s lava is low in ___________
basalt/silza and
volcano
highly fluid
______________,
mafic lava this result in a ___________ viscosity lava, a ______________
low profile is a
characteristic of these volcano types.

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 6

PART 3: VOLCANIC FEATURES

When magma chambers extend up to the folding sedimentary rocks above, it will begin to cool
and crystalize, this cooled mass is known as a batholith. There are multiple intrusive and
extrusive features associated with a volcano. Some of these features were labelled on the
previous two figures. Intrusive volcanic forms include batholiths, laccoliths, stocks, sills, dikes,
pegmatite veins, and pipes. A stock is a prominent vertical extension on a batholith. Pegmatite
veins are injected into the outer layers of a batholith and the surrounding rock when a batholith
cools. Pipes are the result of magma escaping upward through sedimentary rock. When pipes
reach the surface a volcano forms however if a pipe extends between layers of rock a sill will
form. When a pipe spreads out to the degree that a sedimentary layer bends upwards from the
pressure a laccolith forms. If instead of a horizontal spreading a vertical spreading occurs
forming a dike. Radial dikes can occur close to pipes if vertical cracks occur due to the pressure
of the magma moving up the pipe.

Question 5: Label the volcanic features in the diagram below.

A._____________________________________________________________________
Lateral core
B._____________________________________________________________________
spatter-fed lava-flow/pyroclastic flow
C._____________________________________________________________________
Crater
D._____________________________________________________________________
volcanic neck and radiating like
E._____________________________________________________________________
Lava flow
F._____________________________________________________________________
Palisade
G._____________________________________________________________________
Ring dike/ fault
H._____________________________________________________________________
Lacolith

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 7

I._____________________________________________________________________
Sild
J._____________________________________________________________________
Pipe conduct
K._____________________________________________________________________
Batholith
L._____________________________________________________________________
stock

Earth Sciences 2232G: Lab 03 8