News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Mauna Loa eruption underway; lava currently contained to summit. Parent comment

Re:Mauna Loa eruption underway; lava currently contained to ... by antod on Monday November 28, 2022 @07:14PM (#33781819)
>In general, volcanoes are classified as silicic or mafic. The silicic ones contain more gas and tend to erupt explosively; the mafic ones, more lava floes.

A few geology papers were part of my engineering study way back when - we were taught 3 types: basalt, andesite, and rhyolite in order of explosiveness. It might have been NZ biased.

I presume basalt is in the mafic group, and the other two are silicic?

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Mauna Loa eruption underway; lava currently contained to ... by toddm on Monday November 28, 2022 @07:29PM (#33781978)
Yes, you are correct. The difference between andesitic and rhyolitic classifications is based on silica content.

Andesitic is the midrange member of the continuum from rhyolitic (silicic, explosive) and basaltic (mafic/ultramafic, more lava and oozing) end members.

[ Parent | on HN ]