Discover what is the magma of a volcano

On our planet there are a series of elements that we do not see on a regular basis, either because they are located in sparsely populated areas or because their formation is due to a sporadic event. One of these elements is magma, adored for its beauty and for how exotic it is, but very difficult to see for most of the population. To better understand this element today in this lesson from a TEACHER we are going to talk about what is the magma of a volcano.

The magma is the way we call the molten rock masses from the interior of the planets, both ours and other planets. It is one of the parts of the volcano and it appears on the earth's surface when there is a volcanic eruption. The word "magma" comes from Latin, and this Latin word comes in turn from the Greek, from the word "mass."

Magma is a mixture of numerous elements in different forms, such as liquids, gases and solids. This is because being molten rock at high temperatures, it can become all three states depending on the situation.

Magma is very rich in various elements, and different elements can be found depending on the state in which we find it. Some of the elements possessed by magma are the following:

• Hydrogen
• Oxygen
• Chlorine
• Carbon
• Bromine
• Magnesium
• Calcium
• Sodium
• Potassium

The magma lies inside our planet and many times he tries to escape to reach the outside. When magma achieves its purpose and crosses the earth's crust, it becomes another element of great beauty, lava.

Magma temperature

Magma can be found in very different temperatures, although all of them very high. Your temperature can go from 700º to 1500º, being the magma with a lower temperature richer in silica and those with a higher temperature less rich in silica.

To continue with this lesson on what is the magma of a volcano, we must talk about the different types of magma What can we find. Magma can vary for many reasons, either because of its composition, because of where it takes shape, because of its behavior or because of the elements that make it up.

We can divide the types of magma into three mainly, depending on its composition, being the following:

• Basalt magmas: A type of magma that is low in silica but rich in sodium and potassium. They occur inside tectonic plates, being the most famous and most common type of magma.
• Andesitic magmas: A type of magma rich in silica, biotites and amphiboles. Its formation takes place in the subduction zones, that is, when one plate sinks under another.
• Granitic magmas: The magma with the highest silica content. It is also formed in the subduction zones, due to the fusion of the elements that form the lower crust.

When magma cools and solidifiesa gives rise to igneous rocks. Igneous rocks can be of many types, existing different ways to differentiate them and being differentiated by factors such as the deposits where they appear or by the places where they take shape. One of these divisions is according to the place where the cooling occurs, the following types of igneous rocks being those that exist according to this division:

• Plutonic or intrusive rocks: They are caused by the slow cooling of large magma masses in deep areas. The deposits where plutonic rocks appear are called plutone, which is where they get their name. Some examples of plutonic rocks are granite, gabbro, and syenite.
• Volcanic or extrusive rocks: They are formed by the cooling of lava outside or magma in very shallow areas. Some examples of volcanic rocks are basalt, rhyolite, or andesite.
• Filonian or subvolcanic rocks: They are formed when magma cools in seams as it tries to rise through them to the surface. Some examples of Philonian rocks are aplite and pegmatite.

Types of igneous rocks according to composition

On the other hand, igneous rocks can also be classified depending on the composition of the magma from which they are formed. According to this division there are the following classes of igneous rocks.

• Granitic or felsic: Formed from granitic magmas rich in silica.
• Intermediate: Formed from andesitic magmas, they are located midway between granitic and mafic.
• Mafic: Formed from basalt magmas and poor in silica.
• Ultramafic: Formed by magmas of the upper mantle.