What is Lava?

question of what the lava interests many scientists have for a long time.The composition of the substance as well as its form, movement speed, temperature and other aspects were the subject of a number of studies and scientific papers.This can be explained by the fact that it was frozen streams are almost the only source of information about the state of the Earth's interior.

general concept

To begin to understand what the lava in the modern sense?Scientists call it the material in the molten state, which is in the upper part of the mantle.While in the bowels of the earth of the substance is uniform, but as soon as it approaches the surface, the process of boiling with the release of the gas bubbles.They move in the direction of the incandescent material to crack in the cortex.However, not all of the liquid is thrown up on the surface.Talking about what the word "lava", it should be noted that this concept applies only to the poured out of the matter.

Basalt lava

most common type on the planet is a basaltic lava.Most of all the geological processes that occur on Earth thousands of years ago, accompanied by numerous eruptions of this type of incandescent material.After hardening it formed the same name rock black.Half of the basaltic lava is an oxide of aluminum, magnesium, iron and other metals.Due to their melt temperature reaches 1,200 degrees.This lava flow is moving at a speed of 2 meters per second, which is comparable with a traveling man.Studies show that in the future the so-called "hot pursuit" they are moving much faster.Basalt lava from the volcano differs little thick.It flows quite far (up to several tens of kilometers from the crater).It should be noted that this kind of characteristic for both land and ocean.

acidic lava

In the case where the composition of matter has a 63% or more of silica, it is called an acidic lava.Incandescent material is very viscous and virtually unable to leak.The flow rate is often not even reach the level of a few meters per day.Wherein the temperature of the substance is in the range from 800 to 900 degrees.With this kind of melts associated with the formation of unusual rocks (ignimbrites, for example).If the acidic lava heavily saturated with gas, it boils and becomes mobile.After ejection from the crater it quickly drains back into the resulting cavity (caldera).The consequence is the appearance of pumice - ultra-light material whose density is less than that of water.

Carbonate lava

Talking about what the lava, many scientists still can not determine the principle of formation of its carbonate species.The composition of this material includes sodium and potassium carbonates.It is only one volcano erupts on the planet - Oldoinyo-Lengai, which is located in Northern Tanzania.Carbonate lava is very liquid and cold of all existing species.Its temperature is approximately 510 degrees, and it is moving on the slopes at the same rate as water.Initially, the material has a dark brown or black color, but after a few hours in the outside becomes lighter, and a few months does is white.

Conclusion In summary, saktsentirovat attention to the fact that the lava is connected one of the most serious geological problems.It lies in the fact that the substance heats Earth's interior.Pockets of hot material rising to the surface, after which it is melted to form volcanoes.The unequivocal answer to the question of what the lava can not give even the world's leading scientists.At the same time you can say for sure that it is only a tiny part of a global process, the driving force behind which is hidden very deep underground.