2007-03-23 17:29:53 · 15 answers · asked by Jim M 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
A lot of half right answers here!
It is true that magma is the hot rock in molten form that finds it's way through the mantle into the magma chamber of a volcano.
It is also true that lava is what occurs when the magma erupts from the volcano.
However - it is not the same stuff. There are very many types of lava that are ejected from a volcano. A simple illustration is where water or trapped gasses interact with the magma to cause an eruption. The resultant lava is a mix of magma and the gas or water. The temperature, liquidity, how rapidly it cools, and the chemical make up all result in highly different lavas.
It has recently been shown that some volcanoes in subduction zones include eruptive material from the subducted crust which is not magma at all.
So magma is the molten rock under and within the volcano and lava is that which is ejected from the volcano. But although the lava is from the magma and carries a lot of it's properties and minerals, it's composition is almost always different from the magma.
2007-03-24 00:00:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magma is within the earth and has not surfaced. It is still underground. Lava is extruded from the earth, or has surfaced. An example of lava is the molten rock that flows out of the volcano or spews out from the surface. Magma is still inside and lava is on the outside and flows.
2007-03-24 00:47:42 · answer #2 · answered by lostinalamos 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magma is molten rock located beneath the surface of the Earth and which often collects in a magma chamber. Lava is indeed magma that flows on the surface of the Earth.
2007-03-24 00:40:47 · answer #3 · answered by mattduke49 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magma is the lava inside the volcano
Lava is the lava outside the volcana
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2007-03-24 00:33:10 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
magma is still in the volcano before the eruption. lava is what comes out after the eruption. pretty much the same stuff, but i believe that lava is cooler than magma
2007-03-24 00:33:36 · answer #5 · answered by lee 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magma is when the liquid rock is below the surface of the earth and lava is when the liquid rock is above the surface.
2007-03-24 01:32:55 · answer #6 · answered by Lambert j 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
magma is the stuff inside the volcano and lava is after it blows out, pretty much the same thing just depends on where it is.
2007-03-24 20:54:57 · answer #7 · answered by Nola 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magma is molten rock beneath the earth, lava is molten rock when it erupts on the surface.
2007-03-24 00:33:13 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
magma is inside a volcano and lava is when it is outside a volcano
(why are you asking this anyway i learned this in like 2nd grade)
2007-03-24 11:05:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magma is the molten stuff underground, lava is when it flows overground.
2007-03-24 07:04:30 · answer #10 · answered by capitana pink flamingo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋