What is andesite and what is its significance to volcanoism?

Question

i know that andesite is a type of magma.. but my science bok isnt helping...

Answer 1

Lavas and tuffs erupted from andesitic to silicic volcanoes, domes, and calderas that formed between ~24 to 40 million years ago coalesced to form the Mogollon-Datil volcanic field in southwestern New Mexico. This feature, which includes the mountainous terrain of the Gila Wilderness, covers 40,000 square kilometers. First, andesite volcanoes erupted across this region 40 to 36 million years ago. Later, both basaltic andesite volcanoes and silicic calderas formed between 36 and 24 million years ago. The field is composed of two caldera complexes that were active at about the same time. The oldest eruptions of the southern complex occurred in the Organ Mountains near Las Cruces about 36 million years ago and volcanism migrated toward the northwest 220 km, ending with the eruption of the 28 million year old Bursum caldera located northwest of Silver City. The caldera formation in the northern complex started near Socorro about 32 million years ago and migrated toward the southwest.

The Mogollon-Datil volcanic field is part of a discontinuous belt of middle Cenozoic volcanism that runs from the Sierra Madre Oriental in central Mexico, through the Trans-Pecos volcanic field in west Texas, and northward to the San Juan volcanic field in southwestern Colorado.

Extension began in this region about 36 million years ago, creating normal faults and distinct mountain blocks with intervening sediment -filled valleys. The extensional faults trend north-south on the east side of the field, northeast on the northwest side of the field, and northwest on the southwest side of the field.

The Santa Rita and Tyrone mines near Silver City on the southwest side of the volcanic field are in older, mineralized Laramide plutons that are 55-70 million years old. The copper that was dispersed throughout the plutons was concentrated by weathering when these rocks were eroded and brought to the surface prior to the eruption of the younger 24 to 40 million year old volcanic field. The younger volcanic rocks covered the concentrated copper mineralization, protecting it from removal by erosion.