Admin Why are the Hawaiian Islands considered shield volcanoes?
Mid-ocean islands such as Hawaii, the Galapagos, Reunion, or Bermuda are formed by basalt, the most basic and most fluid, less viscous of all types of common lava. Consequently, as lava flows build up to produce a volcanic cone, basaltic edifices typically have low-angle slopes. They are then called shield volcanoes.
Where do shield cones come from?
Shield volcanoes are found wherever fluid low-silica lava reaches the surface of the Earth. However, they are most characteristic of ocean island volcanism associated with hot spots or with continental rift volcanism. They include the largest volcanoes on earth, such as Tamu Massif and Mauna Loa.
Which type of volcanic cone makes up the Hawaiian Islands?
The primary volcanoes on each of the islands are known as a shield volcanoes, which are gently sloping mountains produced from a large number of generally very fluid lava flows. Hawaiian volcanoes primarily erupt a type of rock known as basalt.
What type of plate boundary is forming the Hawaiian Islands?
Pacific Plate
The Hawaiian Islands were formed by such a hot spot occurring in the middle of the Pacific Plate. While the hot spot itself is fixed, the plate is moving. So, as the plate moved over the hot spot, the string of islands that make up the Hawaiian Island chain were formed.
Where are shield volcanoes commonly found?
Many of the largest volcanoes on Earth are shield volcanoes. The largest is Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii; all the volcanoes in the Hawaiian Islands are shield volcanoes. There are also shield volcanoes, for example, in Washington, Oregon, and the Galapagos Islands.
Where are cinder cones found?
Cinder cones are commonly found on the flanks of shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes, and calderas. For example, geologists have identified nearly 100 cinder cones on the flanks of Mauna Kea, a shield volcano located on the Island of Hawai`i (these cones are also referred to as scoria cones and cinder and spatter cones).