Magma and Lava

Magma and Lava are both molten rock that is formed when the earth’s crust and mantle are heated. Magma is found deeper in the earth’s crust and mantle, while lava is found on the oceanic crust or volcanic islands. This article will highlight the difference between Magma and Lava.

Magma

Magma is also called liquid rock as it has semi-solid properties. It has a high temperature which is usually between 700-1300 C. It forms underground inside the earth’s crust when rocks melt at temperatures of 700-1200 C (equal to 1,300-2,000F). The rocks that melt at temperatures of 700-1200 C (equal to 1,300-2,000F) are usually igneous rocks such as granite, granodiorite and rhyolite. There are several types of magma which have different properties. They include:

1. Magma with high levels of silica (types of lava).
2. Magma with high levels of water (types of lava).
3. Magma with low levels of water and high levels of silica. 
4. Magma with low level of water and high level of silica. 
5. Magma with low levels of water, high levels of silicon. 
6. Magma with high level of water and low levels of silica. 

Lava

Lava is also called Cinder as it forms when hot magma solidifies when cooling in the atmosphere. It consists of red, orange and grey-coloured pyroclasts that are formed by partial melting and differentiation of lava during cooling and solidification. Lava usually takes the form of flow or sheet during eruption because it is very fluid. Formation occurs when hot magma rises to the surface and solidifies at cool temperatures less than 1,300 C (equal to 2,000F). Lava is made up of pyroclastic rocks, volcanic ash and volcanic rock fragments. Lava is produced within the earth’s crust when magma rises to the surface, erupts violently and cools rapidly—most commonly on the ocean floor. Different types of lava are formed when different compositions of magma (solid material) rises to the surface. Some examples of these types include:

Volcanic Lava – This type of lava is formed by basaltic magma.

Basaltic lava – This type of lava is formed by rhyolitic magma.

Strombolian Lava – This type of lava is formed by a product of a high-temperature, high-volume (flow) eruption. It begins as a thick, cloudy mass that rapidly cools and hardens into jagged rock fragments and belched ash.

Volcanic Ash – Volcanic ash has many forms such as pumice, tuff, cinders, lapilli and volcanic bombs (explosion).

Difference between Magma and Lava

1) Magma and lava are both molten rock that is formed when the earth’s crust and mantle are heated. Magma is found deeper in the earth’s crust and mantle, while lava is found on the oceanic crust or volcanic islands.

2) Magma has a high temperature which is usually between 700-1300 C. Lava, on the other hand, has a low temperature which is usually less than 1300 C (equal to 2,000F).

3) Lava cools when it reaches the earth’s surface. On the other hand, magma remains hot if it cools slowly in its container or cools rapidly when it erupts at the surface.

4) Lava is usually the product of volcanic eruptions in the oceanic crust, which cause the lava to gather at mid-ocean ridges. On the other hand, magma is formed from molten rock that rises from inside the earth’s crust to the surface and solidifies into an igneous rock.

5) Lava is usually found on volcanic islands such as Hawaii and Iceland. Magma can be found anywhere inside earth’s crust and mantle such as in mid-ocean ridges and under continents.

6) Lava has a liquid form before it erupts, while magma has a semi-solid form before it erupts.

7) Lava is made up of pyroclastic rocks, volcanic ash and volcanic rock fragments. Magma is made up of semi-solid material that is highly viscous.

8) Lava comes from the mantle, which produces basalts that are composed of mafic minerals. Magma comes from the mantle, which produces granites that are composed of felsic minerals.

9) Magma has low levels of water compared to lava because magma moves in a closed container or at rapid rates while it rises to the surface and erupts. Magma also cools rapidly at surface and solidifies into an igneous rock containing low levels water, such as granite containing less than 1%.

Conclusion

Magma and lava are both molten rock that is formed when the earth’s crust and mantle are heated. Magma is found deeper in the earth’s crust and mantle, while lava is found on the oceanic crust or volcanic islands. This article has highlighted the difference between magma and lava, as well as its similarities.