Composite Volcanoes
1.) Magma erupts from volcano spout to form a cone. Volcanic ash covers surrounding area.
2.) Activity continues over hundreds of years and cone becomes taller and taller. The lava forms a thick base around outer part of volcano. Underground the lava streams become larger.
3.) Activity continues over hundreds of years and cone becomes taller and taller. The lava forms a thick base around outer part of volcano. Underground the lava streams become larger.
4.) Erosion breaks down all of the cone until just a crater in left in the surface.
Stages of a Composite Volcano
Composite volacnoes are a common type of volcano and are cone shaped. They have alternating layers of magma flow and volcanic ash surrounds them. Also, they are mostly made up of sediment which was compacted to form a giant mountain. Most have a crater at summit for the central vent of lava. In composite volcanoes, lava can flow through breaks in crater walls as well as the central vent. When composite volcanoes cease activity,(become dormant), erosion begins to destroy the cone. As erosion continues, hardened lava becomes exposed and erodes also. Then eventually all that is left is a large crater above the earths surface.
Composite Volcanoes
These volcanoes are sometimes called "stratovolcanoes".
This is Mount. Fuji in Japan. One of the largest dormant volcanoes. The most famous eruption was in 1707.