Volcanoes

An eruption is a volcanic explosion. When a volcano erupts, it shoots out lava, rocks, hot ash and gases.

A hot spot is a weak area of Earth’s crust where magma can break through and form a volcano.

A hydrothermal vent is a hot spring on the seabed.

A thermal spring is a place where hot water, heated by underground rocks, comes to the surface of the Earth. Also known as a hot spring.

A mineral is a non-living substance found in the Earth, such as salt, iron, diamond, or quartz. Most rocks are made up of a mixture of minerals.

Vulcanology is the study of volcanoes.

A black smoker is a hydrothermal vent which churns out black water containing many dissolved minerals. The minerals gradually build up around the vent, forming a chimney.

An active volcano is one which might erupt at any time.

A dormant volcano is not currently active, but could erupt again. The word dormant means sleeping.

Lava is hot molten rock which bursts or flows out of volcanoes. Lava also sometimes seeps out of vents (holes in the ground).

Magma is hot, melted rock inside the Earth.

The mantle is the thick layer of rock under the Earth’s crust. Some of it is solid and some is magma.