Reading Guide
for September 22

from Cvancara, Field Manual for the Amateur Geologist

Chapter 8. Volcanic Landforms

Volcanic landforms can be dramatic, subtle, hellish, or beautiful. This chapter describes the basic types of volcanic landforms, the different processes by which they form, and the different forms they take after erosion.

pp. 78–82. Volcanoes. Usually, these are mountains or at least hills. Their different sizes and shapes are a function of the different materials of which they are made.

• What type of lava makes up shield volcanoes?
• What is the reason for the flattened shapes of shield volcanoes?
• How do spatter cones form?
• What type of lava forms plug domes?
• What is the shape of a cinder cone?
• What accounts for the shape of a composite volcano?

pp. 82–85. Lava Flows and Fields. Though not as topographically obvious as volcanic peaks, lava flows make up more land area. This section describes the features of these structures.

p. 85. Evolution of Volcanic Terrains. Unfortunately, this section is not extensively complemented by photographs. Consequently, you will need to spend more effort imagining and visualizing what the text describes.

• How do volcanic neck remnants form?
• How does a lava field become a lava plateau?

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