Difference Between Lava and Magma | Science for ACT PDF Download

Magma Resides Within the Earth

• Volcanoes serve as the domain where both magma and lava are present. Magma, being liquid rock with dissolved gases, accumulates in magma chambers within the Earth's crust. It remains classified as magma as long as it remains beneath the Earth's surface.
• Various types of volcanoes house different compositions of magma beneath their surfaces. This diversity in magma types contributes to the distinctive characteristics of different volcano types.
• Upon ascending from the mantle below, magma eventually reaches the Earth's surface as lava. Once the lava undergoes cooling and solidification, it transforms into dark igneous rock, such as basalt.

Lava Flows Beyond Volcanoes

• In the intricate dance of the rock cycle, volcanoes play a pivotal role. Volcanic eruptions occur due to the expansion of gases at the volcano's vent, akin to the flow of hot wax down a candle. Lava cascades and spreads downhill during eruptions.
• As lava cools and solidifies, it transitions into igneous rocks like granite. This process underscores the foundational role of volcanoes in igneous rock formation, making them fundamental elements in the rock cycle.
• Beyond just emitting lava, volcanoes release water during eruptions. However, since water cannot rest atop lava, it evaporates into gas. Thus, volcanic eruptions often feature the spectacle of water vapor mingling with ash to form clouds, occasionally punctuated by lightning strikes.

Difference Between Lava and Magma?

• What sets lava and magma apart is primarily their location. When volcanoes undergo eruptions, magma, a molten rock, lies within the Earth's interior. However, once this molten rock emerges onto the surface, it takes on the name "lava." Thus, the fundamental disparity between magma and lava lies in their whereabouts.
• Magma, as previously mentioned, resides beneath the Earth's surface, concealed in the depths of the planet's interior. As magma shifts and accumulates in subterranean chambers, it serves as the catalyst for volcanic activities.
• On the contrary, lava refers to magma that has breached the Earth's surface through volcanic eruptions. As magma finds an avenue for escape, whether through fissures, vents, or the crater of a volcano, it undergoes a transformation into what we commonly recognize as lava.