Extrusive Rock Bodies

Extrusive igneous rocks are those that form magma extruded onto Earths surface by
volcanic eruption. The rock include lava flows and volcanic ash. Basaltic magmas are low in
silica and are relatively fluid. The lava is typically extruded quietly from fissure s and
fractures. Silicic magma s are viscous, and their eruptions are typically explosive. The
magma extrudes as thick lava flows, bulbous domes, or ash flows.

Products of Basaltic Eruptions

Basaltic eruptions are probably the most common type of volcanic activity on Earth.
The lava is generally extruded from fractures or fissures in the crust. Upon extrusion,
it tends to flow freely downslope and spreads out to fill valleys and topographic

depressions. Basaltic lavas erupt with temperatures ranging between 1000 and 1200.
There are two common types of basaltic flows, referred to by the Hawaiian terms aa (
pronounced ahah) and pahoehoe (pronounced pa hoe hoe). An aa flow moves
slowly and is typically 3 to 10 m thick. Pahoehoe flows are more fluid than aa flows.
Many are less than 1 m thick.
A variety of flow features can develop on the surface of the flow. Commonly,
the crust of the flow uckles to form a pressure ridge, with central fracture throug
which gas and lava can escape.the interior of a basaltic flow may be massive and
nonvesicular. As a flow cools, it contrast and may develop a system of polygonal
cracks, known as columnar joints, that are similar in many ways to mud cracks.
Flood basalts are some of the Earths most impressive volcanic deposits ; single
flows can be traced for hundreds of kilometers.

Products of Intermidiate to Silicic Eruptions

The silica-rich magmas that produce andesite and rhyolite are relatively
viscous, cool (600 to 900), and water-rich. Consequently, their eruption and flow
are quite different from basaltic lavas. Some silicic magmas are so viscious that small
volumes hardly flow at all but instead form small bulbous lava domes over the
volcanic vent.
A spectacular type of eruption associated with silicic magmas is the lateral
flow of large masses of pumice and ash. This phenomenon is not a liquid lava flow or
an ash fallbu a flow consisting of fragments of hot mineral grains, ash,and pieces of
rock all suspended in hot gas.
 It moves rapidly close to the surface like a dense dust cloud, it called ash flow.
Ash-flow-calderas are the largest silicic volcanoes on Earth. Constructed of far
traveled sheets of tuff, these volcanoes form very low, very broad shields dominated
by the central collapse structure.