Science 9

Quarter 3

Formation, Composition and

Viscosity of Magma
 RECAP

In your previous lesson, you have learned about active and inactive
volcanoes in the Philippines. Can you still remember your lesson about it? Let us
have some practice exercises to refresh your mind. Match items in Column A
(volcano) with items in Column B (location). Write only the letter of your answer
before each number.
Column A Column B
1. a. Batangas

Mayon Volcano

2.
b. Albay

Taal Volcano

3. c. Boundaries of Pampanga,
Tarlac, and Zambales

Bulusan Volcano

4. d. Negros Oriental
and Occidental

Kanlaon Volcano

5. e. Sorsogon

Pinatubo Volcano
 LESSON

Our country is blessed with so many land features such as mountains and
volcanoes. These features can be sources of different minerals or can be used for
agricultural purposes. Have you had the chance to visit the sacred, majestic, and
world-renowned Mayon Volcano? The renowned Mayon Volcano is located in Albay
in Bicol Region on the large island of Luzon in the Philippine which is known for its
fertile soils on Earth used by the locals to grow their crops, cultivation of which has
produced abundant food and fostered civilizations and heat energy in the interior is
tapped to produce geothermal energy converted into electricity.

Figure 1. A majestic view of Mayon Volcano

Have you ever wondered how does a volcano erupts, how magma is formed,
what are the composition of the magma and what are the factors that could greatly
affect its volcanic activity? Well if your answer is YES, then this module will help you
find the answer to your question.
How does magma form?
Magma is a semi-liquid rock, crystallized minerals, dissolved gases, and
extremely hot liquid form found beneath the surface of the earth. Scientists believe
that magma exists in other terrestrial planets in and beyond our solar system. Much
of the planets mantle is made largely of magma. This magma can push through holes
or cracks in the crust causing volcanic eruptions. When magma is ejected out of the
volcano, it is called lava. When it cools and solidifies, it is known as igneous rocks.
The temperature of magma ranges from 1,292° and 2,372° Fahrenheit.
The Earth is made of the different layers consists of the inner core, outer
core, mantle, and crust. Magma is formed in the lower portion of the crust but
above the mantle. The difference in temperature, structural formation, and
pressure in the crust and the mantle allows magma to form in several ways.

The formation of magma through decompression melting involves the

movement of the earth's mantle. The movement of the mantle creates lower pressure
points that experience a low melting point. The rocks in this section melt to form
magma. This process of magma formation is common in divergent boundaries
where the separation of tectonic plates occurs.

Magma is also created when hot liquid rock is forced from the highly
pressurized core to the crust. The liquid rocks lose heat to the surrounding rocks
which also melt in the process. The formation of magma by heat transfer also occurs
at convergent boundaries when tectonic plates crash into each other. When the
denser plate subducts below the less dense plate, hot rocks from below rises into the
cooler areas above the subducting plate resulting in the formation of magma.

The formation of magma by flux melting occurs when carbon dioxide and
water are added to rocks. These two compounds significantly reduce the melting
point of rocks resulting in the formation of magma in places that it would have
otherwise existed as igneous rocks.
Composition of Magma
Magma contains a mixture of gases and simple elements. Magmas vary widely
in their chemical composition but in general, they are made up of only eight elements:
oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, and other
trace elements. The most abundant element in magma is oxygen, which comprises
almost half of the total, followed by silicon at just over one-quarter, and the
remaining elements make up the other one-quarter. Magmas extracted from crustal
materials are highly dominated by oxygen, silicon, aluminum, sodium, and
potassium.

The composition of magma depends on the rock it was formed from (by
melting), and the conditions of that melting. Magmas derived from the mantle have
higher levels of iron, magnesium, and calcium, but they are still likely to be
dominated by oxygen and silicon. All magmas have varying proportions of elements
such as hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur, which are converted into gases like water
vapor, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide as the magma cools.

Figure 2. Average elemental proportions in Earth’s crust, which is close to the

average composition of magmas within the crust.
Types of Magma

Silicon and oxygen are the most abundant; geologists, therefore, define
magma in terms of the silica and gas content, viscosity, and temperature.

Mafic(basaltic) magma has low silica content but higher contents of

magnesium and iron. It also has a low content of gas and viscosity. Its temperature
is relatively high at between 1,000° and 1,200° Celsius. Mafic magma does not erupt
explosively but it instead flows out of volcanoes and moves quickly on the surface. It
turns into basalt when it cools.

Intermediate(andesitic) magma has a high gas and silica content. Its

temperature is between 800° to 1000° Celsius resulting in a higher viscosity than
mafic magma. Because of the high viscosity, intermediate magma builds up in
magma chambers below the surface before exploding violently as lava.

Felsic(rhyolitic) magma has the highest silica and gas content. It also has
the highest viscosity because of the low temperatures of between 650° and 800°
Celsius. Chambers of felsic magma trap gas bubbles that result in massive
explosions that blow peaks off mountains.

Table 1. Magma Composition and Characteristics

Composition Viscosity Gas Silica Explosi- Location of Magma
Content Content veness

Basaltic Low 1-2 % About 50 Least Both oceanic and

Magma % continental crust
Andesitic Intermedi 3-4% About 60 Interme Continental margins
Magma ate % diate associated with
subduction zones
Rhyolitic High 4-6% About 70 Greatest Continental crust
Magma %

What determines the nature of eruption? The primary factors affecting

volcanic eruption are the magma’s temperature, its chemical composition, and the
amount of dissolved gases it contains. These factors can affect the magma’s
viscosity in different ways. Viscosity is the property of the material’s resistance to
flow. It is also described as the liquid’s thickness and stickiness. The more viscous
and thicker the material is, the greater is its resistance to flow.

Let us discuss how each factor affects the viscosity of magma. First, let’s look
into how the temperature of magma affects its viscosity. The viscosity of magma
decreases with temperature. The higher the temperature of magma is, the lower is
its viscosity. As lava flows, it cools and begins to harden, its ability to flow decreases,
and eventually, it stops.

Next, let’s look at how the composition of magma affects its viscosity.
Magmas with high silica content are more viscous than those with low silica
content as shown in Figure 3. The magma that contains less silica is relatively fluid
and travels far before solidifying.

Lastly, the amount of gases contained in the magma affects its viscosity.
Other factors being equal, gas (mainly water vapor) dissolved in magma tends to
increase its ability to flow. Therefore, in near-surface environments, the loss of
gases makes magma more viscous, forming a dome or a columnar as shown in
Figure 3.

Lava with less silica content has low viscosity

that it can travel a great distance, forming a
thin sheet.

Lava with high silica content is too

viscous to travel far and tends to
break up as it flows.

Lava with low amount of gas and high

silica content is very viscous and does
not flow out at all as it rises forming, a
columnar plug in the vent.

Lava with low amount of gas as it

rises has high viscosity that it piles
up at a vent resulting into a dome.

Figure 3. Viscosity of Magma at different conditions (Source: Project EASE Module 12)

The next activities will give you a first-hand idea about the formation of
magma, the composition of the magma, and the factors affecting the viscosity of
magma.
 ACTIVITIES

Module No 4: Activity No.1: Formation and Composition of Magma

Direction: A. Write T if the statement is true. If false, change the underlined word
or phrase to make it correct.
1. The formation of magma through decompression melting
involves the movement of the earth's crust.

2. When magma is ejected out of the volcano, it is called lava.

3. When the denser plate subducts below the less dense plate,
hot rocks from below rises into the cooler areas above the subducting plate
resulting in the formation of magma.

4. The formation of magma by flux melting occurs when oxygen

and water are added to rocks.

5. When a lava cools and solidifies, it is known as igneous

rocks.

B. Choose the symbol of the elements and compounds that makes up the
composition of the magma. Write your answer on the circles provided.

CHOICES

Si Fr Fe Na O Al Ca K Mg He Zn Mo

SiO2 Al2O3 NH4 CO2 BaO

 WRAP-UP

1.
Ways of 2.
Magma 3.
Formation

Magma Elements:
Composition
of the
Magma

Factors 1.
Affecting the
2.
Viscosity of
Magma 3.

To summarize what you have learned, complete the graphic organizer.