Plate Tectonic/Volcano/Geyser Test Study Guide
Types of Volcano Mountains:
Shield Volcano: Built from nonexplosive
eruptions. The runny lava spreads out so it
is wide but not steep.
Cinder Cone: Small, made of pyroclastic
material (ash, rocks etc.) NOT lava.
Narrow base, steeper slopes than a shield
volcano.
Composite Volcano: Formed from explosive
eruptions of pyroclastic material (ash, rocks
etc.) followed by quieter outpourings of
lava. Broad and wide base, steep sides.
Dome Mountain: These mountains are
created by igneous, or molten, rock that
arches the rocks at the surface.
Plate Tectonic Test Study Guide
 Continental Crust- The name for the part of the Earth’s crust which is under the
land where we live.
 Core- The inside layer of the Earth
 Convergent- Two of Earth’s plates moving toward each other and colliding
 Crust- The outermost layer of the Earth- This is thinner than other layers, and
is rocky and brittle
 Divergent- Two of Earth’s plates moving away from each other- When plates
move apart, molten rock rises and cools, which creates new crust.
 Mantle- The middle layer of the Earth- It comprises most of the earth’s mass.
 Oceanic Crust- The name for the part of Earth’s crust which is under the ocean
 Plate Tectonics- This is a geological theory which says that the surface of Earth
is broken into large plates.
 Transform- Two of Earth’s plates moving horizontally against each other- An
example is the San Andreas Fault in California.
 Extinct volcanoes have not erupted in recorded history and probably never will
again.
 Dormant volcanoes are not currently erupting but have erupted at some time in
recorded history.
 Active volcanoes are in the process of erupting or show signs of erupting in the
near future.
 Scientists predict volcanic eruptions: They measure earthquakes because they
occur closer together and become stronger before an eruption. They also
measure the slope of a volcano because it may bulge before an eruption. They
collect gases and use satellite images which can measure temperature changes.
Volcanoes get hotter as magma pushes closer to the surface.
 A geyser is a hot spring with narrow spaces in its plumbing which erupts
periodically and forcibly ejects hot water.
 A hot spring has an open plumbing system and the superheated water is able to
rise freely to the surface.
 Old Faithful is the name of a famous geyser in Yellow Stone National Park.