A stratovolcano, also called a composite volcano, is a tall,
conical volcano composed of many layers of hardened
lava,
tephra, and
volcanic ash. These volcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions. The lava that flows from them is
viscous, and cools and hardens before spreading very far. The source magma of this rock is classified as
acidic, having high to intermediate levels of
silica (as in
rhyolite,
dacite, or
andesite). This is in contrast to less viscous basic magma that forms
shield volcanoes (such as
Mauna Loa in Hawaii), which have a wide base and more gently sloping profile.
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A cone-shaped volcano built from alternating layers of pyroclastics and viscous andesitic lava. Stratovolcanos tend to be very large and steep.
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