Story: Volcanoes

Types of magma

This table summarises the properties of the three major magma types: basalt, andesite and rhyolite. The photographs show what the cooled magma (volcanic rock) looks like under the microscope.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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Photographs by Richard Smith, University of Waikato

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How to cite this page:

Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, 'Volcanoes - What is a volcano?', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/table/8686/types-of-magma (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Richard Smith, David J. Lowe and Ian Wright, published 12 Jun 2006