Flow of Andesite Lava

Barbara Nash

University of Utah

This activity is part of the On the Cutting Edge Peer Reviewed Teaching Activities collection. (view details)

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This activity has received positive reviews in a peer review process involving five review categories. The five categories included in the process are

Scientific Accuracy
Alignment of Learning Goals, Activities, and Assessments
Pedagogic Effectiveness
Robustness (usability and dependability of all components)
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Initial Publication Date: June 5, 2008 | Reviewed: October 21, 2012 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

The purpose of the exercise is to familiarize igneous petrology students with flow properties of lava, especially viscosity, and to have them consider effects on viscosity due to temperature, crystallinity and volatile content. The problem uses data from an actual eruption.

Volcanology, Igneous Processes, Geology | College Lower (13-14), College Upper (15-16)

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Context

Audience

This activity would be used in an undergraduate (sophomore or junior level) required course in petrology.

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

How the activity is situated in the course

This is a stand-alone exercise.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

The goal of the exercise is to familiarize igneous petrology students with flow properties of lava, especially viscosity, and to have them consider effects on viscosity due to temperature, crystallinity and volatile content.