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Lava identification and geology

Molten rock magma that has erupted onto the Earth's surface through a volcanic vent or fissure. Once on the surface, lava loses dissolved gases and begins to cool and solidify. Lava flow morphology depends on composition, viscosity, temperature, and effusion rate: fluid basaltic lavas produce pahoehoe smooth, ropy and aa rough, clinkery flows, while viscous felsic lavas form thick, stubby flows or domes. Field: volcanology. Example: Pahoehoe lava flows from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii have a smooth, glassy, ropy surface texture formed when the thin crust of a fluid basaltic flow is deformed by continued movement of the underlying liquid lava.. Related terms: Magma, Pahoehoe, Aa, Viscosity.

Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.027557+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Lava mean in geology?
Molten rock magma that has erupted onto the Earth's surface through a volcanic vent or fissure. Once on the surface, lava loses dissolved gases and begins to cool and solidify. Lava flow morphology depends on composition, viscosity, temperature, and effusion rate: fluid basaltic lavas produce pahoehoe smooth, ropy and aa rough, clinkery flows, while viscous felsic lavas form thick, stubby flows or domes.
What is an example of Lava?
Pahoehoe lava flows from Kilauea volcano in Hawaii have a smooth, glassy, ropy surface texture formed when the thin crust of a fluid basaltic flow is deformed by continued movement of the underlying liquid lava.
Which earth-science field uses the term Lava?
Lava is used in volcanology.
Which terms are related to Lava?
Related terms in this reference are Magma, Pahoehoe, Aa, Viscosity.

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