GeoMiner Free earth-science tools

Built by a geologist

Volcanic arc identification and geology

A curved chain of volcanoes formed above a subduction zone, positioned on the overriding plate approximately 100–300 km from the trench. Volcanic arcs are produced by partial melting of the mantle wedge above the subducting plate, triggered by the release of water from the descending slab. Arcs can be oceanic island arcs, e.g., Japan, Aleutians or continental e.g., Cascades, Andes . Field: volcanology. Example: The Cascade volcanic arc from British Columbia to northern California includes major volcanoes such as Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Shasta, all generated by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate beneath North America.. Related terms: Subduction, Island arc, Andesite, Magma.

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
2026-03-30T15:19:42.096023+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.

Read GeoMiner's editorial methodology or report a content issue.

Common questions

What does Volcanic arc mean in geology?
A curved chain of volcanoes formed above a subduction zone, positioned on the overriding plate approximately 100–300 km from the trench. Volcanic arcs are produced by partial melting of the mantle wedge above the subducting plate, triggered by the release of water from the descending slab. Arcs can be oceanic island arcs, e.g., Japan, Aleutians or continental e.g., Cascades, Andes .
What is an example of Volcanic arc?
The Cascade volcanic arc from British Columbia to northern California includes major volcanoes such as Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Shasta, all generated by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca plate beneath North America.
Which earth-science field uses the term Volcanic arc?
Volcanic arc is used in volcanology.
Which terms are related to Volcanic arc?
Related terms in this reference are Subduction, Island arc, Andesite, Magma.

JavaScript is loading the interactive GeoMiner experience. The identification tools provide educational candidates, not laboratory confirmation.