Question

Comparing cinder cones to shield volcanoes:

Answer 1

Cinder cones and shield volcanoes are two distinct types of volcanoes with notable differences:

Comparison of the cinder cones to shield volcanoes

Shape

Cinder Cones: Typically have a steep, conical shape. They are characterized by their steep sides and a relatively small size.

Shield Volcanoes: Have a broad, gently sloping shape resembling a warrior's shield. They are characterized by a low profile and extensive lateral spread.

Size

Cinder Cones: Tend to be smaller in size compared to shield volcanoes.

Shield Volcanoes: Are generally larger and can cover extensive areas.

Eruption Type:

Cinder Cones: Often result from explosive eruptions that eject fragmented volcanic material (cinders, ash, and rocks).

Shield Volcanoes: Primarily exhibit non-explosive eruptions, with the effusion of basaltic lava flows.

Answer 2

There are some similarities between the cinder cone volcanoes and the shield volcanoes.

The cinder cones tend to relatively small, they do not go over the height of 1,000 feet, while the shield volcanoes are very large and can be several thousands of feet high.

The cinder cones have steep slopes, while the shield volcanoes have much more gradual slopes.

The cinder cones have thicker magma, with lot of gasses trapped in it, thus producing small explosions. The shield volcanoes, on the other hand, have very liquid magma, thus they produce lava flows and do not have any explosions. They both produce the same type of lava though, basaltic one, with only the thickness being a difference.

The cinder cones are circular, having a large bowl-shaped crater at the summit. The shield volcanoes are enormous, gently sloping cones, and they even create whole island chains in the oceans.