Question

Which of the following is true of cinder cones?

1) They have only formed in the distant geologic past, never during recorded human history.
2) They are the longest-lived volcanoes.
3) They form from particularly gas-poor magmas.
4) They tend to be smaller than shield volcanoes or stratovolcanoes.
5) They only form from felsic magmas.

Answer 1

Cinder cones tend to be smaller than shield volcanoes or stratovolcanoes. They can form during recorded human history from gas-rich magmas and have erupted in recent geological time.

Step-by-step explanation:

Of the given statements about cinder cones, the true one is that they tend to be smaller than shield volcanoes or stratovolcanoes. Cinder cones are relatively small compared to other types of volcanoes, and they can form as parasitic cones on the flanks of larger volcanoes or on their own. Unlike shield volcanoes, which have a broad, gentle slope and are built primarily by the eruption of low-viscosity basaltic lava, cinder cones are steep and constructed from tephra, pyroclastic material, that falls close to the vent, forming a circular or oval cone shape.

Cinder cones have been known to form during recorded human history. They are relatively short-lived when it comes to volcanic structures, often only erupting once. Contrary to forming from gas-poor magmas, they usually result from gas-rich magmas that eject volcanic ash and lapilli, which then fall back to Earth near the vent.

Finally, cinder cones can form from various types of magmas, including felsic, intermediate, and mafic, so it's incorrect to claim they only form from felsic magmas.