Figure 1. Norris Basin Fumaroles, Yellowstone: Pyroclastic Materials

Science 9
Quarter 3 – Module 6: Volcanic Material Emissions and its Effects on Humans and other
Living Things
In your previous lesson, you have learned about the factors that affect the viscosity of
magma and the types of volcanic eruptions it’s time to find out what are the volcanic
materials ejected by the volcanoes and its effects to humans and other living things.
Volcanic eruptions produce three types of materials: volcanic gas, lava, and
fragmented debris called tephra.
Volcanic gases are ejected by active volcanoes. These include dissolved gases in
magma and lava or gases emanating from lava, gases trapped in vesicles in volcanic
rocks, and even emitted by groundwater heated by volcanic eruptions. At extremely high
pressure, the gases are dissolved within magma. However, if the pressure decreases, the
gas comes out of the solution, forming bubbles. The main component of volcanic gas
emissions is water vapor, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide. Volcanoes
release gases when erupt, and through openings called fumaroles (Figure 1). They can
also release gas into soil and groundwater.
Figure 1. Norris Basin fumaroles, Yellowstone
Lava is a molten rock(magma) that is ejected out from the interior of the earth. The
ease with which lava flows and the structures it forms depends on how much silica and
gas the lava contains. The stiffness of lava is described in terms of viscosity– lava that
flows easily has low viscosity, and lava that is sticky and stiff has high viscosity. In
general, high-silica lava contains more gas than low-silica lava. When the gas forms into
bubbles, viscosity increases further. A lava flow is a moving outpouring of lava created
during a non-explosive effusive eruption.
The following are the lava flow materials and pyroclastic materials that are ejected
from the opening of volcanoes. Below is a list of the various volcanic material definitions
describing the general characteristics of those materials, and in some cases explanations
on their formation.
Lava Flow Materials- are a stream of molten rock that erupts relatively
nonexplosively from a volcano and moves slowly downslope.
a. Aa:: Aa (pronounced "ah-ah" - a Hawaiian term), is lava that has a rough, jagged,
spiny, and generally clinkery surface.
b. Pahoehoe: Pahoehoe (pronounced "pah-hoy-hoy" - a Hawaiian term), is a very
fluid lava flow, that in solidified form, is characterized by a smooth, billowy, or ropy
surfaces.
c. Lava: The term used for magma once it has erupted onto the Earth's surface.
d. Pillow Lava: A special structure of fluid lava erupted or flowing underwater.
Pyroclastic Materials -It pertains to fragmented rock material formed by a volcanic

explosion or ejection from a volcanic vent.
a. Volcanic Ash: Fragments less than 2 millimeters in diameter of lava or rock
blasted into the air by volcanic explosions.
b. Blocks:: Fragments of lava or rock larger than 64 millimeters in size that are
c. Bombs: Fragments of fluid or partially fluid lava or rock larger than 64
millimeters in size that are blasted into the air by volcanic explosions.
d. Cinder:: Cinders are vesicular lava fragments 1 centimeter or larger in diameter.
e. Lapilli: Fragments of lava or rock between 2 and 64 millimeters in size that are
f. Pumice:: A light-colored, frothy, vesicular volcanic rock, usually of intermediate
and felsic composition, formed by the expansion of gas in erupting lava.
g. Scoria:: A dark to reddish-colored, scoriaceous, vesicular volcanic rock, usually of
mafic composition.
h. Tephra:: Solid material of all sizes explosively ejected from a volcano into the atmosphere.
Figure 2. Lava and Pyroclastic Flow Materials

How do volcanic eruptions affect society?
A volcanic eruption is often associated with both positive and negative effects.
Our planet, the Earth is active, geologically speaking and as such, it undergoes a
process of constant renewal by way of volcanic eruptions. Volcanoes erupt when
magma reaches the surface due to high pressure and starts to pool in a magma
chamber.
Volcanic eruptions help bring put various minerals and chemicals to the surface;
this process helps to increase the fertility of the soil which is why volcanic soil is much
valued. Apart from enhancing soil fertility, the resultant eruption also helps to bring
out various precious minerals buried deep in the earth such as Diamonds, Opal,
Garnets, emeralds and much more.
Volcanoes can provide you with a ready source of power since the same can
be tapped by geothermal power stations and help to power up the various cities located
close by. Volcanoes have been spewing moisture-laden gases directly into the
atmosphere for almost 4 billion years and more. Volcanic ash is valued as a premium
building material and it has certainly been valued for its waterproofing properties since
ancient times.
The eruption of Pinatubo Volcano has created spectacular resulting in an income

generation of the community serving as an attraction to the people. People became
creative also by making earthenware out of the ashfall from the Pinatubo Volcano
eruption.
Figure 3. Pinatubo Crater Lake
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davedeluria/150988141
All volcanic eruptions result in widespread damage to the point that whole cities are
destroyed along with the entire local infrastructure. This can impact the local population on
several levels, and it can take a while before the city can be reconstructed. It can cause loss
of lives and properties. Even though a volcanic eruption leads to increased fertility in the
soil, the process takes time. Meanwhile, the fall out on the local environment is immediate
with ash, toxic gases all of which impact the local flora and fauna.
The next activities will give you a first-hand idea about the volcanic materials emitted by
volcanoes during volcanic eruptions and its effects on humans and other living things.
Module No 6: Activity No.1: Volcanic Materials

Direction: Matching the image square. Choose the description on the right column which
corresponds to the term on the left column. Write the number corresponding to the squares in
the box. If your answers are all correct, the sum of the numbers in the horizontal rows, vertical
columns, and diagonals will all be the same.
a. Aa 1. A special structure of fluid lava
b. Scoria 2. less than 2 millimeters rock fragments
c. Pahoehoe 3. 2 - 64 millimeters in size rock fragments
d. Pumice 4. a dark-colored rock
e. Lava 5. Rough, jagged, and spiny lava
f. Ash 6. A molten rock ejected out in a volcano
g. Lapilli 7. Rock fragments larger than 64 millimeters
h. Cinder 8. 1 cm lava fragments
i. Blocks 9. Smooth and billowy fluid lava flow
10. a light-colored rock
a b c
d e f
g h i
Module No 6: Activity No.2: Effects of Volcanic Eruptions

Classify the effects of volcanic eruption if it is positive or negative effects.
Write your answer in the boxes below.
1. It can cause loss of lives and properties.

2. It serves as a tourist spot.
Volcanic eruptions can cause a decrease in the Earth’s surface temperature.
3. As lava flows or pyroclastic materials are ejected in the air, they can
destroy anything on their way.
4. The strong winds during its eruption spread the aerosol particles from the
plume around the globe. The measurable cooling of the Earth’s surface for
a period for almost two years.
5. It can cause loss of infrastructures.
6. There will be the destruction of crops.
7. It produces very rich soils for farming.
8. People became creative also by making earthenware out of the
ashfall. 10. It helps us to know what’s inside the Earth.
WRAP -UP
A. Write your answer on the space provided before the number.
______________ 1. A lava that has a rough, jagged, spiny, and generally clinker
surface.
______________ 2. It is the term used for the hot molten materials that reached the
Earth’s surface.
______________ 3. Fragments less than 2 millimeters in diameter of lava or rock
______________ 4. It is a very fluid lava flow, that in solidified form, it is
characterized by a smooth, billowy surface.
______________ 5. Vesicular lava fragments 1 centimeter or larger in diameter.
B. Identify the effects of a volcanic eruption. Put ✔ inside the box if it is

an effect of volcanic eruption and X if not.
1. It can cause loss of lives and properties.
2. As lava flows or pyroclastic materials are ejected in the

air, they can destroy anything on their way.
3. Volcanic eruptions can cause a decrease in the Earth’s
surface temperature.
4. Volcanic eruption can cause flash floods.
5. It produces very rich soils for farming.
VALUING
Module No 6: Activity 3: Why do people still live next
to an active volcano?
Volcanic eruptions happen when lava and gas are discharged from a volcanic
vent. The most common consequences of this are population movements a large
number of people are often forced to flee the moving lava flow. Volcanic eruptions
often cause temporary food shortages and volcanic ash landslides called a lahar.
What are things we should remember before, during, and after a volcanic eruption?
What do you know to help the government in instances like this?

Figure 1. Norris Basin Fumaroles, Yellowstone: Pyroclastic Materials

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Science 9

Figure 1. Norris Basin fumaroles, Yellowstone

Pyroclastic Materials -It pertains to fragmented rock material formed by a volcanic

Figure 2. Lava and Pyroclastic Flow Materials

The eruption of Pinatubo Volcano has created spectacular resulting in an income

Module No 6: Activity No.1: Volcanic Materials

Module No 6: Activity No.2: Effects of Volcanic Eruptions

1. It can cause loss of lives and properties.

B. Identify the effects of a volcanic eruption. Put ✔ inside the box if it is

1. It can cause loss of lives and properties.

2. As lava flows or pyroclastic materials are ejected in the

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