Stratovolcano Stratovolcano A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava, tephra, pumice and ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and periodic intervals of explosive eruptions and effusive eruptions, although some have collapsed summit craters called calderas. The lava flowing from stratovolcanoes typically cools and hardens before spreading far due to high viscosity. The magma forming this lava is often felsic, having high-to-intermediate levels of silica (as in rhyolite, dacite, or andesite), with lesser amounts of less-viscous mafic magma. Extensive
Archean felsic volcanic rocks heavy rare-earth elements than other Archean felsic volcanic rocks) has no plutonic equivalent in the same period. The composition of felsic volcanic rocks are being altered concurrently with shifting granitoid composition. The older GMS-like felsic volcanic rocks formed with similar age of TTG has two implications: Revealing the relationship between Archean felsic volcanic rocks and the granitoids may be difficult. It is because weathering alters the geochemical signatures of the felsic rocks above the Earth's surface. The earliest weathering record can be traced back to 3.8 Ga during Eoarchean. Potassium is enriched but sodium is depleted in these weathered felsic