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 ultramafic and mafic units make up the major volume of the volcanic units. The remaining volcanic units are extensive but thin felsic volcanic layers, such as Duffer Formation of the Warrawoona Group. The greenstone belts may be subsequently intruded by dome-shaped magma chambers. The intrusion deformed the felsic volcanic rocks along with the volcano-sedimentary sequences. Observing modern volcanic processes is relatively easier than observing Archean volcanism, because erosion constantly started removing earlier formed materials. So, studying the Archean supracrustal rocks back in deep time may be subjected to sampling bias. The meaning of "felsic" refers to high silica (SiO) content