How does a volcanoes material effect the volcanoes eruption?

Question

Really I just need to know how a volbanoes material effects a volcanoes eruption. Just a simple question.

Answer 1

BRAVO Spibbles, you are rigth. I live in Colima, Mexico near one of those very explosive volcan.

http://www.ucol.mx/volcan/

Answer 2

the nature of the magma (viscosity and gas contents) defines its nature of eruption.

low viscosity and low gas contents will result in a lava flow.

high viscosity and high gas contents will result in explosions.

Answer 3

Shield volcanos, like in Hawaii, with their thin, runny lava, result from low-silica magma that's characteristic of hot spots where you've got raw magma from the mantle.

Stratovolcanos, on the other hand (Mount Saint Helens, for example), have high-silica, very sticky, very viscous lava, as a result of their magma originating with partially melted crust that's currently being subducted beneath them.  Because the magma is so thick and sticky, it results in an explosive eruption.  Generally this kind of volcano is found near subduction zones such as the "ring of fire".