What's the difference between a Cone Volcano, Strato Volcano, Cinder Cone Volcano and a Composite Volcano?

Question

I've looked at loads of sites but I keep finding that they all say different things! It's really confusing me, so if you can plese help. =) Thanks

Answer 1

Finally, a REAL Geology or Earth Science question!

A cinder (scoria) cone volcano- is a volcano that is more or less scattered randomly throughout the world (mainly near faultlines).  Found at both subduction zones and divergent fault-lines.  These are the smallest volcano types.  They are explosive but the scoria (rock/lava type) cools before it hits the surface, which gives it that aunt mound look.

a strato (composite) volcano- is the tallest volcano type.  Strato has steep slopes which gives the volcano it's conical volcanic shape.  These volcanoes are the most dangerous type which occur near or on subduction zones.  They are the most explosive, consists of lahars, pyroclastic flows, some viscous lava flow.  Mt. St. Helens, Vesuvius, Fuji, Hood, Ranier, and Arenal are examples of strato (composite) volcanoes.

Shield (fissure) volcano, have very shallow slopes and a much calm eruption type.  These volcanoes occur near rift zones and divergent.  fault lines.  Some are at hot-spots that are random heat spots throughout the world.  Hawaii was born to a hot-spot.

Answer 2

"Cone volcano' is just descriptive of the shape:  

Composite and strato-volcanoes are the same thing, and are the result of mainly explosive volcanism. They have a steep cone shape and are build up of layers of cinder, ash and lava flows, often with a central peak crater. They may have cinder cones on their flanks. Composite volcanos are large structures - mountains. Composite volcanoes occur above subduction zones.

A cinder-cone is typically a  cone of ash (like flour) and cinders (bits of pumice and tuff), and has a shallower slope, is  smaller than a composite volcano.

Spatter cones consist of a build-up of scoria, blobs of basaltic lava that spatter out and fall back around a vent during an eruption. They can occur within continents and on oceanic islands, and are usually not related to subduction but to extension or hot-spot volcanism.