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Parasitic cone

Parasitic cone is a earth science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Parasitic cone rather than just read about it. In short: A parasitic cone (also adventive cone, satellite cone, satellitic cone or lateral cone) is the cone-shaped accumulation of volcanic material not part of the central vent of a volcano. It forms from eruptions from fractures on the flank of the volcano.

Parasitic cone — main illustration
Parasitic cone — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Parasitic cone belongs to earth science; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Parasitic cone to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Parasitic cone from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

A parasitic cone (also adventive cone, satellite cone, satellitic cone or lateral cone) is the cone-shaped accumulation of volcanic material not part of the central vent of a volcano. It forms from eruptions from fractures on the flank of the volcano. These fractures occur because the flank of the volcano is unstable. Eventually, the fractures reach the magma chamber and generate eruptions called flank eruptions, which, in turn, produce a parasitic cone. A parasitic cone can also be formed from a dike or sill cutting up to the surface from the central magma chamber in an area different from the central vent. A peculiar example of multiple parasitic cones is Jeju Island in South Korea. Jeju Island features 368 "oreums" (Korean: 오름; "mount"), which lie in a roughly lateral line on either side of the island's central dormant shield volcano Hallasan.

See also Volcanic crater

References

External links

How Volcanoes Work: Volcano Types

Illustrations

Parasitic cone: Parasitic cone (in foreground) with larger main cone in background, at Piton de la Fournaise volcano on the island of Réunion.
Parasitic cone (in foreground) with larger main cone in background, at Piton de la Fournaise volcano on the island of Réunion.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Parasitic cone

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Parasitic cone claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In earth science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Parasitic cone before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Parasitic cone ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Parasitic cone

In research
Parasitic cone appears in earth science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Parasitic cone in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Parasitic cone is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Parasitic cones, Volcanology, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Parasitic cone outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Parasitic cone in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Parasitic cone means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Parasitic cone out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Parasitic cone in simple terms?

A parasitic cone (also adventive cone, satellite cone, satellitic cone or lateral cone) is the cone-shaped accumulation of volcanic material not part of the central vent of a volcano. It forms from eruptions from fractures on the flank of the volcano.

Why does Parasitic cone matter?

Because it connects several earth science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Parasitic cone?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Parasitic cone.

Tags

  • Parasitic cones
  • Volcanology

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