Hawaii's Kilauea volcano keeps erupting with syrupy lava flows, serving as a fiery reminder of nature's destructive power. But as the ongoing eruption captures headlines, a question might occur to you: What's the difference between magma and lava?



The distinction between magma and lava is all about location. When geologists refer to magma, they're talking about molten rock that's still trapped underground. If this molten rock makes it to the surface and keeps flowing like a liquid, it's called lava.



Magmas vary in their chemical composition, which gives them—and the volcanoes that contain them—different properties.

Watch Hawaii's Kilauea Lava Creep Toward Homes Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano erupted on May 3, 2018, and the lava continues to flow.

Mafic magmas like those in Hawaii tend to form when the heavier crust that forms the ocean floor melts. They contain between 47 to 63 percent silica, the mineral that makes up glass and quartz. As far as molten rocks go, mafic magmas are fairly runny, with viscosities ranging from molasses to peanut butter. They're also the hottest variety of magma, reaching temperatures between 1,800 degrees to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Silicic magmas, on the other hand, tend to form when the lighter continental crust melts. These magmas are more than 63 percent silica, which makes them more viscous: At their runniest, silicic magmas flow about as well as lard or caulk—which is to say not well at all. They're also cooler than mafic magmas. Rhyolite, an especially silica-rich type of lava, hits temperatures between only 1,200 degrees to 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Since silicic magmas are colder and goopier than mafic magmas, dissolved gases have a harder time venting out of them. This makes silicic magmas more dangerous: As more gas builds up in the magma, it becomes more explosive, like adding more and more carbonation to a soda.

View Images Kilauea is a shield volcano, with gentle slopes formed by oozing lava. Photograph by US Geological Survey