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Name: Stacy
Status: Other
Age: 20s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
Please explain how volcanic eruptions work in relation to the earths outer core. I do no understand how the earth could continuously have volcainic eruptions (i.e. forming volcanic islands, etc) and not "run out" of materials (i.e. magma, etc). Surely the earths core does not have a "neverending" supply of volcanic material, so how can the earth continue to release material from the core? Is there a way that the earth "reclaims" or "pulls materials back in" to its core?


Replies:
Yes. In many places, pieces of the earth's crust are diving down to the mantle. This is happening off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, for example.

Richard E. Barrans Jr., Ph.D.
Assistant Director
PG Research Foundation, Darien, Illinois


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