Lava Impenetrability

name         Chompoo
status       student
grade        4-5
location     N/A

Question -   What object or material does lava not go through, 
or cannot destroy?
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Depending upon conditions, lava can have a temperature from 500C. to 
about 1500C. --about 900F. to 2700F.  There are many materials that 
can withstand that temperature, for example the metal tungsten has a 
melting point of about 3400 C., but a material would also have to 
withstand the pressure of the flow of molten lava, which is very 
dense. Silicate minerals (depending upon specific composition) can 
also withstand those temperatures, otherwise lava would not be 
contained under the Earth's crust. Ocean water too can withstand 
that temperature by cooling and solidifying the lava. While the 
temperature of lava is high, it is not as high as the temperature of 
other materials. You can look up more details at the website: 

http://www.geo.ua.edu/volcanology/lecture_notes_files/lava_flows.html

Vince Calder
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