Summary:
- Composite volcanoes are formed by alternating layers (strata) of magma and ash.
- A shield volcano has a very wide base and is much flatter on the top than a composite volcano.
- Cinder cones are the smallest and most common type of volcano.
- They are made of small fragments of rock, called cinders.
- These cinders can be mafic, intermediate, or felsic in composition.
- Most composite and shield volcanoes have nearby cinder cones.
- The Pacific Ring of Fire is dotted by composite volcanoes.