Lava originates from the Earth's mantle.
While magma, which is molten rock, exists within the mantle, it only becomes lava when it erupts onto the Earth's surface through volcanoes or fissures. Therefore, technically, the surface features lava, which is derived from the mantle. The mantle itself contains magma.
Here's a breakdown:
- Mantle: The Earth's mantle contains magma, molten rock under immense pressure and heat.
- Volcanoes/Fissures: These are pathways for magma to reach the Earth's surface.
- Lava: Magma that has erupted onto the Earth's surface is called lava. This eruption reduces pressure, allowing gases to escape and changing the composition and characteristics of the molten rock.
Therefore, while the source of lava is the Earth's mantle, lava itself is found on the Earth's surface after it has erupted.
