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the_muskox t1_j9zem6q wrote

Reply to comment by OpenPlex in When a volcano erupts, does this affect the pressure building up in other volcanoes? by Rhamni

The magma is exploiting fractures and other weaknesses in the overlying rock to ascend. That's much easier and faster than just melting its way through several km of rock.

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CrustalTrudger t1_j9zfwyg wrote

Yep, and in some cases the pressure building from the magma itself and gases is sufficient to push the overlying rocks into a stress regime that's right for tensile failure, so it's not just exploiting existing fractures, but sometimes also making new fractures.

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