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What are the distinguishing characteristics of a shield volcano?

Answer 1

These are volcanoes composed of quiet lava flows.

A gently sloping, dome-shaped mountain is formed after several quiet eruptions, and the lava flows over a large area due to its runniness.

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Answer 2

Victoria Argento

The distinguishing characteristics of a shield volcano include:

Broad, gentle slopes
Large size
Built primarily of low-viscosity lava flows
Characterized by frequent but non-explosive eruptions
Typically found at divergent plate boundaries and hotspots
Formed by the accumulation of successive lava flows over time
Often associated with basaltic lava composition
May exhibit a central vent or summit crater, but generally lack steep summit peaks or calderas.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

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