This is an image of the volcano Loki.
Click on image for full size
NASA

Volcanism of Io

Io has active volcanism. It is the only body in the solar system other than the Earth known have active volcanic features. As shown in this picture, the surface is formed almost entirely of volcanic flows or pools of volcanic material.

The volcanism of Io provides another example of a prominent kind of volcanism found on Earth, namely the formation of geysers. The two kinds of volcanism on Io are:

  • volcanoes, which form from rocky-silicate magmas similar to those of Earth
  • geysers, spouting liquid SO2 instead of liquid H2O.

Hotspots of Io reveal where the volcanoes are. The most well known and active volcanic features of Io are:


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