Magma Pop is a serious game that enables users to experience volcanic processes that are usually hidden from view. Go underground in an interactive magma chamber to explore the links between temperatures, mineral crystallisation and changes in magma and rock composition.
About magma chambers
Magma Pop is a visual representation of a hot magma chamber beneath the surface of the Earth. Magma contains three components: melt (made of ions from minerals that have liquefied), solids (crystallised minerals floating in the melt) and volatiles (dissolved gases). Magma chambers can have different chemical compositions depending on which minerals have already formed.
When the magma is hot (750–1,200°C), the elements in the magma melt are free-floating charged ions. Cooling causes the charged ions to form stable minerals. Because the minerals are combinations of multiple elements, they are denser than the free-floating ions and sink through the magma chamber.
Elements become less abundant when minerals are formed and change the composition of the remaining magma. For example, certain elements (magnesium and iron) dwindle earlier in the game as minerals form, which increases the overall concentration of other ions (like silicon) in the remaining magma.
The three types of magma chambers addressed in this game are basalt, andesite and rhyolite, but magma chambers are not limited to these three. The type of magma chamber is determined by temperature, pressure and chemical composition.
Key science concepts in Magma Pop
At its most basic, Magma Pop is a novel way to introduce and reinforce key chemical and Earth science concepts:
- Magma is a mixture of elements and gases.
- The elements in the magma exist as ions.
- The ions combine to form minerals like feldspar and quartz.
- Magma can crystallise to form different types of volcanic rocks depending on the elements.
- Volcanoes can erupt at any time but are usually not dangerous, especially if we take precautions.
Those wishing to dig a little deeper can explore these aspects:
- The specific chemical composition of several olivine, pyroxene, feldspar and quartz minerals.
- Density layers within a magma chamber – as crystals form, they settle to the lower part of the chamber.
- The influence of temperature on mineral crystallisation, which also determines magma types (basalt, andesite and rhyolite).
- The minerals associated with particular magma types.
- How the concentration of each ion changes as crystals are created within the chamber.
Magma Pop has numerous uses in the classroom. Use it as a context to introduce geological and chemical concepts such as the composition and structure of the geosphere and/or the structure of matter. For senior students, it’s a visual means to explore aspects of the natural world, including the interplay between temperature, crystallisation and magma composition – the order of crystallisation follows Bowen’s reaction series.
Representations of magma chambers
We cannot go underground to see what a magma chamber really looks like so scientists create models.
Do you think these models are realistic representations? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Model from Magma Pop © Ben Kennedy and model on right by William Crochot/CC BY-SA 4.0.
Linking with the science capabilities
Magma Pop operates as a scientific model – a simplified representation of systems and processes that we are not able to directly experience. Models like Magma Pop are ideal for developing the science capabilities interpret representations and critique evidence.
Discussing the similarities and differences between visual representations – like those in the image above – encourages students to consider how and why magma chambers are represented in this manner and what information they convey.
Magma Pop models actual processes that occur in magma chambers. Curious students might like to critique the visual representations of the magma chambers as well as what is taking place as they play the game. What evidence can they find that the processes in the game are accurate? The articles Exploring magma formation and Types of volcanic rock may offer some help.
Mineral examples and game icons
There are nine minerals featured in Magma Pop – each is represented by an icon.
Why do you think these icons are used as representations? What are your observations, inferences or critiques?
Download as a PDF here.
Unlocking volcanic mysteries
Magma Pop was developed by Professor Ben Kennedy, a volcanologist at the University of Canterbury. Ben is an advocate of using novel, interactive resources as a means of teaching serious science concepts. Check out some of Ben’s other resources: the article Magma Drillers Save Planet Earth and the activity Using Magma Drillers Save Planet Earth. Students take on a variety of scientific roles to help solve the planet’s environmental and energy issues. Tsunamis in the sandpit models the type of eruption and tsunami that appears in Magma Pop – but with actual sand and water!
Magma Pop in the classroom
Use the activity Using Magma Pop – a virtual magma chamber to get the most out of the game. The teaching notes include worksheets for intermediate and senior students.
The Magma Pop – game guide includes a step-by-step guide on how to play the game along with additional background information on mineral crystallisation in cooling magma.
Nature of science – communicating in science
Magma Pop is an engaging way to introduce and use scientific vocabulary, symbols and conventions.
Related content
Learn more about volcanic processes:
- Types of volcanoes
- Types of volcanic rock
- Magma on the move
- Exploring magma formation
- Volcanology methods
- Plate tectonics, volcanoes and earthquakes
Volcanoes resources – planning pathways has curriculum information and key science concepts and curates resources for classroom planning.
The article Gaming for learning discusses some of the benefits of using games in the classroom.
Activity ideas
Learn more about volcanic rocks:
- Identifying volcanic rocks – use information from a video to match the chemical composition and type of volcanic eruption each rock is associated with.
- Lost – a hot rock – become an igneous rock detective.
- Making lava fudge – use different combinations of ingredients to model the different proportions of minerals in basalt, andesite and rhyolite rocks.
- Tsunamis in the sandpit – explore the effects of an expanding magma chamber and how landslides from stratocone volcanoes can generate tsunami waves.
Acknowledgement
Magma Pop was developed by UC Product Design and the University of Canterbury School of Earth and Environment students and lecturers – particularly Nikita Harris, Simon Hoerman, Sriparna Saha, Alex Nichols and Ben Kennedy.
Kathleen Sibuea and Ben Kennedy worked with Science Learning Hub on the accompanying materials. The project was in part supported by MBIE Endeavour project Beneath the Waves and ECLIPSE run in association with GNS Science.
