Editing 40d:Volcano

'''Volcanoes''' are named [[mountain]]s that additionally provide a source of [[magma]].

During world generation, areas of the map have a "volcanism" rating, (see [[advanced world generation]] for more information) much like they have a rainfall or drainage rating. In areas with high volcanism, volcanoes and magma have a higher chance of rising to the surface. A tile with 100 volcanism may become a volcano.

To start on a map that includes a volcano, you will have to search for one on the fortress location selection screen. Most of the time they are not visible on the world map. Scroll around the world looking for a red ^ in the regional map. Select that space, and in the local map, move your starting area to include the square with a dark red ≈, which is the caldera. A volcano is ''not'' a bright red ≈ - those tiles indicate red sand. There may also be additional local [[magma pipe]]s or [[magma pool]]s in nearby tiles around the volcano. Using the [[site finder]] assists in finding volcanoes; see its page for more information.

Sometimes a [[magma pipe]] will exist in an area with no volcanoes nearby.

Volcanoes provide ready access to [[obsidian]], which a [[craftsdwarf]] can form into a rock short [[sword]]; these are as strong as steel shortswords. It can also be used to make more valuable rock [[craft]]s and [[furniture]], as obsidian has a value of 3, compared to 2 for [[flux]] stones and 1 for other ordinary stones. It's possible to divert [[water]] into magma to form your own obsidian, although obsidian is often already present in great quantities.

The volcanic activity also leads to an abundance of heavy [[igneous extrusive layer|extrusive igneous]] rock (such as [[basalt]], [[felsite]] and [[andesite]]) under a layer of farmable materials. The nature of these rock layers also provides for many useful [[ore]]s such as [[iron]] (through [[hematite]] or other means), [[gold]], [[galena]], and other non-precious [[metal]]s. The rock also provides useful [[gem]]s such as turquoise and zircons, and occasionally diamonds. Genuine volcanoes sometimes have other interesting features, similar to named mountains: they are frequently sites for [[cave]]s, often have a wider than usual variety of [[stone]] and [[ore]], and may include unusual features such as [[cave river]]s, [[chasm]]s or [[bottomless pit]]s.

Because of the natural tendency for Magma to turn into obsidian when coming in contact with water, digging alongside the magma chamber may provide an easy route underneath an [[aquifer]] and into the perfectly dry stone and ore deep below.

 

A volcano, in the real world, is a vent in the planet's crust through which lava and pyroclastic materials are expelled. They're usually created through plate tectonics in subduction zones, but they can form anywhere [[magma]] is capable of breaking through to the surface.