THE comparison between water and lava might seem absurd at first glance, as one is essential for life while the other is a molten rock that destroys everything in its path.
However, some have suggested that from a geological and chemical perspective, water could technically be considered a type of lava.
Is this true?
Verdict:
TRUE (technically)
From a strictly geological and scientific definition, water can technically be classified as lava, though this requires understanding what "lava" truly means.
In geology, lava is defined as a molten rock (or mineral) that flows from a volcano or volcanic vent onto the Earth's surface.
More broadly, lava is any molten or partially molten natural substance that erupts from beneath a planet's crust.
The key criterion is that it must be a molten material from beneath the surface that flows when heated above its melting point.
Water fits this technical definition because it is a mineral according to geological standards.
A mineral is defined as a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and ordered atomic structure.
Ice, the solid form of water (H₂O), meets all these criteria perfectly.
When ice melts, it becomes liquid water, which is the molten state of the ice mineral.
Therefore, by strict geological definitions, liquid water is technically molten ice, and when it flows from beneath the Earth's surface (such as from geysers or hot springs), it could be considered a form of lava.
This is not just theoretical wordplay - geologists studying other celestial bodies use this framework.
On Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus, scientists refer to "cryovolcanism" or "ice volcanism", where water erupts from beneath the icy surface.
These eruptions of liquid water are indeed called cryolava or ice lava by planetary scientists.
On Earth, underwater volcanic vents called hydrothermal vents release superheated water from beneath the ocean floor.
This water, heated by magma chambers below, erupts at temperatures exceeding 400°C.
Using the technical definition of lava as molten material that erupts from beneath the surface, this superheated water does seem to qualify.
However, it's important to note that in everyday language and standard geological practice on Earth, the term "lava" is reserved specifically for molten rock.
Calling water "lava" is technically correct by the broadest scientific definitions but would be considered unconventional and potentially confusing in most contexts.
The comparison serves as an interesting thought experiment about how we define natural phenomena and reminds us that scientific terminology can sometimes lead to unexpected but technically accurate conclusions.
As a side note, if water is lava then when it's underground its technically magma.
References:
1. https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/
2. https://geology.com/articles/
3. https://rockhoundresource.com/
4. https://www.
5. https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/
6. https://www.britannica.com/
