mantle plume

A mantle plume is a upwelling of hot, mantle rock that rises from deep within Earth's interior toward the surface. These plumes originate near the core-mantle boundary and can cause volcanic activity by melting rocks as they ascend. When a mantle plume reaches the Earth's crust, it can create volcanic islands or seamounts, such as Hawaii. Mantle plumes are a key process in shaping Earth's surface and can lead to the formation of hotspots—areas with persistent volcanic activity not directly aligned with tectonic plate boundaries.