mantle plumes

Mantle plumes are upward-moving columns of hot, solid rock from deep within Earth’s mantle. They form when intense heat causes a pocket of mantle material to become less dense and rise towards the surface. As the plume reaches closer to the surface, it can cause volcanic activity and create features like hotspots and volcanic islands. Mantle plumes are important because they help explain certain volcanic regions that are not near tectonic plate boundaries, providing insight into Earth's internal heat transfer and geological processes.