Such localized eruption of magma over a long period of time produces a volcano. Stresses in the planet affect the orientation of dikes. Hawaiian shield volcanoes are characterized by concentrated regions of dike injections, called rift zones . A series of experiments using gelatin models was conducted by researchers in 1972 to explain the growth and orientation of Hawaiian rift zones. This Activity Gelatin, molded in bowls or bread pans, is used as transparent models of volcanic landforms.
Colored water is used as the dike-forming magma.
In this activity, dikes tend to propagate radially from the center of bowl-shaped casts of gelatin because the resistance to opening is the same in every direction. The dike opens in the narrow dimension and we see propagation in the long dimemsion. With a slow, steady injection rate, the colored water creates a dike and generally erupts from the flanks or ends of the gelatin casts. Edge-on, a dike appears as a line. When the gelatin cast is sliced through with a knife, dikes appear as red lines in the vertical, cut edges.