As the late advances over the hot spot, magma seeps through the cracks of the plate. After a million years and thousands of eruptions, a string of islands have been formed. The process continues as mountains are produced and grow high enough to appear as islands. The Composite volcano is the most common type. Alternating quiet and explosive eruptions of lava, cinders, and ash forms it.
Eruptions are spectacular as cinder and ash are thrown form the vent.
As they fall, they form a cone. Later a layer of lava flows out, covering the ash and cinder. As the process is repeated, the cone grows taller. Cinder Cones are formed as ash and cinders explode from a single vent. The cone builds up rapidly, forming the shape of an inverted ice-cream cone.