Pele’s hair is associated with Hawaiian type volcanoes. These are long, thin strands of volcanic glass formed from fluid basaltic lava. During fountaining or high winds, the molten lava is stretched into fine, hair-like fibers. Named after Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, these glass strands are often found downwind from active vents like Kilauea or Mauna Loa. ANSWER: (A) Hawaiian type
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Pele’s hair is a unique form of tephra found near Hawaiian shield volcanoes. When low-viscosity basaltic lava is ejected into the air, it is stretched by the wind or the force of the eruption into very delicate glass threads. These strands can be several feet long but are often less than half a millimeter thick. They are highly abrasive and brittle. Because Hawaiian magma is uniquely runny, it can be deformed into these shapes easily compared to the thicker magma of other volcanoes. They provide scientists with a clear chemical snapshot of the erupting lava’s mineral composition.