The three types of volcanic mountains include composite volcanoes, cinder cones and shield volcanoes.
When compared in terms of shape, composite volcanoes are mostly tall and symmetrically cone–shaped, cinder cones are short circular shaped cone while shield volcanoes are low with mild sloping sides.
When compared in terms of eruption, the eruption from composite volcanoes is a pyroclastic flow (a mixture of hot steam, ash, rock and dust) that occurs at very high speeds with temperatures of over 400°C, the eruption from cinder volcanoes is violently blown lava while the eruption from shield volcanoes is frequent gentle, thin, runny lava.
When compared in terms of material makeup, the materials that make up composite volcanoes are alternating layers of lava and ash, while the material that makes up both cinder volcanoes and shield volcanoes is lava.
