A geology team at the University of Queensland, are revealing some volcanoes draw their lava from a much shallower depth than previously thought.
Lead researcher, volcanologist Dr Theresa Ubide says hotspot volcanoes have a natural filter which sifts out impurities in the lava, creating the illusion it came from deeper in the earth.
The team continues to study a collection of volcanoes in the Canary Islands to see if these discoveries apply to other categories of volcanoes.