Which volcanic feature is formed by the accumulation of volcanic ash and debris?

The cinder cone is characterized by its formation through the accumulation of volcanic ash, cinders, and debris ejected during explosive volcanic eruptions. These small, steep, conical hills or mounds are built from the material that falls back to the ground around the vent, often creating a distinctive cone shape.

The particles emitted during an eruption are generally small and non-viscous, allowing them to be thrown high into the air and spread out around the vent. Over time, as layers of this material build up, they create the conical structure typical of cinder cone volcanoes. This feature is usually smaller than other volcanic structures, like shield volcanoes, which are formed by the flow of low-viscosity lava, or lava plateaus, which are created by extensive lava flows that spread out over large areas. Calderas result from the collapse of a volcano after a massive eruption, typically involving the emptying of a magma chamber, which is distinctly different from the process that forms a cinder cone.