Cryovolcano

A cryovolcano is, factually, an icy volcano. Cryovolcanoes form on icy moons, and possibly on other coldness astronomical objects. Rather than molten rock, these volcanoes explode volatiles such as water, ammonia or methane. Collectively referred to as cryomagma or ice-volcanic melt, these substances are typically liquids and form plumes, but can also be in vapour appearance. After eruption, cryomagma condenses to a solid form when uncovered to the very low surrounding temperature. Some scientists wonder that the cryovolcanoes on Titan, Saturn's main natural satellite and the second-largest in the solar system, may harbor space life.

The energy necessary to melt ices and produce cryovolcanoes typically comes from tidal friction. It has also been optional that translucent deposits of frozen materials could make a sub-surface greenhouse result that would accumulate the requisite heat.

It is hypothesized that the Kuiper belt object Quaoar has exhibited cryovolcanism in the past. In this case, the source of energy would be radioactive decay.