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[juicebox]

I'm in the middle of a volcano embark, and I was trying to set up a cistern for my magma forge. However, in the process of filling it, I saw this:

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

The arrow is pointing to where that floodgate is supposed to be. The other two are still in place.

I already channeled out the level above in preparation for my forges, so the floodgates were the only thing preventing the magma from flooding the fortress. Any suggestions as to how this could have happened and what to do now?

 

[PatrikLundell]

There are two causes I can think of:
1. The lost floodgate or its mechanism wasn't magma safe, so it has melted.
2. A building destroyer found your floodgate and smashed it. This can be avoided (in the future) by using raising drawbridges rather than floodgates.

I don't see that your fortress should get flooded through the level above, since magma, unlike water, isn't pressurized as long as you don't use a screw pump, so the magma shouldn't flow up through the holes (but various critters, like magma crabs, can still enter).
However, dumping water from two levels (or more) above the magma should cause the water and magma to form obsidian which will block any further flow. Dumping the water from a single level above usually just results in steam being generated.

[Dunamisdeos]

Sacrificing any and all elf captives to the volcano via caldera insertion may regenerate your floodgate.

[xandalis]

There are two causes I can think of:
1. The lost floodgate or its mechanism wasn't magma safe, so it has melted.
2. A building destroyer found your floodgate and smashed it. This can be avoided (in the future) by using raising drawbridges rather than floodgates.

I don't see that your fortress should get flooded through the level above, since magma, unlike water, isn't pressurized as long as you don't use a screw pump, so the magma shouldn't flow up through the holes (but various critters, like magma crabs, can still enter).
However, dumping water from two levels (or more) above the magma should cause the water and magma to form obsidian which will block any further flow. Dumping the water from a single level above usually just results in steam being generated.

I've found that when dropping anything into magma, 3+ z-levels is a good idea. Otherwise, magma-mist might cause your dwarves to have lots of !FUN!.

[PatrikLundell]

Anything but water, that is. As far as I've seen, pouring water into magma always results in either steam (which doesn't seem to be harmful) or obsidian.
Also, I've seen magma mist only when the magma was contaminated by e.g. salt, molten stone, or molten metal. Regardless, dumping things other than water into magma from a safe height is a good practice.

[Dunamisdeos]

Nobody ever tries my ideas.

[PatrikLundell]

Nobody ever tries my ideas.

If you were to try them yourself you might be able to figure out why...

[Dunamisdeos]

Nobody ever tries my ideas.

If you were to try them yourself you might be able to figure out why...

I already know my ideas are the best, that's the point.