Nyiragongo

Congo

SUMMARY:

Type: composite with caldera
Activity: active
Last Eruption: 1996 AD
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 1.48 S
Longitude: 29.23 E

GEOLOGIC HISTORY

 

Historic Activity: It has erupted about 15 times since 1884. A previous lava lake in the deep summit crater of Nyiragongo, active intermittently since 1894, drained suddenly on Jan. 10, 1977. Extremely fluid lava escaped from flank fissures and moved downslope at up to 60 km/hour, killing about 70 people. Lava lake activity resumed in June 1982 with phreatic explosions and lava fountaining, but had ceased by early 1983.

Recent Activity:

  • After approximately 11 years of quiet, eruptive activity from the summit crater began again on June 23, 1994, feeding a new lava lake. Activity included a large active lava fountain roughly in the center of the crater, with a large flat spatter cone with at least 3 large openings in the walls and lava flows radiating from the openings. Intermittent lava lake activity continued through the end of the year.
  • High levels of seismicity were centered NE of Nyiragongo during last half of Sept. 1995. Eruptive activity continued through at least August 1995 and maybe till March 1996.

Data Sources

  • Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin ( V. 2, No. 1 to V. 7, No. 10)
  • Global Volcanism Network (V. 19, No. 6 to V. 26, No. 3).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last Update: 1/2/02