Geologic Background:
Mt. Liamuiga (formerly known as Mt. Misery) is
an andesitic composite cone on the island of St. Kitts,
is an andesitic stratovolcano 10 km in diameter with an
open summit crater about 1 km in diameter, within which
there is a group of active fumeroles and a small seasonal
crater lake. The crater rim is about 1 km above sea level
and is partially breached to the west. Two lava domes are
located on the upper western flank, and intrusion of a
third dome on the SW flank uplifted a Pleistocene
limestone block. It is the youngest of three NW-migrating
volcanic centers on St. Kitts. A large number of
eruptions have produced a complex succession of
pyroclastic deposits. The most recent dated eruptions
occurred about 1620 years BP and produced fine-grained
phreatomagmatic ashes and base surge deposits, but many
undated deposits appear to by younger than this.
Historic Activity:
- Reports of possible historical eruptions in 1692 and
1843 are considered uncertain.
- St. Kitts is a 30 x 10 km island with a population of
44,000, about half of whom live on the slopes of Mt.
Liamuiga.
Recent Activity:
- An earthquake swarm near Mt. Liamuiga began on Oct.
24 and had declined by early Nov. 1988. The swarm which
began on Oct. 24 built up rapidly peaking on Oct. 26 when
186 earthquakes were recorded. Earthquake activity
remains high through early Dec. 1988 and then declines.
Short period of increased earthquake activity in Jan.
1989.
Data Sources:
- Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 13, No. 10 to V. 14,
No. 1).
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