Kirishima

Japan - Kyusu

SUMMARY:

Type: shield
Activity: active
Last Eruption: 1981 AD
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 31.93 N
Longitude: 130.87 E

GEOLOGIC HISTORY

Kirishima is a large group of more than 20 Quaternary volcanoes located north of Kagoshima Bay. The late-Pleistocene to Holocene volcano group consists of stratovolcanoes, pyroclastic cones, maars, and underlying shield volcanoes located over an area of 20 x 30 km. The larger stratovolcanoes are scattered throughout the field, with the centrally located, 1700-m-high Karakuni-dake being the highest. Onami-ike and Mi-ike, the two largest maars, are located SW of Karakuni-dake and at its far eastern end, respectively. Holocene eruptions have been concentrated along an E-W line of vents from Mi-ike to Ohachi, and at Shinmoe-dake to the NE.

Historic Activity:

  • Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded since the 8th century.
  • Five eruptions have occurred at Kirishima's Shinmoe-dake cone in historic time, most recently in 1959.
  • The strongest, in 1716-1717, ejected a large quantity of tephra and voluminous pyroclastic flows, illing 6 people.
  • Shinome-dake has also produced several sulfur flows, up to 50 m long, most recently in 1979 and 1981.
  • Numerous small exposions occurred at Ohachi cone during 1880-1923.

Recent Activity:

  • Increased seismicity began on Nov. 13, 1991 beneath Shinmoe-dake cone. Steam emission was first reported on Nov. 24, 1991. Tremor and steam emissions were continuing as of early May 1992.
  • Earthquake swarm from Nov. 6 to Nov. 11 1999.

Data Sources

  • Global Volcanism Network (V. 16, No. 11 to V. 25, No. 2).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last Update: 10/29/00