Damavand

Iran

SUMMARY:

Type: composite
Activity: dormant
Last Eruption: <10,000 yrs BP
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 35.95 N
Longitude: 52.11 E

GEOLOGIC HISTORY

The isolated Damavand stratovolcano in the Elburz mountains about 80 km NE of Iran's capital city of Tehran is situated above the south rim of a 9-km-wide caldera. The well-preserved summit crater contains a small lake and young lava flows from the summit and flank vents cover the west side of the volcano. The earliest lava flows are thought to post-date terraces from about 38,500 BP. The absence of Pleistocene glacial erosion suggests that the main stage of edifice construction occurred during the Holocene. The summit crater is about 150 m wide and 20 m deep, with a 40-m diameter frozen lake in the bottom. Although the summit rises to 5,670 m above sea level, there is no permanent glacier because of the dry climate.

Historic Activity: No historical eruptions known.

Recent Activity: Strong summit fumarolic vent with sulfur deposits on surrounding slopes.

Data Sources

  • Global Volcanism Network (V. 18, No. 9 and V. 24, No. 10).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last Update: 2/12/00