Bam

SUMMARY

Type: composite
Activity: active
Last Eruption: 1960
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ?
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 3.60 S
Longitude: 144.85 E

Geologic Background:

The small 2.4 x 1.6 km island of Bam is the summit of a mostly submerged volcano that is one of the more active in Papua New Guinea. A steep-walled summit crater that is 300 m wide and 180 m deep is the source of Bam's recent eruptions, which have kept the upper half of the cone sparsely vegetated. A NE-trending landslide scarp extends across the upper part of the volcano from the SW coast; the younger cone has formed inside this scarp on the east side of the island. A lava platform on the north flank supports the small island's only villages.

Historic Activity:

• Historical eruptions, recorded since 1872, have been restricted to small-to-moderate explosive activity from the summit crater. There have been at least 16 eruptions since 1872 with the most recent occurring in 1960.

Recent Activity:

• None

Data Sources

• Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 6, No. 3)
  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Link to Global Volcanism Network's Bam Information
• Link to VolcanoWorld's Bam Info

Last Update: 12/15/00