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Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) — November 1985


Langila

Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, vol. 10, no. 11 (November 1985)
Managing Editor: Lindsay McClelland.

Langila (Papua New Guinea) Two small explosions

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1985. Report on Langila (Papua New Guinea) (McClelland, L., ed.). Scientific Event Alert Network Bulletin, 10:11. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.SEAN198511-252010



Langila

Papua New Guinea

5.525°S, 148.42°E; summit elev. 1330 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


"Activity was at a low level during November with occasional reports of grey ash clouds from Crater 2. A column of dark cloud was reported rising to about 200-300 m above the summit on the 30th. Two audible explosions (heard at the observation post, 10 km NW of the crater) were reported on the 17th and 30th. Crater 3 remained inactive throughout the month. Seismic activity remained at a low level throughout the month with only 2 explosion shocks recorded, on the 17th and the 30th."

Geological Summary. Langila, one of the most active volcanoes of New Britain, consists of a group of four small overlapping composite basaltic-andesitic cones on the lower E flank of the extinct Talawe volcano in the Cape Gloucester area of NW New Britain. A rectangular, 2.5-km-long crater is breached widely to the SE; Langila was constructed NE of the breached crater of Talawe. An extensive lava field reaches the coast on the N and NE sides of Langila. Frequent mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, sometimes accompanied by lava flows, have been recorded since the 19th century from three active craters at the summit. The youngest and smallest crater (no. 3 crater) was formed in 1960 and has a diameter of 150 m.

Information Contacts: B. Talai, RVO.