Logo link to homepage

Curacoa

Photo of this volcano
  • Tonga
  • Complex
  • 1979 CE
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 15.62°S
  • 173.67°W

  • -33 m
    -108 ft

  • 243102
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: December 1979 (SEAN 04:12) Citation IconCite this Report

Eruption site between Tafahi and Curacao Reef generates black plume

Further details from Tongan authorities indicated that submarine activity reported by a fisherman occurred 14 May about 13 km N of Tafahi at the N end of the Tonga Islands. [This location is 14 km S of Curacoa Reef]. Thick black "smoke" reached a height of about 100 m, and the eruption may have been rhythmic or spasmodic. At about the same time, a small earthquake was felt on Nuiatoputapu, ~25 km from the eruption site.

Information Contacts: D. Woodhall and R. Richmond, Mineral Resources Dept., Fiji; D. Tuni, Ministry of Natural Resources, Solomon Islands.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Curacoa.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

07/1973 (CSLP 94-73) Steam and boiling water; pumice belt

08/1973 (CSLP 94-73) No evidence of activity during aerial reconnaissance on 29 July

06/1979 (SEAN 04:06) Fisherman sees eruption on 14 May

12/1979 (SEAN 04:12) Eruption site between Tafahi and Curacao Reef generates black plume




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


July 1973 (CSLP 94-73)

Steam and boiling water; pumice belt

Card 1679 (19 July 1973) Steam and boiling water seen from aircraft

"American Airlines Flight No. 202, from Nandi, Fiji, to Pago Pago, reports what appears to be volcanic action in the area 15°20' S, 173°55' W (15.33°S, 173.92°W), approximately 240 km SW of American Samoa, on a direct line from Nandi to Pago Pago. The activity is centered around Curacoa Reef. The aircraft reports that it appears to be a 'gigantic oil spill,' with water boiling up and steam."

Card 1685 (27 July 1973) Pumice belt is 13 km wide and 30-45 cm deep

"The ship Union South Pacific reports a pumice belt 13 km wide running northward from the position 15°56' S, 175°52' W (15.93°S, 175.87°W) for at least 16 km. The measured depth of the pumice was 30-45 cm. The ship entered this belt at about 1100 GMT, 25 July, at 15°55' S, 175°52' W (15.92°S, 175.87°W)."

Information Contacts:
Card 1679 (19 July 1973) Donald Graf, Government Ecologist, Government of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 USA.
Card 1685 (27 July 1973) J.H. Latter, c/o DSIR Geophysics Division, P.O. Box 8005, Wellington, New Zealand.


August 1973 (CSLP 94-73)

No evidence of activity during aerial reconnaissance on 29 July

Card 1694 (13 August 1973) No evidence of activity during aerial reconnaissance on 29 July

"On Sunday, July 29 we flew from Tutuila to the Island of Tafahi in the upper Tongan group and due N to Curacoa Reef and then due W to the Island of Niua Fo`ou and then to Tutuila. No evidence of volcanic activity in the area of Curacoa Reef was sighted and we did not spot the cinder patch in the area of Niua Fo`ou.

"The lack of volcanic activity is not surprising, for this is no doubt an intermittent activity. There are three possibilities for the cinder patch: 1) Cinders absorbed water and sank, 2) dissipated by wave action, and 3) drifted beyond the range of the aircraft we were using. I believe the last one would be the most probable, the second to be possible, and the first to be highly improbable."

Information Contacts: Donald Graf, Government Ecologist, Government of American Samoa, Pago Pago, American Samoa 96799 USA.


June 1979 (SEAN 04:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Fisherman sees eruption on 14 May

A fisherman saw an eruption near Tafahi (14.85°S, 173.75°W) on 14 May, the only day he was in the area.

Information Contacts: R. Richmond, Mineral Resources Dept., Fiji; J. Latter, DSIR, Wellington; S. Tongilava, Lands Survey and Natural Resources, Tonga; R. Jones, Air Tonga.


December 1979 (SEAN 04:12) Citation IconCite this Report

Eruption site between Tafahi and Curacao Reef generates black plume

Further details from Tongan authorities indicated that submarine activity reported by a fisherman occurred 14 May about 13 km N of Tafahi at the N end of the Tonga Islands. [This location is 14 km S of Curacoa Reef]. Thick black "smoke" reached a height of about 100 m, and the eruption may have been rhythmic or spasmodic. At about the same time, a small earthquake was felt on Nuiatoputapu, ~25 km from the eruption site.

Information Contacts: D. Woodhall and R. Richmond, Mineral Resources Dept., Fiji; D. Tuni, Ministry of Natural Resources, Solomon Islands.

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 2 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1979 May 14 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode 13 km north of Tafahi
1979 May 14 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported
 Eruption 13 km N of Tafahi; thick black smoke to 100 m (SEAN).

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at 13 km north of Tafahi

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Volcanic "smoke"
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1979 May 14    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index) VEI 1

1973 Jul 11 - 1973 Jul 16 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode 6.4 km SW of Curacoa Reef
1973 Jul 11 - 1973 Jul 16 Evidence from Observations: Reported
 A submarine eruption first documented by SOFAR signals on 11 July 1973 produced a pumice raft that covered an area of more than 100 km2. Eruptions were observed from the air and from Tafahi Island, 27 km SW. The eruption location differs somewhat from that listed in the Bulletin of Volcanic Eruptions. The pumice raft was encountered by the ship "Union Jack" 13 days later at a point 200 km W of the eruption site.

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at 6.4 km SW of Curacoa Reef

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) After.
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined) Before.
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1973 Jul 11    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index) VEI 3
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Curacoa.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Curacoa.

GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Curacoa in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites