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Tanga

No photo available for this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 3.5°S
  • 153.22°E

  • 472 m
    1549 ft

  • 254801
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: October 1999 (BGVN 24:10) Citation IconCite this Report

Possible uplift or growth of Lif Island over two decades

During 1999 concerned local residents reported two decades of 'unusual growth' of Lif Island, the western island on the rim of the partially submerged ~5-km-diameter caldera of Tanga volcano. An inspection by scientists from the Rabaul Volcano Observatory showed no obvious signs of uplift, but apical spits of raised reef estimated as being up to 1 m above sea level in Wallace and others (1983), were estimated to be more than 2 m high when visited (although it is not certain the same features are being described). Numerous coastal warm springs are present on all three islands marking the submerged caldera rim. A GPS network has been installed to monitor the caldera.

Elderly residents also graphically described the sudden appearance of two islands in the middle of the caldera about 60 years ago (pre-World War II), which they claimed have subsequently grown in size. These islands consist of Bitlik, 300 m in diameter and 35 m high, and Bitbok, 600 m long and 90 m high; both are made up of well-jointed Q-trachyte (Johnson and others, 1976) with dates of 1.08-1.14 m.y. (Wallace and others, 1983). The initial uplift was said to have been accompanied by "big white smoke" and "a big wave people had to run from." Although a British Admiralty Chart of 1886 (no. 2766) shows that the two islands were then in existence and of a similar size, these stories, of the local oral history, may relate to an earlier event. The RVO staff extends their thanks to Deborah Hall (The British Library, Map Library, London) and Brian D. Thynne (National Maritime Museum, London) for their assistance.

References. Johnson, R.W., Wallace, D.A., and Ellis, D.J., 1976, Feldspathoid-bearing potassic rocks and associated types from volcanic islands off the coast of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea: a preliminary account of geology and petrology, in Johnson, R.W. (editor): Volcanism in Australasia, 297-316.

Licence, P.S., Terrill, J.E., and Fergusson, L.J., 1987, Epithermal gold mineralisation, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea: Proceedings of the Conference, Pacific Rim Congress 87.

Wallace, D.A., Johnson, R.W., Chappell, B.W., Arculus, R.J., Perfit, M.R., and Crick, I.H., 1983, Cainozoic volcanism of the Tabar, Lihir, Tanga, and Feni Islands, Papua New Guinea: geology, whole-rock analysis, and rock-forming mineral compositions: B.M.R., Aust. Report 243.

Information Contacts: Ima Itikarai and Steve Saunders, Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO), P.O. Box 386, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

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

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.

10/1999 (BGVN 24:10) Possible uplift or growth of Lif Island over two decades




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


October 1999 (BGVN 24:10) Citation IconCite this Report

Possible uplift or growth of Lif Island over two decades

During 1999 concerned local residents reported two decades of 'unusual growth' of Lif Island, the western island on the rim of the partially submerged ~5-km-diameter caldera of Tanga volcano. An inspection by scientists from the Rabaul Volcano Observatory showed no obvious signs of uplift, but apical spits of raised reef estimated as being up to 1 m above sea level in Wallace and others (1983), were estimated to be more than 2 m high when visited (although it is not certain the same features are being described). Numerous coastal warm springs are present on all three islands marking the submerged caldera rim. A GPS network has been installed to monitor the caldera.

Elderly residents also graphically described the sudden appearance of two islands in the middle of the caldera about 60 years ago (pre-World War II), which they claimed have subsequently grown in size. These islands consist of Bitlik, 300 m in diameter and 35 m high, and Bitbok, 600 m long and 90 m high; both are made up of well-jointed Q-trachyte (Johnson and others, 1976) with dates of 1.08-1.14 m.y. (Wallace and others, 1983). The initial uplift was said to have been accompanied by "big white smoke" and "a big wave people had to run from." Although a British Admiralty Chart of 1886 (no. 2766) shows that the two islands were then in existence and of a similar size, these stories, of the local oral history, may relate to an earlier event. The RVO staff extends their thanks to Deborah Hall (The British Library, Map Library, London) and Brian D. Thynne (National Maritime Museum, London) for their assistance.

References. Johnson, R.W., Wallace, D.A., and Ellis, D.J., 1976, Feldspathoid-bearing potassic rocks and associated types from volcanic islands off the coast of New Ireland, Papua New Guinea: a preliminary account of geology and petrology, in Johnson, R.W. (editor): Volcanism in Australasia, 297-316.

Licence, P.S., Terrill, J.E., and Fergusson, L.J., 1987, Epithermal gold mineralisation, Ambitle Island, Papua New Guinea: Proceedings of the Conference, Pacific Rim Congress 87.

Wallace, D.A., Johnson, R.W., Chappell, B.W., Arculus, R.J., Perfit, M.R., and Crick, I.H., 1983, Cainozoic volcanism of the Tabar, Lihir, Tanga, and Feni Islands, Papua New Guinea: geology, whole-rock analysis, and rock-forming mineral compositions: B.M.R., Aust. Report 243.

Information Contacts: Ima Itikarai and Steve Saunders, Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO), P.O. Box 386, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea.

The Global Volcanism Program has no synonyms or subfeatures listed for Tanga.

Eruptive History

The Global Volcanism Program is not aware of any Holocene eruptions from Tanga. If this volcano has had large eruptions (VEI >= 4) prior to 10,000 years ago, information might be found on the Tanga page in the LaMEVE (Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions) database, a part of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Tanga.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Tanga.

Photo Gallery

The Global Volcanism Program has no photographs available for Tanga.

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 Tanga in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites