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Hunter Island

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 22.4°S
  • 172.05°E

  • 297 m
    974 ft

  • 258020
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: March 1983 (SEAN 08:03) Citation IconCite this Report

Apparent eruption later discovered to be fires caused by human activity

A Vanuatu Government team visited Hunter Island on 9 March at 1200. White vapor tinged with gray ash billowed to an altitude of approximately 900 m from the main active crater on the W side, and drifted to the W and NW. Fumaroles and two small superimposed craters on the E side were also fuming. Vegetation on the lower slopes of the E coast was burning, which suggested that the eruption had begun recently. By 2200, the fires had reached the central spine of the island and could be clearly seen from the anchorage on the NW coast.

[Later information revealed that human activity had started fires and no eruption had taken place.]

Further Reference. Maillet, P., Monzier, M., and Lefevre, C., 1987, Petrology of Matthew and Hunter volcanoes, South New Hebrides Island Arc (Southwest Pacific): JVGR, v. 30, p. 1-29.

Information Contacts: A. Macfarlane, Dept. of Geology, Mines, and Rural Water Supplies, Vanuatu.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Hunter Island.

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.

03/1983 (SEAN 08:03) Apparent eruption later discovered to be fires caused by human activity




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


March 1983 (SEAN 08:03) Citation IconCite this Report

Apparent eruption later discovered to be fires caused by human activity

A Vanuatu Government team visited Hunter Island on 9 March at 1200. White vapor tinged with gray ash billowed to an altitude of approximately 900 m from the main active crater on the W side, and drifted to the W and NW. Fumaroles and two small superimposed craters on the E side were also fuming. Vegetation on the lower slopes of the E coast was burning, which suggested that the eruption had begun recently. By 2200, the fires had reached the central spine of the island and could be clearly seen from the anchorage on the NW coast.

[Later information revealed that human activity had started fires and no eruption had taken place.]

Further Reference. Maillet, P., Monzier, M., and Lefevre, C., 1987, Petrology of Matthew and Hunter volcanoes, South New Hebrides Island Arc (Southwest Pacific): JVGR, v. 30, p. 1-29.

Information Contacts: A. Macfarlane, Dept. of Geology, Mines, and Rural Water Supplies, Vanuatu.

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 4 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1983 Mar 9 (in or before) ] Discredited Eruption

A government team visited the island on 9 March 1983 and observed vapor and ash cloud rising to 900 m. Vegetation on the lower slopes was burning, suggesting an eruption had begun recently (SEAN). This was actually a vegetation fire, not an eruption (Sinton, 1984, p.c.).

1903 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode Northern tip of island
1903 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported
 An eruption in 1903 was listed by Williams and Warden (1964) with no additional details. Maillet et al. (1986) indicated that the last eruption of Hunter Island apparently took place at the very northern tip of the island and produced a narrow lava flow along a sub-vertical fracture. Solfatara fields are abundant at the northern end of the island.

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Northern tip of island

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1903    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index) VEI 0

1895 Nov 24 Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode East side
1895 Nov 24 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported
 An eruption similar to 1841 took place from two craters on the east side (Sapper, 1917). Phillips (1898) cites a ship captain report of large streams of lava pouring down from two craters on the east side.

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at East side

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

[ 1892 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1892 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

1841 Mar 15 Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1841 Mar 15 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported
 White smoke and possible incandescent ejecta was reported on 15 March 1841 (Sapper 1917).

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

1835 Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1835 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported
 Eruption of flames and lava was reported in 1835 (Sapper, 1917).

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
   - - - -    - - - - Flames

[ 1797 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1797 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Hunter Island.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Hunter Island.

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

External Sites