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Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) — May 1993


Klyuchevskoy

Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, vol. 18, no. 5 (May 1993)
Managing Editor: Edward Venzke.

Klyuchevskoy (Russia) Seismicity continues; small explosions

Please cite this report as:

Global Volcanism Program, 1993. Report on Klyuchevskoy (Russia) (Venzke, E., ed.). Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network, 18:5. Smithsonian Institution. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.GVP.BGVN199305-300260



Klyuchevskoy

Russia

56.056°N, 160.642°E; summit elev. 4754 m

All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


Seismicity decreased in May . . . , returning to background levels by 21 May. Seismicity rose above background again on 1 June, when a few steam and ash bursts reached 400 m above the crater rim with a plume drifting to the S. A geologist from IVGG climbed to the crater rim that same day and observed a small explosive eruption from a growing cinder cone in the central crater. All volcanic bombs fell back into the crater, and no lava flows were present. Volcanic tremor was continuing as of 10 June, and there have been rare volcanic earthquakes at depths of >=10 km.

Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy (also spelled Kliuchevskoi) is Kamchatka's highest and most active volcano. Since its origin about 6000 years ago, the beautifully symmetrical, 4835-m-high basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of sharp-peaked Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during the past roughly 3000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 m and 3600 m elevation. The morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater has been frequently modified by historical eruptions, which have been recorded since the late-17th century. Historical eruptions have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

Information Contacts: V. Kirianov, IVGG.