Soviet press sources described a renewed eruption at Kliuchevskoi. After a series of volcanic earthquakes, ash was ejected from the summit in bursts that rose as much as 5 km. Ashfall covered an area of more than 6,000 km². On 6 March, a fissure more than 1 km long opened on the NE flank and began to emit gases. The next day, lava extrusion from the fissure started at 1.5 km altitude (the summit is at 4,850 m above sea level). Four small cones, up to 20 m high, formed along the fissure. As of 14 March, lava had flowed 1 km downslope and ash emission from the summit crater was continuing. IVP personnel were investigating the activity at the eruption site.

Further Reference. Stepanov, V.V., and Chirkov, A.M., 1981, Activity of the upper crater of Kliuchevskoi volcano in January-March 1980: Volcanology and Seismology, no. 1, p. 103-106.

Geological Summary. Klyuchevskoy is the highest and most active volcano on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Since its origin about 6,000 years ago, this symmetrical, basaltic stratovolcano has produced frequent moderate-volume explosive and effusive eruptions without major periods of inactivity. It rises above a saddle NE of Kamen volcano and lies SE of the broad Ushkovsky massif. More than 100 flank eruptions have occurred during approximately the past 3,000 years, with most lateral craters and cones occurring along radial fissures between the unconfined NE-to-SE flanks of the conical volcano between 500 and 3,600 m elevation. Eruptions recorded since the late 17th century have resulted in frequent changes to the morphology of the 700-m-wide summit crater. These eruptions over the past 400 years have originated primarily from the summit crater, but have also included numerous major explosive and effusive eruptions from flank craters.

Information Contacts: Tass; V. Khudyakov; 14 March 1980 edition of "Sovetskaya Rossiya", Moscow.