Activity at Mt. St. Helens remained at background levels in December. For the 7th consecutive month, only minor seismicity, geodetic changes, and SO₂ emissions were detected. Displacement rates on the dome were approximately 2 mm/day, while the continuously recording strainmeter just N of the May-June 1985 graben showed step-like extension across cracks averaging 0.2 mm/day. Seismicity consisted mostly of surface events (primarily rockfalls). SO₂ emissions continued to be low and variable.

Further References. Keller, S.A.H. (ed.), 1986, Mount St. Helens, Five Years Later: Proceedings of a Symposium at Eastern Washington University May 16-18, 1985; Eastern Washington University Press, 448 p. (47 papers).

Manson, C.J., Messick, C.H., and Sinnott, G.M., 1987, Mount St. Helens-A Bibliography of Geoscience Literature, 1882-1986: USGS Open-File Report 87-292 (1600+ references).

Special Section: Mount St. Helens: JGR, 1987, v. 92, no. B10, p. 10,149-10,334 (12 papers).

Geological Summary. Prior to 1980, Mount St. Helens was a conical volcano sometimes known as the Fujisan of America. During the 1980 eruption the upper 400 m of the summit was removed by slope failure, leaving a 2 x 3.5 km breached crater now partially filled by a lava dome. There have been nine major eruptive periods beginning about 40-50,000 years ago, and it has been the most active volcano in the Cascade Range during the Holocene. Prior to 2,200 years ago, tephra, lava domes, and pyroclastic flows were erupted, forming the older edifice, but few lava flows extended beyond the base of the volcano. The modern edifice consists of basaltic as well as andesitic and dacitic products from summit and flank vents. Eruptions in the 19th century originated from the Goat Rocks area on the N flank, and were witnessed by early settlers.

Information Contacts: D. Swanson, S. Brantley, USGS CVO, Vancouver, WA; C. Jonientz-Trisler, University of Washington.