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Mayor Island

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 37.28°S
  • 176.25°E

  • 355 m
    1165 ft

  • 241021
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Mayor Island.

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

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Mayor Island.

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 2 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

5060 BCE ± 200 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode South end of caldera, Taratimi Bay
5060 BCE ± 200 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 9 Events for Episode 1 at South end of caldera, Taratimi Bay

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Pumice
   - - - -    - - - - Caldera Explosion
5060 BCE ± 200 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

6050 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode SE caldera rim
6050 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at SE caldera rim

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava fountains
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow Entered water.
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Mayor Island.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Mayor Island.

Photo Gallery

The caldera wall seen here is the N and E portion of the youngest Mayor Island caldera that formed about 6,300 years ago. The 2.2 x 2.5 km caldera floor is covered by young lava flows, the latest of which may have been erupted only about 500-1,000 years ago.

Photo by Jim Cole (University of Canterbury).
The caldera wall at the upper right was created during the youngest caldera-forming eruption of Mayor Island about 6,300 years ago. Major explosive eruptions at this time produced more than 1 km3 of tephra that deposited across the Bay of Plenty in the North Island. The 2.2 x 2.5 km wide caldera was subsequently partially filled by lava flows and domes, the latest of which may have been erupted as recently as 500-1,000 years ago.

Photo by Richard Waitt, 1986 (U.S. Geological Survey).
Mayor Island in the Bay of Plenty is seen here from the W. The low, 4-km-wide island, also known as Tuhua, is the summit of the broad 15-km-wide volcano. A 3-km-wide caldera formed during two or three collapse events, the latest of which followed a major explosive eruption about 6,300 years ago. Mayor Island was recognized as an active volcano only within the past two decades. Its latest eruption may have occurred only 500-1,000 years ago.

Photo by Malcolm Buck, 1980.
The eroded flank of Mayor Island (Tuhua) shows a sequence of overlapping columnar-jointed lava flows with black obsidian lavas between them.

Photo by Janine Krippner, 2007.
Mayor Island (Tuhua) is the top of a 700-m-high volcano with a 3-km-wide caldera forming much of the surface. Lava domes and flows have been emplaced across the island, with those seen here interbedded with obsidian layers.

Photo by Janine Krippner, 2007.
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

The following 7 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number Sample Description Lava Source Collection Date
NMNH 116210-1 Obsidian -- --
NMNH 116210-2 Obsidian -- --
NMNH 116210-3 Obsidian -- --
NMNH 116418-5 Welded Tuff -- --
NMNH 116418-6 Welded Tuff -- --
NMNH 116418-7 Welded Tuff -- --
NMNH 116418-8 Welded Tuff -- --
External Sites