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Maroa

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 38.42°S
  • 176.08°E

  • 897 m
    2,943 ft

  • 241061
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Weekly Report: 28 March-3 April 2001 Citation IconCite this Report

On 30 March the IGNS reported that a moderate-sized hydrothermal explosion occurred in the Alum Lakes area, Wairakei, knocking over trees and destroying vegetation near the crater. Water levels at several of the Alum Lakes had dropped several weeks before the explosion.

Source: GeoNet

Weekly Reports - Index


2001: March


28 March-3 April 2001 Citation IconCite this Report

On 30 March the IGNS reported that a moderate-sized hydrothermal explosion occurred in the Alum Lakes area, Wairakei, knocking over trees and destroying vegetation near the crater. Water levels at several of the Alum Lakes had dropped several weeks before the explosion.

Source: GeoNet


The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Maroa.

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

The Global Volcanism Program is not aware of any Holocene eruptions from Maroa. If this volcano has had large eruptions (VEI >= 4) prior to 12,000 years ago, information might be found on the Maroa page in the LaMEVE (Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions) database, a part of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Maroa.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Maroa.

Photo Gallery

Steam rises from a geothermal plant in the Maroa caldera. The 16 x 25 km caldera formed sometime after 230,000 years ago in the NE corner of the larger Whakamaru caldera. The Maroa caldera was filled by at least 70 rhyolitic lava domes and flows. The latest dated eruption took place about 14,000 years ago at Puketarata. Large hydrothermal explosions have occurred during the Holocene, most recently about 1800 years ago at the time of a major eruption at the neighboring Taupo volcanic centre.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1986.
Ngangiho lava dome is one of at least 70 post-caldera lava domes erupted within the Maroa caldera, which formed sometime after about 230,000 years ago N of the Taupo caldera. The youngest of the post-caldera lava domes is Puketarata, which grew within a rhyolitic tuff ring about 14,000 years ago. The domes were erupted along a general SW-NE trend, parallel to the structural trend of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. No Holocene eruptions have occurred, but vigorous thermal activity continues.

Photo by Ichio Moriya (Kanazawa University).
Siliceous sinter terraces located within the at Orakei Korako thermal areas in New Zealand. The thermal area lies along the Waikato River at an elevation of 260-360 m on the E side of the Maroa volcanic center. Hydrothermal explosions took place at five centers at Orakei Korako prior to the Taupo pumice eruption about 1,800 years ago, depositing explosion breccias that immediately underlie the Taupo Pumice.

Photo by Richard Wysoczanski, 1994 (Smithsonian Institution).
Algae colors the surface of siliceous sinter terraces at the Orakei Korako thermal area. This geothermal area is one of the principal hydrothermal fields of the Taupo Volcanic Zone. It lies on the banks of the Waikato River where the Paeroa Fault divides into smaller branches that intersect the E margin of the Maroa Volcanic Center. Orakei Korako contains sinter sheets covering an area of about 1 km2. Flooding of the river hydroelectric power generation has drowned about 70% of the hot springs.

Photo by Richard Wysoczanski, 1994 (Smithsonian Institution).
GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

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.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 8 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 116566-10 Volcanic Rock WAIRAKEI --
NMNH 116566-11 Volcanic Rock WAIRAKEI --
NMNH 117454-37 Perlite -- --
NMNH 117454-38 Perlite -- --
NMNH 117454-39 Obsidian -- --
NMNH 117454-40 Perlite -- --
NMNH 117454-41 Obsidian -- --
NMNH 117454-42 Pumice -- --
External Sites