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Bamus

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 5.2°S
  • 151.23°E

  • 2248 m
    7375 ft

  • 252110
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number
Most Recent Weekly Report: 12 July-18 July 2006 Citation IconCite this Report

RVO reported that white vapor emissions from Bamus were observed during 1000-1130 on 12 July. The emissions were forceful and slightly gray in color at 1110. The vapor plume drifted SSE.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)


Most Recent Bulletin Report: September 2006 (BGVN 31:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Forceful vapor emission seen on 12 July 2006

According to the Papua New Guinea Department of Mining (DOM), reports coming from Bialla Local Level Government (LLG) indicated that Bamus showed signs of unusual activity. At 1010 on 12 July 2006 observers saw white vapor coming out at the summit. The emission was forceful at about 1110 that day, with a tint of gray color in the emission. The vapor-rich plume blew inland to the SSE. No ashfall was reported.

Officials from Bialla LLG together with a DOM observer witnessed the activity, as did Max Benjamin from Walindi Resort (~ 40-50 km away). Benjamin called the Rabaul Volcano Observatory to report the activity. No satellite-detected thermal anomalies at the volcano were reported by the MODIS website for this time frame.

Information Contacts: Steve Saunders and Herman Patia, Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO), Department of Mining, Private Mail Bag, Port Moresby Post Office, National Capitol District, Papua, New Guinea.

Weekly Reports - Index


2006: July


12 July-18 July 2006 Citation IconCite this Report

RVO reported that white vapor emissions from Bamus were observed during 1000-1130 on 12 July. The emissions were forceful and slightly gray in color at 1110. The vapor plume drifted SSE.

Source: Rabaul Volcano Observatory (RVO)


Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

02/1990 (BGVN 15:02) Strong seismicity along a NNE-trending zone; two magnitude 5.0 events

03/1990 (BGVN 15:03) Strong earthquake swarm, then somewhat decreased seismicity

04/1990 (BGVN 15:04) Vigorous February-early March seismicity declines

05/1990 (BGVN 15:05) Seismicity decreases to near background

09/2006 (BGVN 31:09) Forceful vapor emission seen on 12 July 2006




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


February 1990 (BGVN 15:02) Citation IconCite this Report

Strong seismicity along a NNE-trending zone; two magnitude 5.0 events

"Strong seismicity took place near Bamus during February. The seismicity started on the 2nd when almost 100 events were recorded (maximum ML 5.8 [but see 15:3]). In the following days the activity waned, but began to increase on the 8th. Seismicity peaked between the 10th and the 15th, when ~1,400 events were recorded, including three earthquakes of M 5.8-6.0. Activity declined irregularly during the following 10 days, but began increasing again on the 25th. During the second peak of activity, between the 25th and the 28th, ~880 events were recorded including two earthquakes of M 5.0. Activity declined again at the end of the month.

"Inspections of Bamus were carried out on 13 and 16 February. Rockfalls had occurred at many places on the volcano, apparently associated with the seismicity. Temperatures in solfataric areas on the summit tholoid remained low (<15°C) however. A temporary seismograph network, operated in the area between 13 and 16 February, enabled locations of some earthquakes to be calculated. Epicenters were distributed in a 10-km-long NNE-trending zone that included the S flanks of Bamus. Focal depths ranged between 0 and 23 km. The seismicity was continuing in early March and was being monitored primarily by the permanent seismograph at Ulawun Volcano."

Information Contacts: C. McKee, RVO.


March 1990 (BGVN 15:03) Citation IconCite this Report

Strong earthquake swarm, then somewhat decreased seismicity

"Seismicity. . . continued throughout March, although at a milder level after the 5th. Following intense February seismicity that involved 83 earthquakes of ML >=4.0, eight of ML >=5.0, and one of ML >=6.0, activity was strong again 3-5 March. More than 720 earthquakes (two of ML = 5.0-5.1 and 10 of ML >=4.5) were recorded before seismicity decreased to 20-50 events/day of small-moderate magnitude. The energy released by the February-March seismicity was relatively large, 1.22 x 1021 ergs (figure 1).

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Daily number of earthquakes (bars) and cumulative energy release (circles) near Bamus, February-March 1990. Magnitudes (ML) of larger events are given over earthquake count bars. Courtesy of RVO.

"An inspection of the Bamus area was carried out on 6 March. Rockfalls had occurred at many places on the volcano and in the limestone ranges to the S. However, no change was observed in the temperatures of the solfataric areas on the summit tholoid (which remained at <=15°C).

"Temporary seismograph networks were operated in the area 13-16 February and 6-8 March. Earthquake locations defined a broad 15-km-long seismic zone trending NNE that extended from the Nakanai Mountains to the S flank of Bamus (figure 2). Within this zone was a concentration of locations trending ENE near the S foot of Bamus. Earthquake focal depths ranged from 0 to 23 km.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Epicenters of seismic events at Bamus, 13-16 February and 6-8 March 1990. Courtesy of RVO.

"Cross-sections . . . (figure 3) suggest that the main cluster of earthquakes defines an ENE-trending near-vertical fault. This orientation is consistent with the structural pattern evident in the Miocene limestone immediately S of, and underlying, Bamus.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Focal depths of seismic events near Bamus during 13-16 February and 6-8 March 1990 projected along lines A-B (top) and A-C (bottom). Horizontal scale (and thus vertical exaggeration) changes from A-B to A-C. Courtesy of RVO.

"The cause of this seismicity remains uncertain. Its ongoing fluctuating character, and the fact that its swarms include but do not occur in response to larger earthquakes, could be consistent with magmatic injection. On the other hand, ML 5-6 earthquakes are uncommon for magmatic events. Analysis of the magnitude/frequency distribution of the earthquakes shows that the 'b' value is ~1, which is indicative of tectonic earthquake sequences. The seismicity was continuing in early April and was being monitored primarily by the permananent seismograph at Ulawun."

Information Contacts: I. Itikarai, P. de Saint-Ours, and C. McKee, RVO.


April 1990 (BGVN 15:04) Citation IconCite this Report

Vigorous February-early March seismicity declines

"Seismic activity . . . decreased markedly in April. Following a period of intense activity in early March, the frequency of occurrence and magnitude of earthquakes decreased gradually, with only 27 events of ML >=3 recorded in April (from a total of 200 events picked up by the Ulawun station, 25 km away). Event frequency ranged between 2 and 7/day. Two isolated earthquakes of ML 5.6 and 4.2 occurred on the 26th."

Information Contacts: P. de Saint-Ours, and C. McKee, RVO.


May 1990 (BGVN 15:05) Citation IconCite this Report

Seismicity decreases to near background

"Seismic activity from near the southern foot of Bamus virtually died out in May. There were only 97 events recorded, of which 15 were of ML >=3 (largest event, ML 3.8)."

Information Contacts: P. de Saint-Ours and C. McKee, RVO.


September 2006 (BGVN 31:09) Citation IconCite this Report

Forceful vapor emission seen on 12 July 2006

According to the Papua New Guinea Department of Mining (DOM), reports coming from Bialla Local Level Government (LLG) indicated that Bamus showed signs of unusual activity. At 1010 on 12 July 2006 observers saw white vapor coming out at the summit. The emission was forceful at about 1110 that day, with a tint of gray color in the emission. The vapor-rich plume blew inland to the SSE. No ashfall was reported.

Officials from Bialla LLG together with a DOM observer witnessed the activity, as did Max Benjamin from Walindi Resort (~ 40-50 km away). Benjamin called the Rabaul Volcano Observatory to report the activity. No satellite-detected thermal anomalies at the volcano were reported by the MODIS website for this time frame.

Information Contacts: Steve Saunders and Herman Patia, Rabaul Volcanological Observatory (RVO), Department of Mining, Private Mail Bag, Port Moresby Post Office, National Capitol District, Papua, New Guinea.

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 4 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1886 ± 8 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1886 ± 8 years - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava dome Uncertain
1886 ± 8 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1650 ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1650 ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow

0270 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
0270 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow

0350 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
0350 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Bamus.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Bamus.

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

There are no samples for Bamus in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites