Raususan [Mendeleev]

Photo of this volcano
Country Japan - administered by Russia
Volcanic Region Kuril Volcanic Arc
Landform | Volc Type Composite | Stratovolcano
Last Known Eruption 1880 CE
Coordinates 43.979°N, 145.733°E
Elevation 882 m (2,894 ft)
Volcano Number 290020
Google Earth icon Google Earth Placemark with Features
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Latest Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports available for Raususan [Mendeleev].

Latest Bulletin Report

Bulletin Report for January 1988 (SEAN 13:01) Citation IconCite this Report

Earthquake swarm associated with geothermal production

A summit earthquake swarm with focal depths of <10 km was recorded 4-5 May 1987 (table 9-1). Epicenters were <15 km from Yuzhno-Kurilsk seismic station (12 km from the volcano). Repeated measurements 25-28 September in a borehole 10 km from the summit registered temperatures 4°C higher than in 1986 at a depth of 74 m. Temperatures increased 4-5°C in some hot springs on the E and S flanks. Fumaroles in the same area showed essentially no variation from 1986; vapor emitted under pressure had temperatures of 97-107°C. . . . the earthquakes seemed to be caused by exploitation of geothermal wells, used for heat production.

Information Contacts: G. Steinberg, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Raususan [Mendeleev].

Bulletin Reports

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.

Index with Summary Sentence

04/1987 (SEAN 12:04) Intense fumarolic and solfataric activity

01/1988 (SEAN 13:01) Earthquake swarm associated with geothermal production

Report Narratives

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


April 1987 (SEAN 12:04) Citation IconCite this Report

Intense fumarolic and solfataric activity

In the explosive crater area on the volcano's E slope intense fumarolic and solfataric activity was occurring during a 6 November aerial survey.

Information Contacts: G. Steinberg and B. Piskunov, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.


January 1988 (SEAN 13:01) Citation IconCite this Report

Earthquake swarm associated with geothermal production

A summit earthquake swarm with focal depths of <10 km was recorded 4-5 May 1987 (table 9-1). Epicenters were <15 km from Yuzhno-Kurilsk seismic station (12 km from the volcano). Repeated measurements 25-28 September in a borehole 10 km from the summit registered temperatures 4°C higher than in 1986 at a depth of 74 m. Temperatures increased 4-5°C in some hot springs on the E and S flanks. Fumaroles in the same area showed essentially no variation from 1986; vapor emitted under pressure had temperatures of 97-107°C. . . . the earthquakes seemed to be caused by exploitation of geothermal wells, used for heat production.

Information Contacts: G. Steinberg, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk.

General Information

Eruptive History

There is data available for 2 confirmed eruptive periods.

[ 1900 Jul 2 ± 182 days ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)
1900 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
1900    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1880 Jul 2 ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) NE solfatara field
1880 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at NE solfatara field

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity weak or small
1880    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

2270 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)  

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) West side of central cone, KnIV-10 tephra
2270 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at West side of central cone, KnIV-10 tephra

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Pyroclastic flow
   - - - -    - - - - Lava dome
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Edifice Destroyed Collapse/avalanche

Synonyms and Subfeatures

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.

Photo Gallery

Thumbnail Photo (see caption)The major eruption of Raususan about 4,200 years ago was similar in several ways to the 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption. Flank collapse produced a debris avalanche and left a crater that opens to the west. Pyroclastic flows accompanied growth of a lava dome in the new crater. This dacite dome (right) forms the high point. Several geothermal areas occur on the flanks of the central cone.

Photo by Yuri Doubik (Institute of Volcanology, Petropavlovsk).
Thumbnail Photo (see caption)Brightly-colored deposits of elemental sulfur surround fumarolic vents on the NW side of the central cone of Mendeleev volcano, in the southern Kuril Islands. These fumaroles are located within several craters where the central cone meets the inner caldera wall. Hot springs occur on the NE flank and along the NE coast, where the Goriachi-Pliazh geothermal field is located.

Photo by Yuri Doubik (Institute of Volcanology, Petropavlovsk).
Thumbnail Photo (see caption)Raususan contains two nested calderas, the larger is 6-7 km in diameter and the smaller is 3-3.5 km in diameter. A cone that formed inside the younger caldera is seen here from the E, near the settlement of Yuzhno-Kurilsk. A phreatic explosion was recorded in 1880. The Goryachy Plyazh geothermal field is located outside the caldera along the Pacific coast.

Photo by Oleg Volynets (Institute of Volcanology, Petropavlovsk).
Thumbnail Photo (see caption)Raususan on the southern part of Kunashir Island towers above the village of Yuzhno-Kurilsk. Steam plumes are visible rising from geothermal wells on the NW flanks, one of several geothermal fields across the volcano. The edifice seen in this view is within a 6-7 km wide caldera.

Photo by Alexander Rybin, 2001 (Institute of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Yuzhno-Sakhalin).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites