Taunshits | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Elevation | 2,301 m (7,549 ft)[1] |
Prominence | 1,498 m (4,915 ft)[2] |
Coordinates | 54°31′42″N 159°48′15″E / 54.52833°N 159.80417°E[2] |
Geography | |
Location | Kamchatka, Russia |
Parent range | Eastern Range |
Geology | |
Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Last eruption | 550 BCE[1] |
Taunshits (Russian: Тауншиц) is a stratovolcano located in the eastern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.
It is part of the Kamchatka-Kurile volcanic arc, and volcanism in this arc is caused by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Okhotsk Plate.[3] More specifically, volcanic activity at Taunshits relates to a local system of eastward-trending faults, and some additional volcanoes are controlled by the same fault system,[4] such as Uzon and Kikhpinych[5] which lie both east of Taunshits.[6]
Taunshits is a somma volcano and features lava flows, and its summit is formed by a ridge.[7] The stratovolcano contains a collapse crater formed during the Holocene, as well as a lava dome;[8] a viscous lava flow was erupted in the crater and extends down the western flank.[1] Erosion has formed gullies in the slopes of the volcano.[9] Two satellite vents and several cinder cones are found south of the edifice.[1]
Taunshits has principally erupted andesite[10] and basaltic andesite,[8] and its eruption products are calc-alkaline with moderate potassium content.[11] Volcanic activity at Taunshits involves the formation of lava domes and pyroclastic flows, similar to Bezymyanny or Shiveluch,[10] but widespread andesitic lava effusion has also occurred at the lower levels of the edifice.[12]
Activity at Taunshits commenced late during the Pleistocene,[13][12] less than 39,000 years before present considering that the ignimbrites generated by the Uzon eruption are found beneath lava flows from the volcano.[14] The Pleistocene activity constructed the foot of the volcano, which has tuya characteristics.[15]
Activity decreased during the Holocene.[16] 7,700 years before present, a major eruption ejected about 3 cubic kilometres (0.72 cu mi) of material;[17] it may have been preceded by the sector collapse.[15] 7,000 years before present, a sector collapse occurred, leaving a hummocky landscape around the volcano; no eruption occurred according to some sources,[18] while others believe that one took place.[15] The landslide extends over a length of 17 kilometres (11 mi) and has a volume of less than 1 cubic kilometre (0.24 cu mi);[19] other sources assume a volume of 3 cubic kilometres (0.72 cu mi) and a length of 19 kilometres (12 mi). The landslide occurred on the western slope of the volcano;[15] Taunshits developed on the western slope of Uzon volcano and the resulting westward tilt of its basement may have predisposed the edifice towards collapsing westward.[20] The landslide is responsible for the formation of the collapse crater on the summit.[1]
Lava flows were extruded about 2,500 years before present,[21] and 2,400 years before present the lava dome in the crater was emplaced; this event was accompanied by pyroclastic flows.[15] The last eruption occurred around 550 BCE;[1] As of 2012[update], no seismic station is located at Taunshits, which hampers the monitoring of activity at this volcano.[22] Solfataric activity occurs close to the edifice.[7]