Niigata-Yakeyama (Japan)

Status Unknown Eruption 1998 2400m
Lava dome (Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km))

Niigata-Yakeyama, one of several Japanese volcanoes named Yakeyama ("Burning Mountain"), is a very young andesitic-to-dacitic lava dome in Niigata prefecture in central Honshu, near the Japan Sea. The small volcano rises to 2400 m and was constructed on a base of Tertiary mountains 2000 m high beginning about 3100 years ago. Three major magmatic eruptions took place in historical time, producing pyroclastic flows and surges and lava flows that traveled mainly down the Hayakawa river valley to the north and NW. The first of these eruptions took place about 1000 years ago (in 887 and possibly 989 CE) and produced the Hayakawa pyroclastic flow, which traveled about 20 km to reach the Japan Sea, and the massive Mae-yama lava flow, which traveled about 6.5 km down the Hayakawa river valley. The summit lava dome was emplaced during the 1361 eruption, and the last magmatic eruption took place in 1773 CE. Eruptive activity since 1773 has consisted of relatively minor phreatic explosions from several radial fissures and explosion craters that cut the summit and flanks of the dome.

Niigata-Yake-yama, the flat-topped peak in the center of the photo, is one of several Japanese volcanoes named Yake-yama ("Burning Mountain"). The andesitic lava dome, seen here from the north, is located in Niigata Prefecture, near the Japan Sea. Yake-yama is a very young volcano that was constructed beginning only 3000-3500 years ago. Several explosion craters and fissures, which were formed during historical eruptions that date back to the 9th century, cut the summit and flanks of the dome.

Photo by Yukio Hayakawa, 1990 (Gunma University).

Last updated 2019-08-04 00:28:02