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Tau

Ta'u

Shield volcano · United States · 931m

Sheer, forested cliffs form the southern side of Ta'u Island at the eastern end of the Samoan Islands. Partial collapse of the shield volcano formed a large arcuate depression open to the S. The 6 x 10 km Island is the emergent portion of the large Lata shield volcano, which also contains numerous Holocene post-caldera cones at the summit and flanks.
Sheer, forested cliffs form the southern side of Ta'u Island at the eastern end of the Samoan Islands. Partial collapse of the shield volcano formed a large arcuate depression open to the S. The 6 x 10 km Island is the emergent portion of the large Lata shield volcano, which also contains numerous Holocene post-caldera cones at the summit and flanks. · Photo: Photo by John Brooks, 1992 (U. S. National Park Service). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Shield volcano
Country
United States
Region
Southern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Samoan Hotspot Volcano Group
Elevation
931m
Coordinates
-14.230, -169.454
Last eruption
Unknown
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Shield
Major rock type
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Geological summary

The 10-km-wide Ta'u Island, located at the E end of the Samoan islands, is ringed by sea cliffs. It is the emergent portion of the large Lata shield volcano. A major flank collapse event around 22 ka resulted in the steep scarps on the southern side of the island. Two smaller shields were constructed along rift zones at the NW and NE tips of the island. The NW corner of the island has a tuff-cone complex that ejected large dunite xenoliths and coral blocks. Numerous Holocene post-caldera cones occur at the summit and on the flanks.

Eruption history

Detailed timeline

No eruption records available.

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.