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Bagana

Lava cone · Papua New Guinea · 1855m

Plumes rise from a slow-moving andesite lava flow descending the NW flank of Bagana on 26 April 1988. The flow at that time had been moving for about 3 or 4 years and is typical of the lava extrusion that began in 1972. This volcano was largely constructed by an accumulation of viscous andesite lava flows like this one.
Plumes rise from a slow-moving andesite lava flow descending the NW flank of Bagana on 26 April 1988. The flow at that time had been moving for about 3 or 4 years and is typical of the lava extrusion that began in 1972. This volcano was largely constructed by an accumulation of viscous andesite lava flows like this one. · Photo: Photo by Wally Johnson, 1988 (Australia Bureau of Mineral Resources). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Lava cone
Country
Papua New Guinea
Region
Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Bougainville Volcanic Arc
Elevation
1855m
Coordinates
-6.137, 155.196
Last eruption
2026
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Crustal thickness unknown
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

Bagana volcano, in a remote portion of central Bougainville Island, is frequently active. This massive symmetrical cone was largely constructed by an accumulation of viscous andesitic lava flows. The entire edifice could have been constructed in about 300 years at its present rate of lava production. Eruptive activity is characterized by non-explosive effusion of viscous lava that maintains a small lava dome in the summit crater, although occasional explosive activity produces pyroclastic flows. Lava flows with tongue-shaped lobes up to 50 m thick and prominent levees descend the flanks on all sides.

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1842~1858 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 11858~1874 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 21874~1889 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 31889~1905 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21905~1921 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21937~1953 · 7 eruptions · max VEI 41953~1968 · 8 eruptions · max VEI 31968~1984 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 21984~2000 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 218421874192119531984

Detailed timeline

  1. 2000VEI 2Observed
    2000-02-28 – 2026-03-17
  2. 1972VEI 2Observed
    1972-07-02 – 1995-07-02
  3. 1970VEI 2Observed
    1970-05-21 – 1971-08-16
  4. 1968VEI 2Observed
    1968-08-16 – 1968-08-16
  5. 1966VEI 3Observed
    1966-03-20 – 1967-11-30
  6. 1964VEI 2Observed
    1964-04-24 – 1965-07-02
  7. 1962VEI 2Observed
    1962-02-15 – 1963-07-02
  8. 1961VEI 2Observed
    1961-07-26 – Ongoing
  9. 1959VEI 2Observed
    1959-07-02 – 1960-05-16
  10. 1956VEI 2Observed
    1956-07-02 – Ongoing
  11. 1953VEI 3Observed
    1953-06-16 – 1953-09-16
  12. 1952VEI 4Observed
    1952-02-29 – 1952-10-16
  13. 1948VEI 3Observed
    1948-12-01 – 1951-12-01
  14. 1945VEI 2Observed
    1945 – 1947
  15. 1943VEI 1Observed
    1943-04-07 – Ongoing
  16. 1939VEI 2Observed
    1939-01-30 – Ongoing
  17. 1938VEI 3Observed
    1938-05-15 – Ongoing
  18. 1937VEI 3Observed
    1937-09-07 – Ongoing
  19. 1909VEI ?Geological estimate
    1909-07 – Ongoing
  20. 1908VEI 2Observed
    1908-07-15 – Ongoing
  21. 1899VEI ?Observed
    1899 – Ongoing
  22. 1897VEI 2Observed
    1897-05-16 – Ongoing
  23. 1894VEI 2Observed
    1894 – 1895
  24. 1883VEI 3Observed
    1883-12-31 – Ongoing
  25. 1865 (±3 yrs)VEI 2Observed
    1865 – 1883
  26. 1842VEI 1Observed
    1842-03-15 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.