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Matthew Island and Hunter Island

Matthew Island

Stratovolcano · France - claimed by Vanuatu · 177m

Matthew Island is composed of two cones separated by a narrow isthmus. Only the triangular eastern portion of the small, 0.6 x 1.2 km wide island existed prior to the 1940s, after which eruptions began to build the larger western segment (part of which is seen in the photo). The western cone consists primarily of lava flows and contains a crater that is breached to the NW.
Matthew Island is composed of two cones separated by a narrow isthmus. Only the triangular eastern portion of the small, 0.6 x 1.2 km wide island existed prior to the 1940s, after which eruptions began to build the larger western segment (part of which is seen in the photo). The western cone consists primarily of lava flows and contains a crater that is breached to the NW. · Photo: Photo by Royal New Zealand Air Force, 1977. · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
France - claimed by Vanuatu
Region
Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions / Vanuatu Volcanic Arc
Elevation
177m
Coordinates
-22.330, 171.320
Last eruption
1956
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Crustal thickness unknown
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

Matthew Island is composed of two low andesitic-to-dacitic cones separated by a narrow isthmus. The Matthew name originates from an English mariner who sighted the island in 1788. Only the triangular eastern portion of the 0.6 x 1.2 km island was present prior to the 1940s, when construction of the larger western segment began; it consists primarily of lava flows. The western cone contains a crater that is breached to the NW and is filled by a lava flow whose terminus forms the NW coast.

From Wikipedia

Matthew Island and Hunter Island are two uninhabited volcanic islands in the South Pacific, 300 kilometres (190 mi) east of New Caledonia and south-east of Vanuatu. The pair, which lie 70 km (43 mi) apart, are claimed by Vanuatu as part of Tafea Province, and considered by the people of Aneityum part of their custom ownership, but also claimed by France as part of New Caledonia.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1828~1843 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1946~1961 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21961~1976 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 118281858190219321961

Detailed timeline

  1. 1976VEI 1Geological estimate
    1976-11-27 – Ongoing
  2. 1966VEI ?Geological estimate
    1966-08-16 – Ongoing
  3. 1963VEI 0Observed
    1963-09-11 – 1964-07-02
    Norfolk Island Ridge
  4. 1956 (±2 yrs)VEI 0Observed
    1956-07-02 – Ongoing
    West-Matthew
  5. 1954VEI 2Observed
    1954-10-16 – Ongoing
    West-Matthew (October 1954, not 1953)
  6. 1949VEI 2Observed
    1949 – Ongoing
    West-Matthew
  7. 1828VEI ?Geological estimate
    1828-01 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.