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Dofan Volcano | John Seach
Ethiopia
9.35 N, 40.13 E
summit elevation 1151 m
Stratovolcano
Dofan (Dofen) volcano is located in central Ethiopia, 150 km NE of Addis Ababa.
Dofan Volcano, located in the Ethiopian volcanic province, is part of the Northernmost Main Ethiopian Rift (NMER). Its volcanic activity is primarily characterized by:
Composition: The volcanic rocks are mostly mildly alkaline to alkaline basalts. These rocks are typically vesicular, aphanitic, and olivine-phyric.
Age and Geology: Dofan basalts have K-Ar ages ranging from 3.0 to 0.2 million years, indicating Quaternary volcanic activity. They are interspersed with scoria cones and are typically associated with rift-floor processes.
Formation and Activity: The region's volcanic activity is closely tied to the rifting dynamics of the Main Ethiopian Rift. The basalts are the product of fissural eruptions, and the Dofan area has been part of episodic magmatic events throughout its history.
This volcanic system is significant within the rift's magmatic processes, contributing to our understanding of the interaction between mantle dynamics and surface volcanism in rift settings.
2025 activity
A possible small phreatic eruption began at Dofan volcano on 3 January 2025, likely related to the seismic swarm which has been occurring between Fentale and Dofan volcano in December 2024 to January 2025.
Further reading
Chernet, T., 2005, April. Geological and hydrothermal alteration mapping of the Dofen geothermal prospect and adjacent western escarpment (Ethiopia). In Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress, Antalya, Turkey (pp. 24-29).
Dofan Volcano Eruptions
2025 (possible small phreatic eruption).