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Paka Volcano | John Seach
Kenya
0.919 N, 36.192 E
summit elevation 1697 m
Shield volcano
Paka Volcano is located in the Kenya rift valley, 20 km NNE of Lake Bogoria. The summit of the volcano lies 800 m above the plains in the west.
Evolution of Paka Volcano
Eruptions began with the development of a lava shield 18-25 km diameter. Tuff cones were built on the western side of the shield. Large parts of the volcano were covered by pumice tuffs and intercalated agglomerates, followed by caldera formation. The most recent eruption produced basalt eruptions in the caldera, a flow from a cone low on the SW flanks, and basalt lava flows on both sides volcano of the on a line running NNE through the caldera.
Structure of the Caldera
The caldera is almost circular 1.5 km in diameter. The caldera rim is breached on the northern side. Caldera formation involved subsidence of the floor by 200 m. A 1 km diameter explosion crater is located on the outer SE edge of the caldera.
Geothermal activity is present at the summit caldera and northern flank.
Further reading
Achieng, Joline, et al. "Mapping of hydrothermal minerals related to geothermal activities using remote sensing and GIS: case study of Paka Volcano in Kenyan Rift Valley." International Journal of Geosciences 8.5 (2017): 711-725.
Sceal, J.S.C. and Weaver, S.D., 1971. Trace element data bearing on the origin of salic rocks from the Quaternary volcano Paka, Gregory Rift, Kenya. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 12(3), pp.327-331.
Paka Volcano Eruptions
6050 BC