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Tolbachik Volcano - John Seach
Kamchatka, Russia
55.830 N, 160.330 E
summit elevation 3682 m
Shield volcano
Tolbachik volcano is located in central Kamchatka, 23 km SW of Bezimianny volcano. The volcano is composed of two overlapping cones, Ostry Tolbachik and Plosky Tolbachik. Geologic and historic data show that large fissure
eruptions with effusion of several cubic km of basaltic lava occur at the volcano once per century.
Tolbachik lava field stretches 40 km SE of Tolbachik volcano and a further 14 km NE of the volcano.
1975-76 Eruption
The large 1975-1976 fissure eruption commenced on July 6, 1975, 18 km southwest
of Plosky Tolbachik volcano. It was the largest historical basaltic eruption in Kamchatka. Eruption vents were located along a 28-km-long fissure. From July 6 to September 15, 1975, the eruption occurred from the North vents. The activity consisted of the formation of a chain of cones up to 330 m high, effusion of lava and collapse of Plosky Tolbachik caldera. From September 17, 1975, to December 10, 1976, the eruption continued at South vent, 10 km southwest of the North vents. From South vent lava flows covered an area of about 35 sq km.
The 1975-76 eruption was accompanied by intense volcanic tremor. The tremor correlated with the stages of eruption. An increase in volcanic tremor occurred along with cone deformation and preceded the lava flow.
The volcano contains a series of magma chambers containing chemically different lava. These can erupt in succession during a large eruption.
Tolbachik Volcano Eruptions
1975-76, 1973-74, 1970, 1968-69, 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964, 1962-63, 1961-62, 1959-60, 1958, 1956-57, 1955, 1954, 1947, 1940-41, 1939, 1936-37, 1931-32, 1904, 1793, 1790, 1789, 1788, 1769, 1740, 1739, 1699, 1550?, 1050?, 1000?, 950?, 900?, 550?, 450?, 400?, 350?, 250?, 150?, 50?, 100 BC?, 200 BC?, 700 BC?, 750 BC?, 800 BC?, 1650 BC?, 1750 BC?, 2050 BC?, 4550 BC?, 5450 BC?, 5600 BC?, 6050 BC, 7600 BC?