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Taupo   »  Eruptive History

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Taupo

Start Date: 260 AD (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  0

Lava Volume:  2.8  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: East Lake Taupo (Horomatangi Reefs)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Lava dome extrusion

Start Date: 230 AD ± 16 years Mar 15 ± 20 days Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  6?

Tephra Volume:  4.5  x  1010 m3

Area of Activity: Horomatangi Reefs area (Unit Y)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Regional fissure eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)
    Mudflow(s) (lahars)
    Caldera collapse

Start Date: 200 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4+

Tephra Volume:  8  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 4 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point (Unit X)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 800 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  2

Lava Volume:  2  x  107 m3

Tephra Volume:  3  x  106 m3

Area of Activity: Ouaha Hills (Unit W)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)

Start Date: 1010 BC ± 200 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4+

Tephra Volume:  8.0  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 4 km NW Te Kohaiakahu Point (Unit V)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 1050 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 5 km NE of Motutaiko Island (Unit U)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 1250 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  8  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: 4 km W of Te Kohaiakahu Point (Unit T)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 1460 BC ± 40 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  6

Tephra Volume:  1.7  x  1010 m3

Area of Activity: Horomatangi Reefs? (Unit S)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 2500 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  5  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: 3 km SW of Motutaiko Island (Unit R)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption

Start Date: 2600 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 3 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point (Unit Q)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 2800 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  5  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: (Unit P)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 2850 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  5  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: 2 km S of Te Tuhi Point (Unit O)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 2900 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 5 km NW of Te Kohaiakahu Point (Unit N)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 3070 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 5 km NW Te Kohaiakahu Point (Unit M)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 3120 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  7  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: 2 km W of Te Kohaiakahu Point (Unit L)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 3170 BC ± 200 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  4.0  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 4 km NW Te Kohaiaikahu Point (Unit K)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 3420 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: (Unit J)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 4000 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Tephra Volume:  2  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: (Unit I)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 4100 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  2  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: 4 km WNW of Kohaiakahu Point (Unit H)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 4700 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Tephra Volume:  5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: East-central Lake Taupo (Unit G)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 5100 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  3

Lava Volume:  5  x  107 m3

Tephra Volume:  7  x  107 m3

Area of Activity: SE Lake Taupo (Motutaiko Island) (Unit F)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava dome extrusion

Start Date: 8130 BC ± 200 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  5

Tephra Volume:  4.7  x  109 m3

Area of Activity: Central, E-central L. Taupo (Opepe, Unit E)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)

Start Date: 9210 BC (?)  Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Tephrochronology

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  4

Lava Volume:  5  x  107 m3

Tephra Volume:  1.5  x  108 m3

Area of Activity: Acacia Bay lava dome (Unit D)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Regional fissure eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava dome extrusion

Start Date: 9240 BC ± 75 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  5

Tephra Volume:  1.4  x  109 m3

Area of Activity: 4 km W Te Kohaiakahu Pt. (Poronui, Unit C)

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Start Date: 9460 BC ± 200 years Stop Date: Unknown

Dating Technique: Radiocarbon (corrected)

Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI):  5

Tephra Volume:  1.4  x  109 m3

Area of Activity: East-central L. Taupo (Karapiti, Unit B )

Eruptive Characteristics:
    Central vent eruption
    Regional fissure eruption
    Crater lake eruption
    Explosive eruption
    Pyroclastic flow(s)
    Lava flow(s)  (?)

Global Volcanism Program — Department of Mineral Sciences — National Museum of Natural History — Smithsonian Institution

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