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Bir Borhut

Volcanic field in Yemen

Key Facts

Elevation

464 m (1,522 ft)

Type

Volcanic field

Location

15.515°, 50.935°

Region

Southwest Arabia Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Intraplate

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Near the villages of Hleime and Al Ghayl, along the Wadi Hadhramout valley about 45 km from the coast of Yemen, is what appears to be a pyroclastic volcanic cone and extensive dark lava flows. Although Theodore Bent did not reach the volcano while traveling through the region in 1894, he described it as a solfataric area and source of brimstone. Arabic reports exist of an active volcano in eastern Hadramaut that erupted in the 10th century; emissions were reported in 1813 (Neumann van Padang, 1963).

Geologic maps of the Arabian Peninsula show Quaternary mafic volcanic rocks in this area, which lies south and west of the Wadi al Masilah river valley. Small cones are present in the coastal lava fields, including a cone with two craters about 10 km NE of the town of Qusay'ir.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Basalt / Picro-Basalt
    Silica Content
    Low (45-52% SiO₂)

    Tectonic Setting

    Intraplate
    Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Evidence Uncertain

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent ActivityUnknownHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Arabia-Central Asia Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

    Quick Info

    • Smithsonian ID: 231180
    • Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The Bir Borhut volcanic field in southern Yemen is shown in this December 2019 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 104 km across). The field contains scoria cones, tuff rings and cones, mars, and lava flows. The At-Tabâb maar is SE of the lava field along the coastline.

    Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2019 (https://www.planet.com/).

    Basic Information

    This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.