Black Peak
Stratovolcano in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
1,032 m (3,386 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
56.552°, -158.785°
Region
Alaska Peninsula Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The highly eroded stratovolcano and lava dome complex of Black Peak was constructed within an ice-free mid-Holocene caldera with two small caldera lakes on the N and E sides. The pre-caldera volcano consists of andesitic-dacitic lava domes, lava flows, and volcaniclastic rocks that were constructed over a basement of Pliocene volcanogenic sediments. Ash-flow tuffs and block-and-ash-flow deposits from the more than 10 km3 caldera-forming eruption, which occurred less than about 4000 years ago, fill the Ash Creek and Bluff Creek valleys to the west and north to depths of as much as 100 m.
Most of the 3. 5-km-wide caldera floor is occupied by a complex of nested dacitic lava domes and associated lava flows centered in the southern part of the caldera.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
Eruption Statistics & Analysis
| Metric | Value | Global Ranking | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Recorded Eruptions | Unknown | Low | Moderately active volcano |
| Maximum VEI | VEI Unknown | Minor | Local impact potential |
| Recent Activity | 3926 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 312080
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Most of the 3.5-km-wide caldera floor of Black Peak volcano, located NW of Chignik Bay, contains the complex of lava domes seen here. The ice-free mid-Holocene caldera contains two small lakes. Pyroclastic flow and block-and-ash-flow deposits from the caldera-forming eruption filled the Ash Creek and Bluff Creek valleys to the west and north less than about 4,000 years ago.
Photo courtesy of Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey, 1979.
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.