Churchill
Stratovolcano in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
5,005 m (16,421 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
61.380°, -141.750°
Region
Wrangell Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Dacite
Tectonic Setting
Intraplate
Location
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Overview
The Bona-Churchill massif in the St. Elias Mountains has a 2. 7 x 4.
2 km summit caldera which was the source of the White River Ash, produced by two of the largest explosive eruptions in North America during the past 2,000 years (McGimsey et al. , 1992). The summit of Mount Bona lies 4 km across a high saddle from the younger Churchill.
The source vent of the widespread bi-lobate White River Ash deposit, which covers more than 340,000 km2 of eastern Alaska and NW Canada, was initially thought to be a pumice mound that is mostly buried beneath the Klutlan Glacier NE of Churchill volcano. Later work revealed thick young pumice deposits along the caldera rim that are mineralogically and chemically similar to the White River Ash deposits.
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 | 1179 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 315030
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
A U.S. Geological Survey climbing party ascends the Klutlan Glacier headed towards Mount Churchill. Their field studies led to the discovery that this volcano was the site of two of the most voluminous eruptions in North America in the past 2,000 years. The White River Ash originated from the summit caldera of Churchill next to Mount Bona and comprises two voluminous ash units that extend across most of Canada and traces reached Europe.
Photo by Game McGimsey (U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory).
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.