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Meager

Complex in Canada

Last Eruption: -410

Key Facts

Elevation

2,680 m (8,793 ft)

Type

Complex

Location

50.630°, -123.500°

Region

Garibaldi Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Dacite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Mount Meager volcanic complex, of Pliocene-to-Holocene age, forms a dissected andesitic-to-rhyodacitic stratovolcano with multiple eroded summit lava domes and volcanic necks. It lies in the Garibaldi volcanic belt and is the northernmost volcano of the Cascade arc that extends to northern California. The summit of the complex consists of overlapping piles of andesitic lava flows and younger dacitic lava domes and flows.

Quaternary basalts underlying the uppermost 22 km of the Elaho valley originated at the 1375 m level in the South Fork Meager River. The most recent activity, about 2350 years ago, produced Canada's largest known Holocene explosive eruption and an associated welded block-and-ash flow and a lava flow from a vent on the NE flank of Plinth Peak. Two clusters of hot springs occur within the complex, which has been investigated for potential geothermal power.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Dacite
    Silica Content
    Varied composition

    Tectonic Setting

    Subduction zone
    Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

    Age & Formation

    Epoch
    Holocene
    Evidence
    Eruption Dated

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent Activity2,436 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

    Monitoring & Alert Status

    Monitoring Networks

    Global Volcanism Program
    International eruption database

    Current Status

    Normal
    No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

    Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The North America 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: 320180
    • Evidence: Eruption Dated
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The Mount Meager volcanic complex is the northernmost major volcanic center in the Canadian part of the Cascade Range. This Tertiary to Holocene complex has erupted mafic to felsic magmas from at least eight vents. The most recent eruption produced a pyroclastic flow and lava flow from a NE-flank vent about 2,350 years ago. This view from the Lillooet River valley to the west shows, from left to right, the glacially eroded volcanic necks of Mount Capricorn, Meager Mountain, and Plinth Mountain.

    Photo by Willie Scott, 1990 (U.S. Geological Survey).

    Basic Information

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