Meidob Volcanic Field
Volcanic field in Sudan
Key Facts
Elevation
2,000 m (6,562 ft)
Type
Volcanic field
Location
15.320°, 26.470°
Region
Southeast Sahara Volcanic Province
Rock Type
Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite
Tectonic Setting
Intraplate
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The alkaline Meidob volcanic field in western Sudan, at the NE end of the Darfur volcanic province, covers an area of 5,000 km2 with nearly 700 Pliocene-to-Holocene vents. The field was constructed over an uplifted Precambrian igneous and metamorphic basement and is elongated in an E-W direction. Basaltic scoria cones and associated lava flows dominate, but trachytic-phonolitic lava domes, tuff rings, and maars are among the youngest volcanic products.
Basaltic scoria cones are scattered throughout the field; their lavas have produced a broad lava plateau. The central part of the field consists of younger phonolitic lava flows, trachytic pumice-fall deposits, ignimbrites, and maars. The youngest dated eruptions about 5,000 years ago produced a tuff ring and a lava flow.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
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 | 4976 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in Northern Africa Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 225050
- •Evidence: Eruption Dated
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The dark-colored area in the center of this Space Shuttle view is the alkaline Meidob volcanic field in western Sudan. This broad volcanic field covers an area of 5,000 km2 with nearly 700 Pliocene-to-Holocene vents. The margins of the field are dominated by basaltic scoria cones and associated lava flows, but the lava domes, tuff rings, and maars that are concentrated along the central E-W-trending axis of the volcanic field are among the youngest features. The latest dated eruptions took place about 5,000 years ago.
NASA Space Shuttle image STS073-713-87, 1995 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).
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.