Volcanic hazards on St Kitts and Montserrat, West Indies
In: Journal of the Geological Society of London. Published for the Geological Society of London by Scottish Academic Press: London. ISSN 0016-7649; e-ISSN 2041-479X, more
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| Keywords |
Earth sciences > Geophysics > Seismology
Rocks > Igneous rocks > Volcanic rocks
Volcanism
ASW, Lesser Antilles, Montserrat [Marine Regions]; ASW, St. Kitts [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal |
| Abstract |
Pyroclast flows constitute the main potential hazard on both St Kitts and Montserrat. Radiocarbon dating indicates that the last major series of eruptions on St Kitts occurred about 2000 years ago, although a more recent phase of activity (1620 plus or minus 50 years B.P.) produced the pyroclast surge and blast deposits of the Steel Dust "Series". On Montserrat the last major eruptive episode occurred about 19000 years ago and there is rather uncertain evidence for a small near-historic eruption. Pyroclast flow material tends to have a basaltic andesite composition on St Kitts and that of a more silicaeous andesite on Montserrat. At Mt Misery, St Kitts, the present configuration of the summit region has exercised considerable control over the distribution of pyroclast flows and the western side of the volcano remains the most vunerable to future activity of this kind. |
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