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Loloru

Compound in Papua New Guinea

Last Eruption: -1050

Key Facts

Elevation

1,887 m (6,191 ft)

Type

Compound

Location

-6.520°, 155.620°

Region

Bougainville Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Loloru, the SE-most volcano on Bougainville Island, is the source of a broad ignimbrite apron that covers much of the southern part of the island. The summit consists of two nested calderas, and a forested andesitic lava dome that restricts a crescent-shaped lake to the eastern side of the younger caldera. The smooth flanks of the pyroclastic shield are dissected by radiating deep valleys.

A pristine lava flow occurs on the SE flank. Loloru is constructed within the 10 x 15 km Pleistocene Laluai caldera. The topographically higher Taroka group of volcanoes to the NW and the Takuan group to the north also were constructed within the caldera and deflected the bulk of Loloru ignimbrites to the south.

The most recent of several major Holocene explosive eruptions took place about 3,000 years ago.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
    Silica Content
    Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

    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 Activity3076 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 Southwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions

    Regional Volcanic Activity
    The Southwestern Pacific 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: 255030
    • •Evidence: Eruption Dated
    • •Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The summit of Loloru on SE Bougainville Island has two nested calderas and forested lava dome within the younger one. Loloru is constructed within the 10 x 15 km Pleistocene Laluai caldera; part of the rim of this outer caldera is seen at the lower right. Pyroclastic flow deposits from the volcano cover much of the southern part of the island. The most recent of several major Holocene explosive eruptions took place about 3,000 years ago.

    Photo by Wally Johnson, 1988 (Australia Bureau of Mineral Resources).

    Authority Sources

    Smithsonian GVP
    Official volcano database
    USGS Volcano Hazards
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Global Volcanism Program
    Smithsonian Institution

    Related Volcanoes

    In Papua New Guinea:
    All Japan Volcanoes
    105 active volcanoes
    By Type:
    Caldera Volcanoes
    Large collapse features
    By Region:
    Kuril Volcanic Arc
    Subduction zone volcanoes

    Basic Information

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