Meager
Complex in Canada
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
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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
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 | 2,436 years ago | Historical | Historically active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
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).
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.