Sarigan

Stratovolcano in United States

Key Facts

Elevation

494 m (1,621 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

16.699°, 145.780°

Region

Mariana Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Sarigan volcano forms an irregular 3-km-long island consisting of a low truncated cone with a 750-m-wide summit crater that contains a small ash cone. The most recent eruptions produced two lava domes from vents above and near the south crater rim. Lava flows from each dome reached the coast and extended out to sea.

The northern flow overtopped the crater rim on the N and NW sides. The sparse vegetation on the flows indicated to Meijer and Reagan (1981) that they are of Holocene age.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

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

Evidence Credible

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	Unknown	Historical	Historically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Northwestern Pacific Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The Northwestern 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: 284192
•Evidence: Evidence Credible
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The 3-km-wide Sarigan volcano is seen here from the E during a 2003 NOAA expedition to the Marianas Islands.The cone has a 750-m-wide summit crater that forms the flat area to the right and it contains a small cone. More recent eruptions produced two lava domes from vents on and near the S crater rim, forming the island's high point at the left part of the summit. Holocene lava flows from the dome complex formed the peninsula to the far left.

Image courtesy of NOAA, 2003 (http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/03fire/).