Spurr
Stratovolcano in United States
Key Facts
Elevation
3,374 m (11,070 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano
Location
61.299°, -152.251°
Region
Alaska Peninsula Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Mount Spurr is the closest volcano to Anchorage, Alaska (130 km W) and just NE of Chakachamna Lake. The summit is a large lava dome at the center of a roughly 5-km-wide amphitheater open to the south formed by a late-Pleistocene or early Holocene debris avalanche and associated pyroclastic flows that destroyed an older edifice. The debris avalanche traveled more than 25 km SE, and the resulting deposit contains blocks as large as 100 m in diameter.
Several ice-carved post-collapse cones or lava domes are present. The youngest vent, Crater Peak, formed at the southern end of the amphitheater and has been the source of about 40 identified Holocene tephra layers. Eruptions from Crater Peak in 1953 and 1992 deposited ash in Anchorage.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
- Pyroclastic flows
- Lava flows
- Volcanic bombs and ballistics
- Lahars and mudflows
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 | 34 years ago | Recent | Recently active |
Monitoring & Alert Status
Monitoring Networks
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in North America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 313040
- •Evidence: Eruption Observed
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
During the late Pleistocene or early Holocene Mount Spurr underwent flank collapse, resulting in the 5-6 km crater that opens to the south shown here in 1993. The collapse produced a debris avalanche that traveled at least 25 km from the summit. The snow-covered peak (center) is a post-collapse lava dome. Crater Peak, in front of it, has been the source of frequent Holocene eruptions.
Photo by Christina Neal, 1993 (U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska Volcano Observatory).
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.