🌋VolcanoAtlas

Takuan Group

Compound in Papua New Guinea

Key Facts

Elevation

2,210 m (7,251 ft)

Type

Compound

Location

-6.442°, 155.608°

Region

Bougainville Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Takuan volcano group in southern Bougainville Island consists of three closely spaced, NW-SE-trending andesitic-dacitic stratovolcanoes. Two of these are relatively uneroded and have probably been active during the Holocene, and a third, extensively eroded volcano is probably Pleistocene in age (Blake and Meizitis, 1967). Along with Loloru volcano, the Takuan volcanoes are post-caldera cones constructed along the rim of the Pleistocene Laluai caldera.

The 2210-m NW-most volcano, Mount Takuan, is the highest of the group and is a lava cone that has fed viscous lavas flows to the south, similar to those at Bagana volcano. The central volcano contains a large lava dome in its breached summit crater; this dome may represent the most recent activity of the Takuan volcano group. Older, but still well-preserved lava flows are found on the flanks of this volcano.

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
    Evidence Credible

    Eruption Statistics & Analysis

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent ActivityUnknownHistoricalHistorically 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: 255021
    • Evidence: Evidence Credible
    • Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    The Takuan Group in southern Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, is shown in this Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 12.5 km across). The group contains three edifices along a NW-SE trend, all of which have probable collapse scarps, and erosion on the flanks. The volcano in the center has a lava dome that has formed within the scarp.

    Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2018 (https://www.planet.com/).

    Basic Information

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