Mount Ruapehu Sean Fitzpatrick & Gabe Harrington Department of Geology, Colby College http://www.visitruapehu.com/content/images/213/960x400crop/Rdc23-01.jpg

Basic Information “Ruapehu” means ‘pit of noise’ or ‘exploding pit’ Active Stratovolcano Located in New Zealand Last erupted in September, 2007 http://eoimages.gsfc.nasa.gov/images/imagerecords/13000/13064/landsat_mt_ruapehu_23oct02.jpeg

Geographic & Tectonic Setting Tongariro National Park - North Island, New Zealand 39.28°S 175.57°E Taupo Volcanic Zone Located on the edge of the Australian plate, bordering the Pacific Plate. Pacific Ring of Fire http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ruapehu

Form & Features Stratovolcano (Composite Cone Volcano) Summit at 2797m Three cones, two vents, one tuff ring Five craters, one maar One active vent Crater Lake http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/trampers-warned-stay-clear-mt-ruapehu-summit-5220727

Eruptions Erupted first 250,000 years ago and most recently in 2007 Known for lahars and the resulting volcanic hazards http://www.theepochtimes.com/news/7-3-18/53002.html http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/world-problems/mount-doom-ruapehu-new-zealand-eruption-2012/

Rocks and Deposits Surrounding land before volcano - marine siltstone, sandstone, and limestone Volcano comprised primarily of andesite Ring plain formed around volcano picture: NASA/GSFC/METI/Japan Space Systems, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

Rocks and Deposits Early formations - mostly porphyritic basic andesites metamorphic and igneous rock intrusions Composition of lava changed over time includes olivine basalt, dacite Volcanic deposits were formed from lava flows, tuff breccias, lahar deposits, airfall pyroclastics, & pyroclastic flows thick layers of pumice on surface http://gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcanoes/Volcano-Geology-and-Hazards/Ruapehu-Geology http://www.waymarking.com/gallery/image.aspx?f=1&guid=76565c64-5106-4c6f-af7a-af87f12dbf0e http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/perm/nz/icons-lahar/lahar-deposit.jpg

←Lava Flows Pyroclastic Flows→ http://gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcanoes/Volcano-Geology-and-Hazards/Ruapehu-Geology

Other Interesting Information Popular skiing and hiking destination Place in popular culture Only place glaciers can be found on North Island http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g616351-d1923757-i100525445-Mountain_Air_Scenic_Flights_Day_Tour-Tongariro_National_Park_Manawatu_Wa.html http://www.mydestination.com/rotorua/travel-articles/722031/exploring-mount-ruapehu

Bibliography GNS Science, 2010: Ruapehu Geology, at http://gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcanoes/V olcano-Geology-and-Hazards/Ruapehu-Geology (accessed 23 January, 2015) GNS Science, 2013: Ruapehu, at http://www.gns.cri.nz/Home/Learning/Science-Topics/Volcanoes/New-Zealand-Volcan oes/Ruapehu (accessed 23 January, 2015) GNS Science, 2010: About Ruapehu, at oes/Ruapehu/About-Ruapehu (accessed 23 January, 2015) Smithsonian Institution National Museum of National History Global Volcanism Program, 2013: Ruapehu, at http://www.volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=241100 (accessed 23 January, 2015) Volcano Live, 2013: Ruapehu Volcano - John Seach, at http://www.volcanolive.com/ruapehu.html (accessed 23 January, 2015) New Zealand Tourism Guide, 2015: Ruapehu Regional Information, at http://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/regions/ruapehu/regional-i nformation.html (accessed 23 January, 2015) New Zealand Geothermal Association, 2013: New Zealand Geothermal Fields, at http://www.nzgeothermal.org.nz/nz_geo_fields.html (accessed 23 January, 2015) Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand, 2013: Historic Volcanic Activity, at http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/historic-volcanic-activity (accessed 23 Janaury, 2015) http://www.mydestination.com/rotorua/travel-articles/722031/exploring-mount-ruapehu