Alaska Volcano Observatory

Description Past Activity Images Maps Bibliography Prepare

Facts

Official Name: Mount Gordon
Seismically Monitored: No
Color Code: UNASSIGNED
Alert Level: UNASSIGNED
Elevation: 2755m (9038ft)
Latitude: 62.1312
Longitude: -143.0883
Smithsonian VNum: 315021
Pronunciation:
Nearby Towns:
- Chisana 34 mi (55 km) SE
- Slana 49 mi (78 km) NW
- McCarthy 49 mi (78 km) SE
- Chistochina 59 mi (95 km) NW
- Mentasta Lake 60 mi (96 km) NW
Distance from Anchorage: 232 mi (373 km)
Subfeatures:
- Horseshoe Mesa

Description

From Miller and Richter (1994)^[1]: "This is the largest of the young (<1.5 Ma) basalt-basaltic andesite cinder cones that are common in the northwestern part of the Wrangell volcanic field. The cone of Mt. Gordon, about 5 km in diameter and 600 m high above its base of older Wrangell lava, also erupted a significant volume of basaltic lava flows ^[2]."

Name Origin

Mount Gordon was named for a prospector who was in the area in 1899. F.C. Schrader, U.S. Geological Survey, reported the name in 1903 (Orth, 1971).

References Cited

[1] Quaternary volcanism in the Alaska Peninsula and Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, 1994

Miller, T. P., and Richter, D. H., 1994, Quaternary volcanism in the Alaska Peninsula and Wrangell Mountains, Alaska: in Plafker, George, Jones, D. L., and Berg, H. C., (eds.), The Geology of Alaska, Geological Society of America The Geology of North America series v. G-1, p. 759-779.

[2] Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Richter, D.H., and Smith, R.L., 1976, Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska: US Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map 1292, 1 sheet, available at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=13027 .

Reported Activity

Modern Eruptions

0 Event Date(s)

Past Activity Legend:

	Eruption
	Questionable eruption
	Non-eruptive activity

Scenic view of the Wrangell Mountains, taken from the northeast. Mount Wrangell is the wide, smooth dome in the center-right, interrupted by the small peak of the cinder cone Mount Zanetti on its right flank. Mount Sanford is to Wrangell's right, with Mount Drum just visible behind Sanford's right shoulder. Mount Blackburn, an older, much-eroded volcanic peak is the prominent high point center-left, with the Nabesna Glacier extending from it towards the foreground, feeding the Nabesna River. The less prominent Pleistocene/Holocene volcanoes of Mount Jarvis, Tanada Peak, and Mount Gordon are also visible in this image. The distinct gray layer in the atmosphere is wildfire smoke.

Index map to Quaternary volcanoes of the Wrangell Volcanic Field.

Showing 1 - 3 of 3

Map Images

By: U.S. Geological Survey
Topographic shaded relief map of Mt. Gordon, Alaska.

By: Schaefer, J. R. G.
Index map to Quaternary volcanoes of the Wrangell Volcanic Field.

Map References

Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska, 1986

Luedke, R. G., and Smith, R. L., 1986, Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I 1091-F, unpaged, 3 sheets, scale 1:1,000,000.

Geologic map of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Richter, D. H., 1976, Geologic map of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I 0932, unpaged, 1 plate, scale 1:250,000.

Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, 1905

Mendenhall, W. C., 1905, Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper PP 0041, 133 p., 1 plate, scale 1:63,360.

full-text PDF 33 MB

plate 4 PDF 28.5 MB

plate 11 PDF 16 MB

plate 19 PDF 17.4 MB

plate 20 PDF 2.4 MB

Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

References

Pleistocene to Holocene Volcanism in the Canadian Cordillera, 2023

Russell, J.K., Edwards, B.R., Williams-Jones, G., and Hickson, C., 2023, Pleistocene to Holocene Volcanism in the Canadian Cordillera: Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences in press. Https://doi.org/10.1139/cjes-2023-0065.

Geologic database of information on volcanoes in Alaska (GeoDIVA), 2022

Cameron, C.E., Crass, S.W., and AVO Staff, eds, 2022, Geologic database of information on volcanoes in Alaska (GeoDIVA): Alaska Division of Geologic and Geophysical Surveys Digital Data Series 20, https://doi.org/10.14509/geodiva, https://doi.org/10.14509/30901.

Preliminary database of Quaternary vents in Alaska, 2014

Cameron, C.E., and Nye, C.J., 2014, Preliminary database of Quaternary vents in Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication 153, 11 p., doi:10.14509/27357 .

Preliminary spreadsheet of eruption source parameters for volcanoes of the world, 2009

Mastin, L.G., Guffanti, Marianne, Ewert, J.E., and Spiegel, Jessica, 2009, Preliminary spreadsheet of eruption source parameters for volcanoes of the world: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2009-1133, v. 1.2, 25 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2009/1133/ .

System for ranking relative threats of U.S. volcanoes, 2007

Ewert, John, 2007, System for ranking relative threats of U.S. volcanoes: Natural Hazards Review, v. 8, n. 4, p. 112-124.

Volcanoes of the world: an illustrated catalog of Holocene volcanoes and their eruptions, 2003

Siebert, L., and Simkin, T., 2002-, Volcanoes of the world: an illustrated catalog of Holocene volcanoes and their eruptions: Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series GVP-3, http://volcano.si.edu/search_volcano.cfm, unpaged internet resource.

website

Bibliography of information on Alaska volcanoes, 2003

Cameron, C. E., Triplehorn, J. H., and Robar, C. L., 2003, Bibliography of information on Alaska volcanoes: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Miscellaneous Publication MP 131, 1 CD-ROM.

Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 1997

Wilson, M. D., 1997, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve: in Harris, A. G., Tuttle, E., and Tuttle, S., (eds.), Geology of national parks, Dubuque, IA, Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, p. 392-406.

A reconnaissance study of mafic to intermediate intra-arc volcanism in the western Wrangell Volcanic Field, Alaska, 1997

Lunt, A.S., 1997, A reconnaissance study of mafic to intermediate intra-arc volcanism in the western Wrangell Volcanic Field, Alaska: Miami University Ph.D., 150 p.

Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Guide to the volcanoes of the western Wrangell Mountains, Alaska - Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 1995

Richter, D. H., Rosenkrans, D. S., and Steigerwald, M. J., 1995, Guide to the volcanoes of the western Wrangell Mountains, Alaska - Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 2072, 31 p.

website with link to PDF

Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Quaternary volcanism in the Alaska Peninsula and Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, 1994

Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition], 1994

Simkin, Tom, and Siebert, Lee, 1994, Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition]: Tucson, Arizona, Geoscience Press, 349 p.

Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Can it happen here? A major volcanic eruption could occur in the Canadian Cordillera: it might significantly affect our environment, 1990

Hickson, C. J., 1990, Can it happen here? A major volcanic eruption could occur in the Canadian Cordillera: it might significantly affect our environment: Geos, v. 19, p. 1-7.

Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska, 1986

Geologic map of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Richter, D. H., 1976, Geologic map of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I 0932, unpaged, 1 plate, scale 1:250,000.

Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, 1905

Mendenhall, W. C., 1905, Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper PP 0041, 133 p., 1 plate, scale 1:63,360.

full-text PDF 33 MB

plate 4 PDF 28.5 MB

plate 11 PDF 16 MB

plate 19 PDF 17.4 MB

plate 20 PDF 2.4 MB

Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

A reconnaissance of the Chitina River and the Skolai Mountains, Alaska, 1900

Rohn, Oscar, 1900, A reconnaissance of the Chitna River and the Skolai Mountains, Alaska, in Walcott, C.D., Twenty-first annual report of the director of the United States Geological Survey, 1899-1900 - Part II - General geology, economic geology, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Annual Report 21-II, p. 393-440. https://doi.org/10.3133/ar21_2.

	Red (Warning)
	Orange (Watch)
	Yellow (Advisory)
	Green (Normal)
	Uninstrumented
	Community
	Webcam
	Instrument
Earthquake Magnitude
0 7+
Earthquake Age
	Last 2 Hours
	Last 2 Days
	Last 1 Week

Alaska Volcano Observatory

Gordon

Facts

Description

Name Origin

References Cited

[1] Quaternary volcanism in the Alaska Peninsula and Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, 1994

[2] Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Reported Activity

Modern Eruptions

0 Event Date(s)

Map Images

Map References

Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska, 1986

Geologic map of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, 1905

References

Pleistocene to Holocene Volcanism in the Canadian Cordillera, 2023

Geologic database of information on volcanoes in Alaska (GeoDIVA), 2022

Preliminary database of Quaternary vents in Alaska, 2014

Preliminary spreadsheet of eruption source parameters for volcanoes of the world, 2009

System for ranking relative threats of U.S. volcanoes, 2007

Volcanoes of the world: an illustrated catalog of Holocene volcanoes and their eruptions, 2003

Bibliography of information on Alaska volcanoes, 2003

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 1997

A reconnaissance study of mafic to intermediate intra-arc volcanism in the western Wrangell Volcanic Field, Alaska, 1997

Guide to the volcanoes of the western Wrangell Mountains, Alaska - Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, 1995

Quaternary volcanism in the Alaska Peninsula and Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, 1994

Volcanoes of the world [2nd edition], 1994

Can it happen here? A major volcanic eruption could occur in the Canadian Cordillera: it might significantly affect our environment, 1990

Map showing distribution, composition, and age of Late Cenozoic volcanic centers in Alaska, 1986

Geologic map of the Nabesna quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Geologic map of the Nabesna A-5 quadrangle, Alaska, 1976

Geology of the central Copper River region, Alaska, 1905

A reconnaissance of the Chitina River and the Skolai Mountains, Alaska, 1900

Before an eruption

Ashfall & Preparedness Information

During and After an Eruption

Other Useful Links