Amukta 1786/6
Start: June 1786 [1]
Stop: 1791 [1]
Event Type: Explosive
Max VEI: 3 [2]
Description: Grewingk (1850, translated 2003 by Fritz Jaensch) writes that Shelikov reported Amukta "all in flames" in June of 1786, and Sarychev reported it active in 1790. In Grewingk's chronological table of eruptions, he writes that Amukta was active from 1786 through 1791. The English translation of Sarychev is less clear: "On the morning of the 29th we passed the island Amuchta at a distance of 6 miles. It is about 27 miles in extent, and is said to have a volcano."
Shelikhov (translated in 1981 by Marina Ramsay) writes: "During this voyage [the return] we saw the Islands of the Four Mountains and Amukhta. Because of active volcanoes the latter seemed to be enveloped in flame."
Sapper (1927) estimates a tephra volume of 10^7 to 10^9 for this eruption; the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Database uses this estimate and, in turn, estimates a tephra volume of 5.1 +/- 5.0 x 10^8 cubic meters.
Shelikhov (translated in 1981 by Marina Ramsay) writes: "During this voyage [the return] we saw the Islands of the Four Mountains and Amukhta. Because of active volcanoes the latter seemed to be enveloped in flame."
Sapper (1927) estimates a tephra volume of 10^7 to 10^9 for this eruption; the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Database uses this estimate and, in turn, estimates a tephra volume of 5.1 +/- 5.0 x 10^8 cubic meters.
References Cited
[1] Grewingk's geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast of America [edited by Marvin W. Falk, translation by Fritz Jaensch published 2003], 1850
Grewingk, Constantine, 1850, Grewingk's geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast of America [edited by Marvin W. Falk, translation by Fritz Jaensch published 2003]: Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series 11, Fairbanks, AK, The University of Alaska Press, 242 p.[2] 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.[3] A voyage to America, 1783-1786 (translated by Marina Ramsay), 1981
Shelikhov, G. I., 1981, A voyage to America, 1783-1786 (translated by Marina Ramsay): Pierce, R. A., (ed.), Kingston, Ontario, The Limestone Press, 161 p.Complete Eruption References
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
A voyage to America, 1783-1786 (translated by Marina Ramsay), 1981
Shelikhov, G. I., 1981, A voyage to America, 1783-1786 (translated by Marina Ramsay): Pierce, R. A., (ed.), Kingston, Ontario, The Limestone Press, 161 p.
Volcanic activity in the Aleutian Arc, 1950
Coats, R. R., 1950, Volcanic activity in the Aleutian Arc: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 0974-B, p. 35-49, 1 sheet, scale 1:5,000,000.
plate 1 PDF 819 KB
full-text PDF 783 KB 
Vulkankunde, 1927
Sapper, Karl, 1927, Vulkankunde: Stuttgart, Germany, Englehorn Verlag, 424 p.
Katalog der geschichtlichen vulkanausbruche, 1917
Sapper, Karl, 1917, Katalog der geschichtlichen vulkanausbruche: Strassburg, Germany, Karl J. Trubner, 358 p.
Grewingk's geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast of America [edited by Marvin W. Falk, translation by Fritz Jaensch published 2003], 1850
Grewingk, Constantine, 1850, Grewingk's geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast of America [edited by Marvin W. Falk, translation by Fritz Jaensch published 2003]: Rasmuson Library Historical Translation Series 11, Fairbanks, AK, The University of Alaska Press, 242 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf