Iliamna 1867/3
Start: March 1867 [1]
Event Type: Explosive
Max VEI: 2 [2]
Description: From Juhle (1955): "According to Dall (1894) the March 1867 eruption [of Iliamna] produced a light pumice and ash fall on St. Paul, Kodiak Island 165 miles to the southeast."
This statement is confusing, because Juhle is referencing Dall, 1894, in Science, volume 3. However, volume 3 of Science was published in 1884, and, although there is an article by Dall published in that issue, it does not discuss Iliamna.
Juhle continues with: "I.C. Russell (1897, p. 211 [listed in bibliography as 1910]) writes: 'In the summer of 1895 it was sending out five or six columns of steam and seemed peaceful enough. A few years ago, however, it was in violent eruption and discharged such a profusion of hot dust and lapilli that the timber over hundreds of square miles of tableland was killed.' Unfortunately the source of this information is not given. Perhaps this refers to the March 1867 eruption. The magnitude of the eruption seems somewhat exaggerated. Today only a few cinder lapilli, which may be remnants of this ash fall, can be found in protected topographic depressions at high altitudes."
Miller and others (1998) doubt the veracity of this eruption: "although Coats (1950) lists several reports of 'smoke', and an eruption in 1867, documentation is poor and validity of the reports is questionable. Except for the summit fumarolic activity, it is uncertain and perhaps unlikely that Iliamna Volcano has been historically active."
This statement is confusing, because Juhle is referencing Dall, 1894, in Science, volume 3. However, volume 3 of Science was published in 1884, and, although there is an article by Dall published in that issue, it does not discuss Iliamna.
Juhle continues with: "I.C. Russell (1897, p. 211 [listed in bibliography as 1910]) writes: 'In the summer of 1895 it was sending out five or six columns of steam and seemed peaceful enough. A few years ago, however, it was in violent eruption and discharged such a profusion of hot dust and lapilli that the timber over hundreds of square miles of tableland was killed.' Unfortunately the source of this information is not given. Perhaps this refers to the March 1867 eruption. The magnitude of the eruption seems somewhat exaggerated. Today only a few cinder lapilli, which may be remnants of this ash fall, can be found in protected topographic depressions at high altitudes."
Miller and others (1998) doubt the veracity of this eruption: "although Coats (1950) lists several reports of 'smoke', and an eruption in 1867, documentation is poor and validity of the reports is questionable. Except for the summit fumarolic activity, it is uncertain and perhaps unlikely that Iliamna Volcano has been historically active."
References Cited
[1] Iliamna volcano and its basement, 1955
Juhle, R. W., 1955, Iliamna volcano and its basement: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 55-0077, 74 p., 2 plates, scale unknown.[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] Volcanic activity and human ecology, 1979
Sheets, P. D., and Grayson, D. K., (eds.), 1979, Volcanic activity and human ecology: New York, Academic Press, 644 p.[4] Volcanoes of North America, 1910
Russell, I. C., 1910, Volcanoes of North America: London, The Macmillan Company, 346 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
Iliamna volcano and its basement, 1953
Juhle, R. W., 1953, Iliamna volcano and its basement: The Johns Hopkins University unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, 74 p.
Iliamna volcano and its basement, 1955
Juhle, R. W., 1955, Iliamna volcano and its basement: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 55-0077, 74 p., 2 plates, scale unknown.
Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Iliamna Volcano, Alaska, 1999
Waythomas, C. F., and Miller, T. P., 1999, Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Iliamna Volcano, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-0373, 31 p., 1 sheet, scale unknown.
full-text PDF 2.84 MB
map sheet plate 1.0 MB 
Volcanoes of North America, 1910
Russell, I. C., 1910, Volcanoes of North America: London, The Macmillan Company, 346 p.
