Okmok 1824
Start: 1824 [1]
Stop: 1830 [1]
Event Type: Explosive
- Radial fissure [3]
Description: From Grey (2003): "According to Grewingk (1850, translated 2003 by Fritz Jaensch), Lutke reported an eruption on the northeast end of Umnak Island, during which a 'mountain ridge opened up' in 1824 and was still 'smoking' in 1830. He also says that Postels (in Lutke, 1836) erroneously reported the activity as stretching along the northwest coast, but does not mention on what basis this presumption of error is made - perhaps the eruption was merely viewed from off the NW coast and appeared nearer than it was. I interpret these two reports as describing a linear (fissure) eruption and postulate that it may have taken place along the chain of small vents within the caldera that extends west from Cone B. This assumes fire fountains reaching above the caldera rim (500 m or more in height)."
Grey (2003) explains that fire fountains this high are unlikely, and then continues as follows: "Perhaps the observer saw the red glow of the eruption reflected on the underside of a low cloud deck. The relative freshness of the deposits from this arcuate fissure supports a historic time frame. There is also a young lava flow from Cone B that is so fresh it was originally mistaken for 1958 lava during field work in 2000 and could have been erupted in this time frame as well."
Powers (1958) also states that he believes a lava flow likely occurred during this eruption.
Grey (2003) explains that fire fountains this high are unlikely, and then continues as follows: "Perhaps the observer saw the red glow of the eruption reflected on the underside of a low cloud deck. The relative freshness of the deposits from this arcuate fissure supports a historic time frame. There is also a young lava flow from Cone B that is so fresh it was originally mistaken for 1958 lava during field work in 2000 and could have been erupted in this time frame as well."
Powers (1958) also states that he believes a lava flow likely occurred during this eruption.
References Cited
[1] Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Kanaga Volcano, Alaska, 2002
Waythomas, C. F., Miller, T. P., and Nye, C. J., 2002, Preliminary volcano-hazard assessment for Kanaga Volcano, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-0397, 27 p., 1 sheet.
full-text PDF 38.5 MB
map sheet plate (PDF) 17.5 MB [2] Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands, 1958
Powers, H. A., 1958, Alaska Peninsula-Aleutian Islands: in Williams, H., (ed.), Landscapes of Alaska, Los Angeles, CA, University of California Press, p. 61-75.[3] Post-caldera eruptions at Okmok volcano, Umnak Island, Alaska, with emphasis on recent eruptions from Cone A, 2003
Grey, D. M., 2003, Post-caldera eruptions at Okmok volcano, Umnak Island, Alaska, with emphasis on recent eruptions from Cone A: University of Alaska Fairbanks unpublished M.S. thesis, 135 p.[4] 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.Complete Eruption References
Post-caldera eruptions at Okmok volcano, Umnak Island, Alaska, with emphasis on recent eruptions from Cone A, 2003
Grey, D. M., 2003, Post-caldera eruptions at Okmok volcano, Umnak Island, Alaska, with emphasis on recent eruptions from Cone A: University of Alaska Fairbanks unpublished M.S. thesis, 135 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
A voyage around the world, 1826-1829, 1987
Litke, Frederic, 1987, A voyage around the world, 1826-1829: Pierce, R. A., Alaska History 29, v. 1, Kingston, Ontario, Limestone Press, 230 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf
Uebersicht ueber die vulkanische Taetigkeit 1941-1947, 1951
Hantke, Gustav, 1951, Uebersicht ueber die vulkanische Taetigkeit 1941-1947: Bulletin Volcanologique, v. 11, p. 161-208.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet
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 
Alaska and its resources, 1870
Dall, W. H., 1870, Alaska and its resources: Boston, Lee and Shepard, 627 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