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Buldir

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Leaflet U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey | Policies

Facts

  • Official Name: Buldir Volcano
  • Seismically Monitored: No
  • Color Code: UNASSIGNED
  • Alert Level: UNASSIGNED
  • Elevation: 656m (2152ft)
  • Latitude: 52.3488
  • Longitude: 175.909
  • Smithsonian VNum: 311010
  • Pronunciation:
  • Nearby Towns:
    • Shemya Station 80 mi (129 km) NW
    • Attu Station 119 mi (192 km) NW
    • Adak 318 mi (512 km) SE
    • Atka 418 mi (673 km) SE
    • Nikolski 638 mi (1027 km) NE

    Distance from Anchorage: 1410 mi (2270 km)

  • Subfeatures:
    • East Cape
    • Kittiwake Pond

Description

From Wood and Kienle (1990) [1] : "Buldir Island is the westernmost volcanic center of the present Pleistocene to Recent Aleutian volcanic front. The next westward subaerial volcanism is in Kamchatka. Buldir is a small (~2 cubic km), isolated, and mountainous island consisting of two volcanoes, the older of which is Buldir volcano and the younger East Cape volcano. Although broadly of similar age, a significant lapse of time between their formation allowed considerable marine and subaerial erosion, the products of which fill the lowlands. Buldir volcano, which once had a parasitic cone, consists of a few thin (3-m), olivine-bearing, high alumina basalt flows and much volcaniclastic debris. East Cape volcano has two vents: the principal vent forms an eruptive cone cored by a late stage plug, whereas the secondary vent is a large flank dome of hornblende andesite.
"Buldir Island is unusual in its restricted flora relative to neighboring islands, suggesting that it is comparatively young and not a fragment of a much older, larger subaerial island. The once nearly extinct Aleutian goose (a lesser Canada goose) was rekindled from relict nestings on Buldir."

Name Origin

The name Buldir Volcano, on Buldir Island, was first reported by Coats (1953). Concerning the name of Buldir Island, however, the October 28, 1741 entry in the log book of the St. Peter, commanded by Vitus Bering, reads "by the will of God Stephan Buldirev [later written as Stephan Bogdriev], naval cooper, died of scurvy" (Golder, 1922). The same day Bering named an island "St. Stephen." Many scholars, including Golder, correlate the island of Bering with that of present-day Buldir Island, and, if so, it may have been named for the sailor that died on its discovery day. The name "Ostrov Buldir" was published on a 1791 map by Lt. Sarichev, and thus he may be responsible for the naming (Orth, 1971).

References Cited

[1] Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada, 1990

Wood, C. A., and Kienle, Juergen, (eds.), 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: New York, Cambridge University Press, 354 p.

Reported Activity

Modern Eruptions

0 Event Date(s)

Past Activity Legend:
Eruption
Questionable eruption
Non-eruptive activity


Showing 1 - 4 of 4

Map Images

Map References

Digital data for the reconnaissance geologic map of the western Aleutian islands, Alaska, 2006

Wilson, F.H., Mohadjer, Solmaz, Labay, K.A., Shew, Nora, and Grey, D.M., 2006, Digital data for the reconnaissance geologic map of the western Aleutian islands, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1302, 1 p., available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1302/

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1998

Nye, C. J., Queen, Katherine, and McCarthy, A. M., 1998, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000, available at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=7043 .
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1995

Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 1995, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000.

Geothermal resources of the Aleutian Arc, 1993

Motyka, R. J., Liss, S. A., Nye, C. J., and Moorman, M. A., 1993, Geothermal resources of the Aleutian Arc: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Professional Report PR 0114, 17 p., 4 sheets, scale 1:1,000,000.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

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.

Reconnaissance geology of some western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1956

Coats, R. R., 1956, Reconnaissance geology of some western Aleutian Islands, Alaska: in Investigations of Alaskan volcanoes, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1028-E, p. 83-100, 1 sheet, scale unknown.
full-text PDF 4.4 MB
plate 17 PDF 1.6 MB

Configuration of the Aleutian Ridge: Rat Islands-Semisopochnoi I. to west of Buldir I., 1953

Gibson, William, and Nichols, H., 1953, Configuration of the Aleutian Ridge: Rat Islands-Semisopochnoi I. to west of Buldir I.: Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, v. 64, n. 10, p. 1173-1188, 2 sheets, scale unknown.

References

Bulk compositions of western Aleutians tephras and lavas collected during leg 3 of the NSF GeoPRISMS shared platform for Aleutians research, Version 1.0, 2024

Andrys, J. L., Coombs, M. L., Cottrell, E., Kelley, K. A., Waters, L. E., and Jicha, B., 2024, Bulk compositions of western Aleutians tephras and lavas collected during leg 3 of the NSF GeoPRISMS shared platform for Aleutians research, Version 1.0: Interdisciplinary Earth Data Alliance (IEDA). https://doi.org/10.60520/IEDA/113465.

Insights on arc magmatic systems drawn from natural melt inclusions and crystallization experiments at PH2O = 800 MPa under oxidizing conditions, 2024

Full-text PDF 4.5 MB

Water and oxygen fugacity in subduction zone magmatism, 2023

Andrys, J.L., 2023, Water and oxygen fugacity in subduction zone magmatism: South Kingstown, R.I., University of Rhode Island, Ph.D. thesis, 389 p.

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.

Generation of calc-alkaline magmas during crystallization at high oxygen fugacity: an experimental and petrologic study of tephras from Buldir Volcano, western Aleutian arc, Alaska, USA, 2021

Waters, L.E., Cottrell, Elizabeth, Coombs, M.L., and Kelley, K.A., 2021, Generation of calc-alkaline magmas during crystallization at high oxygen fugacity: an experimental and petrologic study of tephras from Buldir Volcano, western Aleutian arc, Alaska, USA: Journal of Petrology, p. 1-36, doi:10.1093/petrology/egaa104.

2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment, 2018

Ewert, J.W., Diefenbach, A.K., and Ramsey, D.W., 2018, 2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2018-5140, 40 p., https://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2018/5140/sir20185140.pdf.

Quantifying arc migration and the role of forearc subduction erosion in the central Aleutians, 2018

Jicha, B.R., and Kay, S.M., 2018, Quantifying arc migration and the role of forearc subduction erosion in the central Aleutians: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v, 360, p. 84-99, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2018.06.016.

Alaska Volcano Observatory image database, 2016

Cameron, C.E., and Snedigar, S.F., 2016, Alaska Volcano Observatory image database: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Digital Data Series 13, https://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/. https://doi.org/10.14509/29689.

The role of subducted basalt in the source of island arc magmas: evidence from seafloor lavas of the Western Aleutians, 2015

Yogodzinski, G.M., Brown, S.T., Kelemen, P.B., Vervoort, J.D., Portnyagin, Maxim, Sims, K.W.W., Hoernle, Kaj, Jicha, B.R., and Werner, Reinhard, 2015, The role of subducted basalt in the source of island arc magmas: evidence from seafloor lavas of the Western Aleutians: Journal of Petrology, v. 56, n. 3, p. 441-492, doi:10.1093/petrology/egv006

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 .

Controls of melt genesis and evolution at Buldir volcano in the western Aleutian island arc, 2011

Arndt, Shawn, 2011, Controls of melt genesis and evolution at Buldir volcano in the western Aleutian island arc: University of South Carolina unpublished Masters thesis, Columbia, SC, https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/1318/.

Subduction controls of Hf and Nd isotopes in lavas of the Aleutian island arc, 2010

Yogodzinski, G.M., Vervoort, J.D., Brown, S.T., and Gerseny, M., 2010. Subduction controls of Hf and Nd isotopes in lavas of the Aleutian island arc: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 300, p. 226-238, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2010.09.035 .

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/ .

Western Aleutian and Kamchatka high-Mg# andesite and dacite, 2008

Yogodzinski, G.M., and Bryant, J.A., 2008, Western Aleutian and Kamchatka high-Mg# andesite and dacite [abs.]: in Abstracts of the 18th annual V.M. Goldschmidt conference, Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 72, n. 12S, p. A1062.

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.

Along-strike trace element and isotopic variation in Aleutian Island arc basalt: subduction melts sediments and dehydrates serpentine, 2007

Singer, B.S., Jicha, B.R., Leeman, W.P., Rogers, N.W., Thirlwall, M.F., Ryan, Jeff, and Nicolaysen, K.E., 2007, Along-strike trace element and isotopic variation in Aleutian Island arc basalt: subduction melts sediments and dehydrates serpentine: Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 112, n. B6, 26 p., doi: 10.1029/2006JB004897 .

Digital data for the reconnaissance geologic map of the western Aleutian islands, Alaska, 2006

Wilson, F.H., Mohadjer, Solmaz, Labay, K.A., Shew, Nora, and Grey, D.M., 2006, Digital data for the reconnaissance geologic map of the western Aleutian islands, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006-1302, 1 p., available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1302/

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.

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

Along-strike variation in the Aleutian Island Arc: Genesis of high Mg# andesite and implications for continental crust, 2003

Kelemen, P.B., Yogodzinski, G.M., and Scholl, D.M., 2003, Along-strike variation in the Aleutian Island Arc: Genesis of high Mg# andesite and implications for continental crust, in Eiler, J., ed., Inside the Subduction Factory: AGU Monograph 138, p. 223-276.

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1998

Nye, C. J., Queen, Katherine, and McCarthy, A. M., 1998, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000, available at http://www.dggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=7043 .
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Volcanoes of Alaska, 1995

Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 1995, Volcanoes of Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular IC 0038, unpaged, 1 sheet, scale 1:4,000,000.

Aleutian magmas in space and time, 1994

Kay, S. M., and Kay, R. W., 1994, Aleutian magmas in space and time: in Plafker, George and Berg, H. C., (eds.), The Geology of Alaska, Geological Society of America The Geology of North America series v. G-1, p. 687-722.
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

The geology, geochemistry and petrology of the recent magmatic phase of the central and western Aleutian Arc, 1994

Myers, J. D., 1994, The geology, geochemistry and petrology of the recent magmatic phase of the central and western Aleutian Arc: unpublished manuscript unpaged.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Age, character, and significance of Aleutian arc volcanism, 1994

Fournelle, J. H., Marsh, B. D., and Myers, J. D., 1994, Age, character, and significance of Aleutian arc volcanism: in Plafker, George and Berg, H. C., (eds.), The Geology of Alaska, Geological Society of America The Geology of North America Series v. G-1, p. 723-758.

Geothermal resources of the Aleutian Arc, 1993

Motyka, R. J., Liss, S. A., Nye, C. J., and Moorman, M. A., 1993, Geothermal resources of the Aleutian Arc: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Professional Report PR 0114, 17 p., 4 sheets, scale 1:1,000,000.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada, 1990

Wood, C. A., and Kienle, Juergen, (eds.), 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: New York, Cambridge University Press, 354 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Aleutian magmatic systems: an integrated view, 1989

Kay, R. W., and Kay, S. M., 1989, Aleutian magmatic systems: an integrated view [abs.]: in Continental magmatism: abstracts, New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources Bulletin 0131, p. 148.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

An evaluation of the global variations in the major element chemistry of arc basalts, 1988

Plank, Terry, and Langmuir, C.H., 1988, An evaluation of the global variations in the major element chemistry of arc basalts: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 90, p. 349-370.

Spacial variations in trace element ratios in the Aleutian Arc, 1986

Kay, S. M., Kay, R. W., Romick, J. D., and Yogodzinski, G. M., 1986, Spacial variations in trace element ratios in the Aleutian Arc [abs.]: Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, v. 18, n. 6, p. 651.

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.

Mafic mineralogy in calc-alkaline Aleutian volcanic rocks: evidence for primitive magmas and magma mixing, 1982

Kay, S. M., and Kay, R. W., 1982, Mafic mineralogy in calc-alkaline Aleutian volcanic rocks: evidence for primitive magmas and magma mixing [abs.]: Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, v. 14, n. 7, p. 526.

The Aleutians, 1982

Marsh, B. D., 1982, The Aleutians: in Thorpe, R. S., (ed.), Andesites: orogenic andesites and related rocks, Chichester, United Kingdom, John Wiley & Sons, p. 99-114.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

Volcanoes of the world, 1981

Simkin, Tom, Siebert, Lee, McClelland, Lindsay, Bridge, David, Newhall, Christopher, and Latter, J. H., 1981, Volcanoes of the world: Stroudsburg, PA, Hutchinson Publishing Company, 233 p.

Comprehensive tables giving physical data and thermal energy estimates for young igneous systems of the United States, 1978

Smith, R. L., Shaw, H. R., Luedke, R. G., and Russell, S. L., 1978, Comprehensive tables giving physical data and thermal energy estimates for young igneous systems of the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 78-0925, p. 1-25.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

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.

Reconnaissance geology of some western Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1956

Coats, R. R., 1956, Reconnaissance geology of some western Aleutian Islands, Alaska: in Investigations of Alaskan volcanoes, U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1028-E, p. 83-100, 1 sheet, scale unknown.
full-text PDF 4.4 MB
plate 17 PDF 1.6 MB

Geology of Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, 1953

Coats, R. R., 1953, Geology of Buldir Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 0989-A, 26 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

Configuration of the Aleutian Ridge: Rat Islands-Semisopochnoi I. to west of Buldir I., 1953

Gibson, William, and Nichols, H., 1953, Configuration of the Aleutian Ridge: Rat Islands-Semisopochnoi I. to west of Buldir I.: Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, v. 64, n. 10, p. 1173-1188, 2 sheets, scale unknown.

Reconnaissance geology of some western Aleutian Islands, 1947

Coats, R. R., 1947, Reconnaissance geology of some western Aleutian Islands: U.S. Geological Survey Alaskan Volcano Investigations Report 0002, p. 95-105.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

United States coast pilot, Alaska Part 2, Yakutat Bay to Arctic Ocean, 1947

U.S. Department of Commerce, and Coast and Geodetic Survey, 1947, United States coast pilot, Alaska Part 2, Yakutat Bay to Arctic Ocean: Washington DC, United States Government Printing Office, 659 p.

Geological notes on some of the coasts and islands of the Bering Sea and vicinity, 1894

Dawson, G.M., 1894, Geological notes on some of the coasts and islands of the Bering Sea and vicinity: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 5, p. 117-146.

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