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Klawasi Group

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5 km
3 mi
Leaflet U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey | Policies

Facts

  • Seismically Monitored: No
  • Color Code: UNASSIGNED
  • Alert Level: UNASSIGNED
  • Elevation: 800m (2624ft)
  • Latitude: 62.0962
  • Longitude: -145.0853
  • Smithsonian VNum:
  • Pronunciation:
  • Nearby Towns:
    • Silver Springs 10 mi (16 km) SW
    • Copperville 11 mi (17 km) SW
    • Copper Center 12 mi (19 km) SW
    • Tazlina 12 mi (19 km) SW
    • Glennallen 15 mi (24 km) NW

    Distance from Anchorage: 169 mi (272 km)

  • Subfeatures:
    • Shrub
    • Upper Klawasi
    • Lower Klawasi

Description

The Klawasi Group is composed of "three large mud volcanoes located approximately 27 km (17 mi) east of Glennallen near the west slope of the the Pleistocene volcano, Mt. Drum, in the Copper River Basin of southcentral Alaska. " [1] . The three mud volcanoes are named Upper Klawasi, Lower Klawasi, and Shrub. "Shrub rises 340 ft (~100 m) above surrounding terrain and is composed of deposits derived from underlying glaciolacustrine sediments of the Basin [2] . Low-level mud and minor gas emission has historically been almost constant at the other two mud volcanoes; Shrub [was] virtually inactive for decades with only some minor discharge observed in the mid-1950s [3] . During the spring of 1997, Shrub began to vigorously erupt CO2-rich gas and warm saline mud" [1] .
Motyka and others (1989) [4] show how helium and carbon isotope ratios provide good evidence that the Klawasi CO2 is derived from a magmatic intrusive with additional contributions of CO2 from contact metamorphism of deep-seated limestone beds.

Name Origin

"Klawasi Group" is an informal name applied to the group of mud volcanoes to the west of Mount Drum. Their name is derived from the nearby Klawasi River.

References Cited

[1] 1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999

McGimsey, R. G., and Wallace, K. L., 1999, 1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-0448, 42 p.

[2] Report on the 1997 activity of Shrub mud volcano, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, south-central Alaska, 1998

Richter, D. H., Symonds, R. B., Rosenkrans, D. S., McGimsey, R. G., Evans, W. C., and Poreda, R. J., 1998, Report on the 1997 activity of Shrub mud volcano, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, south-central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-128, 13 p.

[3] Mud volcanoes in the Copper River Basin, Alaska, 1961

Nichols, D. R., and Yehle, L. A., 1961, Mud volcanoes in the Copper River Basin, Alaska: in Raasch, G. O., (ed.), Geology of the Arctic, First International Symposium on Arctic Geology, Proceedings, v. 2, Calgary, Alberta, January 11-13, 1960, Toronto, Ontario, University of Toronto Press, p. 1063-1087.

[4] Geochemistry, isotopic composition, and origin of fluids emanating from mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1989

Motyka, R. J., Poreda, R. J., and Jeffrey, A. W. A., 1989, Geochemistry, isotopic composition, and origin of fluids emanating from mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 53, n. 1, p. 29-41.

Reported Activity

Modern Eruptions

7 Event Date(s)

Past Activity Legend:
Eruption
Questionable eruption
Non-eruptive activity


Showing 1 - 20 of 168

Map Images

Map References

Preliminary report on the investigation of the geothermal energy resource potential of the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska, 1985

Wescott, E. M., and Turner, D. L., 1985, Preliminary report on the investigation of the geothermal energy resource potential of the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Public-Data File PDF 85-31, 113 p., 4 sheets, scale 1:63,360.

Geothermal energy resource investigations in the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska, 1985

Wescott, E. M., and Turner, D. L., 1985, Geothermal energy resource investigations in the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Report UAG-R 302, 158 p., 8 plates, scale 1:63,360.

Geothermal energy resources of Alaska, 1980

Turner, D. L., Forbes, R. B., Albanese, Mary, Macbeth, Joyce, Lockhart, A. B., and Seed, S. M., 1980, Geothermal energy resources of Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Report UAG-R 279, 19 p., 3 sheets, scale 1 at 1:2,500,000.

Geologic map of the Gulkana A-2 quadrangle, Alaska, 1979

Richter, D. H., Smith, R. L., Yehle, L. A., and Miller, T. P., 1979, Geologic map of the Gulkana A-2 quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Geological Quadrangle Map GQ 1520, unpaged, 1 plate, scale 1:63,360.

References

2021 Volcanic activity in Alaska and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2024

Orr, T.R., Dietterich, H.R., Fee D., Girona, T., Grapenthin, R., Haney, M.M., Loewen, M.W., Lyons, J.J., Power, J.A., Schwaiger, H.F., Schneider, D.J., Tan, D., Toney, L., Wasser, V.K., and Waythomas, C.F., 2024, 2021 Volcanic activity in Alaska and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands - Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5014, 64 p. https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245014.
Full-text PDF 25.7 MB

Interferometric synthetic aperture radar study of recent eruptive activity at Shrub mud volcano, Alaska, 2019

Niu, Yufen, Dzurisin, Daniel, and Lu, Zhong, 2019, Interferometric synthetic aperture radar study of recent eruptive activity at Shrub mud volcano, Alaska: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 387, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2019.106671.

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.

2006 Volcanic activity in Alaska, Kamchatka, and the Kurile Islands: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2009

Neal, C.A., McGimsey, R.G., Dixon, J.P., Manevich, Alexander, and Rybin, Alexander, 2009, 2006 Volcanic activity in Alaska, Kamchatka, and the Kurile Islands: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5214, 102 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2008/5214/ .

The Alaska Volcano Observatory - 20 years of volcano research, monitoring, and eruption response, 2008

Schaefer, J.R., and Nye, Chris, 2008, The Alaska Volcano Observatory - 20 years of volcano research, monitoring, and eruption response: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, Alaska GeoSurvey News, NL 2008-001, v. 11, n. 1, p. 1-9, available at http://wwwdggs.dnr.state.ak.us/pubs/pubs?reqtype=citation&ID=16061 .

Ahtna Place Names Lists, 2008

Kari, James, 2008, Ahtna Place Names Lists: Fairbanks, Alaska, Alaska Native Language Center, 156 p.

Ten years of monitoring the eruption of Shrub mud volcano, Alaska, 2007

McGimsey, R.G., Evans, W.C., Bergfield, D., McCarthy, S., and Hagstrum, J.T., 2007, Ten years of monitoring the eruption of Shrub mud volcano, Alaska [abs.]: Eos, v. 88, n. 52, abstract V13B-1345.

USGS-NoGaDat - A global dataset of noble gas concentrations and their isotopic ratios in volcanic systems, 2006

Abedini, A.A., Hurwitz, S., and Evans, W.C., 2006, USGS-NoGaDat - A global dataset of noble gas concentrations and their isotopic ratios in volcanic systems: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 202, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2006/202/ .

1999 Volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 2004

McGimsey, R. G., Neal, C. A., and Girina, Olga, 2004: 1999 Volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2004-1033, 49 p.
full text PDF 2.5 MB

Mineralogy and source material for the Tolsona mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 2004

Rohs, C.R., Goetz, S.L., and Walker, K.N., 2004, Mineralogy and source material for the Tolsona mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska [abs.]: Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, v. 36, n. 3, p. 49.

Active mud volcanism observed with Landsat 7 ETM+, 2004

Patrick, M. R., Dean, K., and Dehn, J., 2004, Active mud volcanism observed with Landsat 7 ETM+: Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 131, n. 3-4, p. 307-320.

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

Magmatic carbon and helium discharge from Shrub Mud Volcano, Copper River Basin, Southeastern Alaska, 2001

Sorey, M. L., Evans, W., McGimsey, R. G., and Werner, Cindy, 2001, Magmatic carbon and helium discharge from Shrub Mud Volcano, Copper River Basin, Southeastern Alaska: Water-rock interaction, 10, International Symposium, v. 1-2, Villasiumius, Italy, July 2002, p. 919-922.

A geologic guide to Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska: A tectonic collage of northbound terranes, 2000

Winkler, G. R., MacKevett, E. M. Jr., Plafker, George, Richter, D. H., Rosenkrans, D. S., and Schmoll, H. R., 2000, A geologic guide to Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska: A tectonic collage of northbound terranes: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper PP 1616, 166 p.
full-text PDF 48.5 MB
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Hydrothermal activity and carbon-dioxide discharge at Shrub and Upper Klawasi mud volcanoes, Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, 2000

Sorey, M. L., Werner, Cindy, McGimsey, R. G., and Evans, W. C., 2000, Hydrothermal activity and carbon-dioxide discharge at Shrub and Upper Klawasi mud volcanoes, Wrangell Mountains, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Water-resources Investigations Report WRI 00-4207, 14 p.
full-text PDF 3804 KB

1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999

McGimsey, R. G., and Wallace, K. L., 1999, 1997 volcanic activity in Alaska and Kamchatka: Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-0448, 42 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

May-August 1999, 1999

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1999, May-August 1999: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 11, n. 3 and 4, 39 p.
Part 1 PDF 399 KB
Part 2 PDF 831 KB
Part 3 PDF 736 KB
Part 4 PDF 41 KB
Part 5 PDF 91 KB

Report on the 1997 activity of Shrub mud volcano, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, south-central Alaska, 1998

Richter, D. H., Symonds, R. B., Rosenkrans, D. S., McGimsey, R. G., Evans, W. C., and Poreda, R. J., 1998, Report on the 1997 activity of Shrub mud volcano, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, south-central Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-128, 13 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

May-August 1998, 1998

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1998, May-August 1998: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 10, n. 3 and 4, 43 p.
Part 1PDF 847 KB
Part 2 PDF 630 KB
Part 3 PDF 2.2 MB

Addendum to Open-File Report 98-128, 1998

Richter, D., McGimsey, R, and Rosenkranz, D., 1998, Addendum to Open-File Report 98-128: U.S. Geological Survey unpublished report, 3 p.

Age of the mud volcano in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1998

Yoshikawa, Kenji, Harada, Koichiro, Koizumi, Ken, and Nakamura, Toshio, 1998, Age of the mud volcano in the Copper River basin, Alaska [abs.]: in International cooperation in Arctic research: detecting global change and its impacts in the western Arctic, Arctic Science Conference, 49, Program and Abstracts, Fairbanks, AK, Oct. 25-28, 1998, p. 135.

May-June 1997, 1997

Alaska Volcano Observatory, 1997, May-June 1997: Alaska Volcano Observatory Bimonthly Report, v. 9, n. 3, 23 p.
full-text PDF 2.2 MB

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.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Geothermal resources of Alaska, 1994

Miller, T. P., 1994, Geothermal resources of Alaska: 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. 979-987.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Geochemistry, isotopic composition, and origin of fluids emanating from mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1989

Motyka, R. J., Poreda, R. J., and Jeffrey, A. W. A., 1989, Geochemistry, isotopic composition, and origin of fluids emanating from mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 53, n. 1, p. 29-41.

Volcanic hazards in the Copper River Basin, Alaska, 1987

Nichols, D. R., 1987, Volcanic hazards in the Copper River Basin, Alaska [abs.]: in Geologic Hazards Symposium, Alaska Geological Society Symposium Agenda and Abstracts, Anchorage, Alaska, May 12-15, 1987, unpaged.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Geochemistry, isotopic composition, and the origin of fluids emanating from mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1986

Motyka, R. J., Hawkins, D. B., Poreda, R. J., and Jeffries, A., 1986, Geochemistry, isotopic composition, and the origin of fluids emanating from mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Public-Data File PDF 86-34, 87 p.
full-text PDF 1442 KB

Geothermal energy resource investigations in the Eastern Copper River basin, Alaska, 1985

Wescott, E. M., and Turner, D. L., 1985, Geothermal energy resource investigations in the Eastern Copper River basin, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Report UAG-R 302, 225 p.

Preliminary report on the investigation of the geothermal energy resource potential of the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska, 1985

Wescott, E. M., and Turner, D. L., 1985, Preliminary report on the investigation of the geothermal energy resource potential of the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Public-Data File PDF 85-31, 113 p., 4 sheets, scale 1:63,360.

Geothermal energy resource investigations in the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska, 1985

Wescott, E. M., and Turner, D. L., 1985, Geothermal energy resource investigations in the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Report UAG-R 302, 158 p., 8 plates, scale 1:63,360.

Geothermal energy resource exploration of the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska, 1983

Wescott, E. M., and Turner, D. L., 1983, Geothermal energy resource exploration of the eastern Copper River basin, Alaska: in Geothermal resources: energy on tap!, Geothermal Resources Council, Transactions, v. 7, p. 211-213.

Final report on the investigation of the geothermal energy resource potential of the eastern Copper River Basin, Alaska, submitted to the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys RSA 82-5X-670, 1983

Wescott, E. M., and Turner, D. L., (eds.), 1983, Final report on the investigation of the geothermal energy resource potential of the eastern Copper River Basin, Alaska, submitted to the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys RSA 82-5X-670: Fairbanks, AK, University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute, 123 p.

Guidebook to permafrost and Quaternary geology along the Richardson and Glenn Highways between Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska, 1983

Pewe, T.L., and Reger, R.D., 1983, Guidebook to Permafrost and Quaternary Geology along the Richardson and Glenn Highways between Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Guidebook 1, 263 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:250,000. doi:10.14509/263

Geothermal energy resources of Alaska, 1980

Turner, D. L., Forbes, R. B., Albanese, Mary, Macbeth, Joyce, Lockhart, A. B., and Seed, S. M., 1980, Geothermal energy resources of Alaska: University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute Report UAG-R 279, 19 p., 3 sheets, scale 1 at 1:2,500,000.

Igneous-related geothermal systems, 1979

Smith, R. L., and Shaw, H. R., 1979, Igneous-related geothermal systems: in Muffler, L. J. P., (ed.), Assessment of geothermal resources of the United States 1978, U.S. Geological Survey Circular C 790, p. 12-17.

Assessment of geothermal resources of the United States--1978, 1979

Muffler, L. J. P., 1979, Assessment of geothermal resources of the United States--1978: U.S. Geological Survey Circular C 0790, 163 p.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC shelf

Geologic map of the Gulkana A-2 quadrangle, Alaska, 1979

Richter, D. H., Smith, R. L., Yehle, L. A., and Miller, T. P., 1979, Geologic map of the Gulkana A-2 quadrangle, Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Geological Quadrangle Map GQ 1520, unpaged, 1 plate, scale 1:63,360.

Gases of mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1979

Reitsema, R. H., 1979, Gases of mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 43, n. 2, p. 183-188.

Alaska geothermal study, 1975

Miller, T. P., and Smith, R. L., 1975, Alaska geothermal study [abs.]: in Yount, M. E., (ed.), United States Geological Survey Alaska program, 1975, U.S. Geological Survey Circular C 722, p. 39.

Analyses of gas and water from two mineral springs in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1961

Nichols, D. R., and Yehle, L. A., 1961, Analyses of gas and water from two mineral springs in the Copper River basin, Alaska: in Short papers in the geologic and hydrologic sciences, articles 293-435, Geological Survey Research 1961, U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper PP 0424-D, D191-D194.
full-text PDF 235 KB

Mud volcanoes in the Copper River Basin, Alaska, 1961

Nichols, D. R., and Yehle, L. A., 1961, Mud volcanoes in the Copper River Basin, Alaska: in Raasch, G. O., (ed.), Geology of the Arctic, First International Symposium on Arctic Geology, Proceedings, v. 2, Calgary, Alberta, January 11-13, 1960, Toronto, Ontario, University of Toronto Press, p. 1063-1087.
Hard Copy held by AVO at FBKS - CEC file cabinet

Mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1960

Nichols, D. R., and Yehle, L. A., 1960, Mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska [abs.]: Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, v. 50, n. 7, p. 9-10.

Mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1959

Nichols, D. R., and Yehle, L. A., 1959, Mud volcanoes in the Copper River basin, Alaska [abs.]: Canadian Oil and Gas Industries, v. 12, n. 12, p. 59.

Pleistocene volcanic mudflow in the Copper River basin, Alaska, 1958

Ferrians, O. J. Jr., Nichols, D. R., and Schmoll, H. R., 1958, Pleistocene volcanic mudflow in the Copper River basin, Alaska [abs.]: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 69, n. 12 Pt. 2, p. 1563.

Before an eruption

Ashfall & Preparedness Information

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