Volcanic history of Western Taranaki

Abstract

Andesitic or dacitic volcanism has occurred in Taranaki at least since the Miocene. The oldest known volcanic centres are dacitic. The Egmont chain of andesitic volcanoes shows a progression of activity from north to south. The latest eruptions on this line were from Mt Egmont itself, emplacing a tholoid and then breaching the west crater wall. These eruptive events occurred about 400 years ago. Egmont is lssumed to be still potentially active, and renewed .eruptions may well take the form of directed explosions endangering several small townships.