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Volcanoes of Canada
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Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes
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.Iskut River
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.Mt. Churchill


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Natural Resources Canada > Earth Sciences Sector > Priorities > Strong and safe communities > Volcanoes of Canada
Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes
Stikine volcanic belt: Volcano Mountain

Volcano Mountain is located immediately north of the junction of the Pelly and Yukon rivers, half way between Whitehorse and Dawson City, central Yukon Territory. The volcano comprises a cinder cone and a series of lava flows that issued through breaks in the cone wall both to the northeast and the southwest (Figure A28, Figure A29). The northeastern lava flow travelled about 5.5 km and the southwestern flows, only about 3 km. The lavas at Volcano Mountain represent a unique type of lava, called 'olivine nephelinite', that is very uncommon in the geological record. These lavas are generally thought to have come from much deeper in the Earth than the basalt magmas common to most of the other young volcanoes in northwestern British Columbia and the Yukon Territory. They are also unusual because they contain small, angular to rounded fragments (nodules) of rock that come from the mantle, below the Earth's crust. These green nodules are called 'peridotites' because they are composed predominantly of the mineral olivine or, in gem form, 'peridot'. These lavas and the nodules they contain are similar to those erupted in the Wells Gray area of British Columbia.

Figure A28. Volcano MountainVolcano Mountain is a small, asymmetrical cinder cone approximately 300 m high. Lava flows issued through breaks in the cone wall to the northeast and to the southwest. (Photograph by L. Jackson)
Figure A28. Volcano Mountain

Volcano Mountain is a small, asymmetrical cinder cone approximately 300 m high. Lava flows issued through breaks in the cone wall to the northeast and to the southwest.

(Photograph by L. Jackson)

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Figure A29. Volcano Mountain lava flowThe surface of this basaltic lava flow from Volcano Mountain broke into chunks as the lava flowed. These chunks have been tossed about and upended creating a clinkery surface typical of some basaltic lava flows. (Photograph by L. Jackson)
Figure A29. Volcano Mountain lava flow

The surface of this basaltic lava flow from Volcano Mountain broke into chunks as the lava flowed. These chunks have been tossed about and upended creating a clinkery surface typical of some basaltic lava flows.

(Photograph by L. Jackson)

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[JPEG, 39.4 kb, 400 X 260, notice]


The fluid nature of the lavas and the lack of significant fragmental material erupted from Volcano Mountain suggest that any future eruptions would probably be dominated by lava flows, with little to no explosive activity. Thus, the main hazards posed by any renewed activity include forest fires started by the hot lavas. However, evidence from older volcanic deposits immediately south of Volcano Mountain, in the Fort Selkirk area, indicates that lava flows may have once partly blocked or at least altered the course of the Yukon and Pelly rivers. Renewed activity in this area could disrupt the course of one or both of these major rivers and have a serious impacts on people living or working downstream.

Volcanoes within the Volcano Mountain Group
Minto North Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Minto South Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Minto Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Holbrook Creek Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Yukon River Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Mushroom Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Rosebud Creek Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Volcano Mountain Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Volcano Mountain East Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Fort Selkirk Vent Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Ne Ch'e Ddhawa Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field
Clinton Creek Fort Selkirk Volcanic Field

2005-08-19Important notices