Taunshits

Taunshits (Russian: Тауншиц) is a stratovolcano located in the eastern part of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia.

Taunshits
Highest point
Elevation	2,353 m (7,720 ft)[1]
Prominence	1,550 m (5,090 ft)[2]
Listing	Ultra, Ribu
Coordinates	54°31′42″N 159°48′15″E[2]
Geography
Taunshits Russia
Location	Kamchatka, Russia
Parent range	Eastern Range
Geology
Mountain type	Stratovolcano
Last eruption	550 BCE[1]

It is part of the Kamchatka-Kurile volcanic arc, and volcanism in this arc is caused by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Okhotsk Plate.^[3] More specifically, volcanic activity at Taunshits relates to a local system of eastward-trending faults, and some additional volcanoes are controlled by the same fault system,^[4] such as Uzon and Kikhpinych^[5] which lie both east of Taunshits.^[6]

Taunshits is a somma volcano and features lava flows, and its summit is formed by a ridge.^[7] The stratovolcano contains a collapse crater formed during the Holocene, as well as a lava dome;^[8] a viscous lava flow was erupted in the crater and extends down the western flank.^[1] Erosion has formed gullies in the slopes of the volcano.^[9] Two satellite vents and several cinder cones are found south of the edifice.^[1]

Taunshits has principally erupted andesite^[10] and basaltic andesite,^[8] and its eruption products are calc-alkaline with moderate potassium content.^[11] Volcanic activity at Taunshits involves the formation of lava domes and pyroclastic flows, similar to Bezymyanny or Shiveluch,^[10] but widespread andesitic lava effusion has also occurred at the lower levels of the edifice.^[12]

Activity at Taunshits commenced late during the Pleistocene,^[13][12] less than 39,000 years before present considering that the ignimbrites generated by the Uzon eruption are found beneath lava flows from the volcano.^[14] The Pleistocene activity constructed the foot of the volcano, which has tuya characteristics.^[15]

Activity decreased during the Holocene.^[16] 7,700 years before present, a major eruption ejected about 3 cubic kilometres (0.72 cu mi) of material;^[17] it may have been preceded by the sector collapse.^[15] 7,000 years before present, a sector collapse occurred, leaving a hummocky landscape around the volcano; no eruption occurred according to some sources,^[18] while others believe that one took place.^[15] The landslide extends over a length of 17 kilometres (11 mi) and has a volume of less than 1 cubic kilometre (0.24 cu mi);^[19] other sources assume a volume of 3 cubic kilometres (0.72 cu mi) and a length of 19 kilometres (12 mi). The landslide occurred on the western slope of the volcano;^[15] Taunshits developed on the western slope of Uzon volcano and the resulting westward tilt of its basement may have predisposed the edifice towards collapsing westward.^[20] The landslide is responsible for the formation of the collapse crater on the summit.^[1]

Lava flows were extruded about 2,500 years before present,^[21] and 2,400 years before present the lava dome in the crater was emplaced; this event was accompanied by pyroclastic flows.^[15] The last eruption occurred around 550 BCE;^[1] As of 2012^[update], no seismic station is located at Taunshits, which hampers the monitoring of activity at this volcano.^[22] Solfataric activity occurs close to the edifice.^[7]

See also

• List of volcanoes in Russia