The taupo volcanic zone forms part of the taupohikurangi subduction system, and comprises five. Caldera volcanism and rift structure in the taupo volcanic. All centers except rotorua are known or inferred to have had complex histories of multiple caldera collapse, which have occurred alongside. Summary the taupo volcanic zone is a belt extending northeast through the north island of new zealand from. New zealands flora is still recovering from the last glacial maximum. The taupo region is home to many geothermal activities and attractions.
The taupo volcanic zone tvz is a volcanic area in the north island of new zealand that has. The plant is a joint venture between maori and mighty river power, who operate four geothermal plants in the taupo volcanic zone, with an eye to further expansion. Publications popular publications books gns online shop. Steam explosions rock new zealands rotorua caldera. Ngauruhoe in the taupo volcanic zone of new zealand erupted andesite lava flows in 1949 and 1954, and avalanche deposits in 1975. The lithic lag breccias, together with structural and geophysical evidence, confirm reporoa caldera as the source of the c. There have been multiple investigation and development phases focused on. Hikurangi subduction system parson and wright, 1996 figure 2. Final manuscript for chapter 1 in book the drama of conservation. Guidebook for land and lakes field trip, new zealand society of soil science biennial conference, rotorua, 27. This huge volcano has produced two of the worlds most violent eruptions in geologically recent times. This is a sortable summary of the pages timeline of volcanism on earth, list of quaternary volcanic eruptions, and large volume volcanic eruptions in the basin and range province. The taupo region was first settled by nagtoroirangi and the arawa tribe, though the area was very barren and unhospitable.
Rotorua caldera is a 21x22 km complex collapse structure in south west bay of plenty, taupo volcanic zone, new zealand. Wood calderas and geothermal systems in the taupo volcanic zone, new zealand c peter wood institute of geological nuclear sciences ltd, wairakei research centre taupo, new zealand key words. Lake taupo, in the centre of new zealands north island, is the caldera of a large rhyolitic supervolcano called the taupo volcano. Structural control and origin of volcanism in the taupo volcanic zone, new zealand. In a few short minutes 30km2 of poisonous ash, rocks, lava and pumice were emitted at speed of up to 900 kmhr, to a height of 50km. Evolution of the intraarc tauporeporoa basin within the taupo. Leading to the central north island being covered in cobalt deficient soils which restrict forest development. I was fascinated to learn that the maoris of this region would use the geothermal features of this area for cooking, healing, drinking and bathing. Its geometry and kinematics are investigated using shaded relief images, field examination of faults and offset stream channels. Other, older, calderas may also be present in the reporoa depression. It is located 20 kilometres 12 mi to the southwest of lake taupo, and is the northernmost of the three active volcanoes that dominate the landscape of the central north island.
The whole eastern margin of the taupo volcanic zone and western margin from ruapehu to tokoroa coincide with steep gravity gradients. This booklet is designed to inform you about the volcanic hazards of the taupo area. Mount ruapehu marks its southwestern end and the zone runs northeastward through the taupo and rotorua areas and offshore into the bay of plenty. Taupo new zealand history information, historical places. About 2 ma, extension and subduction under the north island formed the taupo volcanic zone. The volcanic center is associated with violent explosive eruptions and has few effusive lava domes. It is a type example of an inverse volcano that slopes inward towards the most recent vent location. This huge volcano has produced two of the worlds most violent eruptions in geologically recent times the taupo volcano forms part of the taupo volcanic zone, a region of volcanic activity that extends from ruapehu in the south, through. The taupo volcanic zone tvz in the central north island is the main focus of young volcanism in new zealand. Level 2 earth and space science internal assessment resource. The area of volcanic activity is referred to as the taupo volcanic zone see map above. The volcanic origins of lake taupoin 186ad a series of nine volcanic eruptions culminated in the most violent eruption history has recorded.
Taupo volcano is in the taupo volcanic zone, a belt of active volcanoes that extends from near ruapehu in the centre of the north island, to white island in the bay of plenty and beyond, towards the kermadec islands. The taupo volcanic zone tvz is the most volcanically active region in new zealand. The taupo volcanic zone is a volcanic area in the north island of new zealand that has been active. Structure and volcanism in the taupo volcanic zone, new zealand. Lake taupo has had a violent and traumatic history, formed by 27,000 years of eruptions. The volcanic explosivity index classified that eruption as apocalyptic, one of only 47 eruptions identified as such. Lake taupo was formed by the massive oruanui eruption, one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history. The taupo caldera, now filled by lake taupo, largely formed as a result. The taupo volcanic zone is named after lake taupo, the largest volcano in the zone. The taupo volcanic zone is known for its geothermal activity. It extends some 350 kilometres from mount ruapehu and mount ngauruhoe at the southwestern tip, through taupo, rotorua and to whakaari or white island.
Geothermal systems in the taupo volcanic zone waikato. In the 1800s european settlers began to arrive and in 1869 taupo town was built. Taupo volcanic zone hamilton, new zealand geographical. Of these, 42 occurred in the last 36 million years. Tongariro is in the taupo volcanic zone, where most of new zealands volcanism of the past 1. As part of the taupo volcanic zone that stretches from white island to tongariro national park, visitors to the area will find natural hot pools, geothermal attractions including mud pools, geysers, spas and much more. Weir industrial research ltd, po box 31 310, lower hutt, new zealand w. Resistivity is a measure of the grounds ability to conduct electricity. It is the youngest area of volcanic activity that extends southwards from the coromandel volcanic zone cvz, where andesitic volcanism began c.
The distribution of the geothermal fields in the taupo. Volcanic attractions may include hissing steam, boiling mud pools, erupting geysers and much more. The edge of two tectonic plates the pacific and the indoaustralian transects the foundations of the continent and its grinding and friction have given us the alps in the south and, in the north, a volcanic zone that is 350 km long and 50 km wide. The taupo volcanic zone tvz is an active continental volcanic arcbackarc basin in central north island, new zealand. Geological studies of taupo show that the volcano makes up only the northern half of the lake and a small surrounding area but there have been numerous eruptions from different sites within this large volcano. No less than four major calderas sit in the taupo volcanic zone. Geothermal fields, taupo volcanic zone, north island, new zealand abstract. During its 625 kyr volcanic history, which perhaps equates to 750 kyr of magmatic history, the ovc has experienced two definite periods of caldera collapse matahina, 322 ka, and rotoiti, for which dates of 61 and 45 ka have recently. Okataina volcanic centre, taupo volcanic zone, new zealand. The taupo caldera, now filled by lake taupo, largely formed. Oruanui was the most recent, occurring 26,500 years ago.
Taupo volcanic zone geothermal systems, new zealand. Mamaku ignimbrite erupted 220 230 ka, is a voluminous deposit that is exposed over c. The okataina volcanic centre ovc is one of eight caldera systems, which form the central part of the taupo volcanic zone, new zealand. It recognises the significance of geothermal tourism as an early development option. Volcanic explosivity index vei values for events in the miocene epoch sometimes. It is very large and has many vents, most of which are now under lake taupo. Notable geothermal areas include whakarewarewa, tikitere, waimangu, waiotapu, craters of the moon and orakei korako. This map shows the geothermal systems in the taupo volcanic zone as they are defined by electrical resistivity. Taupo, the most active rhyolitic volcano of the taupo volcanic zone, is a large, roughly 35kmwide caldera with poorly defined margins. Structure and kinematics of the taupo rift, new zealand. The huge caldera collapse crater has been partly filled by new zealands largest lake, lake taupo. The huge caldera collapse crater has been partly filled by new zealand s largest lake, lake taupo. Taupo caldera is a broad depression mostly filled by lake taupo.
This molten rock rises to the surface through the thinned crust and is either erupted from volcanoes like ruapehu, tongariro and ngaruhoe or sits within the crust and heats it, and the water it contains, up causing geothermal activity around taupo and rotorua. A history of taupo volcanic zone geothermal development. Subcategories this category has the following 21 subcategories, out of 21 total. Explain in depth how the features of the taupo volcanic zone are weathered and eroded to produce the final shapes we see today. Hot springs are a bonus of the active geology in the taupo volcanic zone. The caldera, now filled by lake taupo, largely formed as a result of the voluminous eruption of the oruanui tephra about 22,600 years before present bp. Enjoy exciting water sports, visit huka falls, or cycle one of taupos many mountainbiking trails. Caldera volcanoes of the taupo volcanic zone, new zealand. Palaeomagnetism and chronology of the central taupo. The distribution of the geothermal fields in the taupo volcanic zone, new zealand warwick m. Geothermal development history of the taupo volcanic zone. As you might expect from a volcanic zone, there are numerous active volcanoes and geothermal fields in the area.
It is named after lake taupo, the flooded caldera of the largest volcano in the zone. The structure and eruptive history of rotorua caldera. Gns science said the zone, which extends from white island to ruapehu. Greenthe origin of basaltic and nephelinitic magmas. Make links between the formation of the selected rock to the relevant stage of the rock cycle and the geological history of the taupo volcanic zone. It has the largest area of surface thermal activity of any system in the taupo volcanic zone. Genesis of lavas of the taupo volcanic zone, north island, new. Taupo volcano first began to erupt over 300,000 years ago. Taupo volcanic zone, geothermal fields, modelling abstract a numerical model of the large scale water and heat flows. The whakamaru caldera partially overlaps with the taupo caldera on the south and was formed during the eruption of the whakamaru group ignimbrites between about 340.
Rbsr, smnd, and pbpb radioisotopic analyses of samples of these andesites, as anticipated, did not yield any age information, although the pb isotopic data are strongly linear. Major structures, lava types, and vent locations at the rotorua and okataina volcanic centers within the northern taupo volcanic zone. The taupo volcanic zone tvz has been active since 2 ma and has erupted 10 4 km 3 of dominantly rhyolitic magma during the last 1 m. The zone contains the volcanoes of taupo,tarawera and rotorura. The taupo volcanic zone is a highly active volcanic v shaped area in the north island of new zealand that is spreading east west at the rate of about 8mm per year. Steam explosions rock new zealands rotorua caldera wired. Earthquake history at the eastern boundary of the south taupo volcanic zone, new zealand article pdf available in new zealand journal of geology and geophysics.
Volcanic and structural evolution of taupo volcanic zone. World volcano profiles new zealandtaupo volcanic zone the taupo volcanic zone tvz on new zealands north island is responsible for most of new zealands current volcanic activity. Pdf earthquake history at the eastern boundary of the. Titles tend to be popular science, and while there are inhouse publications, we also sell externally. Uncertainties as to dates and tephra volumes are not restated, and references are not repeated. Taupo volcanic zone is the highly active volcanic area in the north island of new zealand, that stretches from mount ruapehu to white island. The 2019 map shows features in more detail than the 1999 map. Pages in category taupo volcanic zone the following 20 pages are in this category, out of 20 total. These are mainly rhyolitic ignimbrites and lava domes, with a few basaltic, andesitic, and dacitic lavas.
The tvz is an extensional feature called a back arc basin which allows magma from. We report palaeomagnetic measurements from 59 distinct volcanic units sampled at 98 sites in the tvz. One of the largest eruptions being the lake taupo eruption of 186 ad. The 16 x 25 km maroa caldera formed sometime after 230 thousand years ago ka in the ne corner of the 30 x 40 km whakamaru caldera, which is the largest of the taupo volcanic zone. Physical geology and eruptive history of the matahina ignimbrite, taupo volcanic zone. For a one page fact sheet poster on taupo volcano click volcanofactsheets taupo. Lake taupo, on new zealands north island, is in the caldera of taupo volcano. Both the taupo volcanic zone and the wider central volcanic region are within a negative residual gravity anomaly. Oblique back arc rifting of taupo volcanic zone, new. The taupo volcano forms part of the taupo volcanic zone, a region of volcanic activity that extends from ruapehu in the south, through the taupo and rotorua regions, to white island, in the bay of plenty. Dont forget your camera for some stunning volcanic and geothermal photo opportunities in taupo, new zealand.
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