|
Start/Stop Date9 |
VEI9 |
Characteristics9 |
Photo13 |
Of Note13 |
|
11/22/97-2008 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion
Mudflow(s) (lahars)
Evacuation |
|
Continuing, but
this eruptive phase might end with an eruption
similar to the 1913 Plinian event that could
threaten nearby cities and towns.
|
|
7/21/94-7/21/94 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Phreatic explosion(s)
Evacuation |
|
Phreatic
explosion destroys the ’91 dome and produces
avalanches and rock falls. |
|
3/1/91-10/1991 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion
Damage (land, property, etc.)
Mudflow(s) (lahars)
Debris avalanche(s) |
|
A new eruptive
phase begins!
Dome-growth,
block-lava flows, and ash plumes are observed.
|
|
6/15/88 +/- 180
days |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
Two new vents
were emitting vapor and a section of the dome
had caved in. This was accompanied by fumarolic
activity, landslides and avalanches, and uplift.
|
|
7/2/87-7/2/87 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Phreatic explosion(s) |
|
Mushroom cloud
approximately 500-1000 m high is observed, and a
debris avalanche occurs, forming a depression
100-150 m in diameter and 30-40 m deep |
|
1985-1/5/86 +/- 4
days |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
2/11/83-2/15/83 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
|
|
12/1977-6/1982 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Two dome
explosions on 12/9/1981 that caused the effusion
of block lava and a dark ash plume emission |
|
12/11/75 –
6/20/76 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
|
|
1/30/73 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Eruption
uncertain (what exactly does that mean?) |
|
1963-1970 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
New lava dome
growth and major block-lava eruption with slight
explosive activity and block-and-ash flows.
|
|
1961-12/1/1962
+/- 30 days |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Lobes of blocky
andesite emerge from the crater.
Photo: The 1 km
1961-62 lava flow. |
|
5/14/1957-1960 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Phreatic explosion(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Onset of new
activity with dome growth of about 20 cm/day.
|
|
4/15/41 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption (?)
Pyroclastic flow(s) (?)
Damage (land, property, etc.) |
|
Photo: Air view
of the volcanic crater in 1941.
|
|
1926 +/- 4
yrs-1931 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption (?)
Phreatic explosion(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
On January 13,
1931, the crater-floor, once covered with
debris, was “covered with black, steaming
lava…spotted with yellow sulfur sublimates,”
indicating that the lava dome was rising. |
|
1/18/13 +/- 1 day
– 1/24/13 |
4 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Fatalities
Damage (land, property, etc.)
Mudflow(s) (lahars) |
|
A “detonation”
followed by an eruption cloud of great magnitude
were reported, followed by continuous eruptions
and electrical events and the generation of
pyroclastic flows for four days. The upper 100
m of the cone were removed.
Before: Photo
taken in 1909 from El Paso del Colimote
After: Following
the 1/20 eruption. |
|
12/18/1908 –
7/1/09 +/- 30 days |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Phreatic explosion(s)
Lava flow(s) |
|
Ash-producing
explosion, with similar activity continuing into
the next year. |
|
1904-1906 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption (?)
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Fumarolic
activity, pyroclastic materials, block-lava
avalanches, ash production. |
|
2/15/1903- 8/1903 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Behavior changes
to longer periods of quiescence, but eruptions
cause heavy ash fall and incandescent material
ignites nearby forests.
Left: Photo of
the 3/7 eruption taken in Colima by Jose Maria
Arreola. |
|
12/4/1893 – 1902 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s) |
|
Observation of
the volcano begins in 1893! Fumarolic, lava,
ash, and scoria emissions characterize this
period, but 1899-1902 marks an increase in
explosive activity. |
|
7/1891 – 6/1892 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
11/18/1890 - ? |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
8/9/1889 –
2/16/1890 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s) |
|
Large quantities
of ash produced, generating pyroclastic flows.
The February eruption is actually ascribed a VEI
of 4 by some, which would make it one of the
largest eruptions in Colima’s history.
|
|
1887 - ? |
0 |
Central vent eruption
Lava dome extrusion |
|
|
|
12/26/1885 –
11/1886 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Damage (land, property, etc.) |
|
Vulcanian
activity produces lava and projectile emission
that cause forest fires. Dome growth is
observed. |
|
1882 – 1884 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
12/1/1880 –
4/12/1881 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s) |
|
Activity not
discernable from previous entry.
|
|
12/23/1879 –
4/30/1880 |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Flank (excentric) vent
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s) |
|
In Colima, “the
wind carried ash particles even into the city
and covered the roofs with a gay and white veil”
and “splendid fire appearances” occurred more
often. Block-and-ash flows were also described.
|
|
1875 – 1878 |
1 |
Flank (excentric) vent
Explosive eruption
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Emissions of lava
and scoria from Volcancito, and fumarolic
activity from the crater. |
|
6/12/1874 - ? |
1 |
Flank (excentric) vent
Explosive eruption
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Moderate
explosive emissions, fumarolic activity
reported. |
|
2/26/1872 –
3/27/1873 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Flank (excentric) vent
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion
Damage (land, property, etc.)
Evacuation |
|
“Tree-shaped
cloud” reported, marking an eruption that lasted
only 2 hours on 2/26, but producing an ash fall
that caused people to “pray in the streets and
squares requesting the mercy of God.” Later
events produced similarly substantial ash falls.
It was said that during one eruption, cracks
opened up in fields and flames leapt out, but
these were likely pyroclastic flows or
incandescent ballistics. Activity continued
throughout the first few months of 1873,
producing ash columns and even incandescent rock
avalanches.
Top: 2/26
eruption drawn by Francisco Rivas.
2nd
from Top: 3/27 eruption drawn by Rivas.
Middle: 4/10
eruption of Volcancito as seen by Rivas from
Tonila.
2nd
from Bottom: 4/16 eruption.
Bottom: One of
the earliest photos of an eruption at Colima,
taken on 8/13 by Manuel Gomez. |
|
1870 – 1871 |
0 |
Flank (excentric) vent
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
Eruptive activity
at Volcancito with small lava flows and
fumaroles. |
|
6/12/1869 –
8/24/1869 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Flank (excentric) vent
Explosive eruption
Phreatic explosion(s)
Lava flow(s)
Lava dome extrusion |
|
First
well-documented eruption of substantial lava
(0.17 cubic km) flows in Colima’s record from a
parasitic cone known as “Volcancito”
Top: Drawing by
Francisco Rivas from 14 km distant.
Bottom: Drawing
by Manuel Gomez of the lava flow from
Volcancito. |
|
1819 - ? |
1 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
May have actually
been a tectonic earthquake, rather than an
eruption |
|
2/15/1818 |
4 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Fatalities
Damage (land, property, etc.) |
|
Largest eruption
of the 19th century, marking the end
of an eruptive cycle. Major ash fall that caused
the collapse of houses and was reported as far
as 470 km from the volcano – torches were
extinguished by the ash as it fell. Pyroclastic
flows were confused with lava, which was not
produced in this eruption. The eruptions were so
vigorous that some thought they were the sound
of an attacking army, and in Lagos, they sent a
battalion to repel the perceived attack.
Fumarolic activity persisted.
|
|
1806 – 1809 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s) |
|
Major activity
resumes following a destructive earthquake felt
as far away as Mexico City. Activity in
subsequent years reported as: “lavas fell down
off the mountain, and the city of Colima was
illuminated every night by the pale reflection
of the fire of the volcano.” |
|
1804 - ? |
2 |
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
3/1795 – 9/1795 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Lava flow(s) |
|
“Fire streams”
emitted from the volcano accompanied by strong
seismic activity. |
|
8/1794 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
Explosion felt as
far as 50 km from vent with continuous fumarolic
activity throughout the year |
|
11/26/1780 - ? |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
Ponce de Leon
reports fires started by the eruption of
incandescent material. |
|
1771 - ? |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
3/10/1770 –
3/12/1770 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Lava flow(s)
Damage (land, property, etc.) |
|
Ponce de Leon
describes star and sun-obscuring smoke, “fire
rivers” that destroyed everything and left
cattle buried in its wake. |
|
1769 - ? |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
An explosion so
big that it it produced flames that illuminated
everything as far as Colima. |
|
1749 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption (?) |
|
Eruption is
uncertain…hmmm. |
|
1744 - ? |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Damage (land, property, etc.)
Mudflow(s) (lahars) |
|
An account made
of 1744 notes that flows of mud caused the
overflow of rivers and that there was a
“continual tossing of fire.” Which we all know
is what volcanoes produce. |
|
10/22/1743 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption (?) |
|
Uncertain
Eruption.
Reports of strong
seismic activity that lasted for 12 days and
destroyed houses. |
|
1711 - ? |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
In Guadalajara,
it was said that one could not tell day from
night, due to the 3-day emission of ash from
Colima. |
|
1690 - ? |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
6/8/1622 –
6/9/1622 |
4 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
A city located
more than 400 km from the volcano reported “a
remarkable rain that contained so much ash, as
to darken the sun and turn everything of white
color, as when there is a full moon” causing
many to panic and pray in the streets for it to
stop. |
|
4/15/1611 – 1613 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
Vulcanian and
Pelean- style eruptions that “produced great
quantities of ash, sand, and scoria” accompanied
by frequent seismic activity. |
|
11/25/1606 –
12/13/1606 |
4 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Damage (land, property, etc.) |
|
Two possible
Pelean eruptions that darkened the sky “as if
outside at night” and produced ash dispersal
ranges of up to 200 km, reaching as far as the
state of Michoacán. |
|
1602 |
2 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption (?) |
|
Eruption
Uncertain – did it, or did it not? That is the
question… Though reports from a ship sailing off
the coast of Colima reference the volcano in a
way that would indicate substantial emissions
were occurring. |
|
1/14/1590 –
1/15/1590 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Fatalities |
|
|
|
1/1/1585 - ? |
4 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Damage (land, property, etc.) |
|
Reports indicate
that the eruption completely obscured the sun,
produced a “burning cloud” – or pyroclastic flow
- and distributed ash up to 220 km away,
killing many livestock. |
|
1576 - ? |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Fatalities
Damage (land, property, etc.) |
|
Writing in 1651,
an author notes that the volcano, also known as
Tzapotlan, “tossed a lot of fire and
caused the death of many boys due to fright”
during this eruption. |
|
1560 - ? |
2 |
Explosive eruption (?) |
|
|
|
1519 – 1523 |
3 |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
The earliest
account of the volcano’s activity is recorded in
the book Historia Antigua de Mexico, by
Calvijero, in which the conqueror Gonzalo de
Umbria describes the results of the explosive
activity and “burning clouds.” |
|
1000 +/- 100 yrs
- ? |
- |
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
730 AD +/- 100
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
620 BC - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Debris avalanche(s) |
|
|
|
1140 BC - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
1320 BC - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
1450 BC +/- 100
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
1890 BC +/- 75
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
2370 BC +/- 150
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s)
Mudflow(s) (lahars)
Debris avalanche(s) |
|
|
|
1790 BC +/- 150
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
3030 BC +/- 50
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
4500 BC +/- 200
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
4960 BC +/- 200
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Debris avalanche(s) (?) |
|
|
|
6320 BC +/- 200
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption |
|
|
|
7420 BC +/- 500
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Pyroclastic flow(s) |
|
|
|
7960 BC +/- 500
yrs - ? |
|
Central vent eruption
Explosive eruption
Debris avalanche(s) |
|
|