Dawson Strait Group

Papua New Guinea · Volcanic field

Dawson Strait Group

Type: Volcanic field
Elevation: 500m
Last eruption: 1350

The Dawson Straits, seen in this NASA Landsat image, is located between eastern Fergusson Island (upper left) and northwestern Normanby Island (lower left) in the D'Entrecasteaux island group. The area contains a volcanic field with several young volcanic centers that erupted rhyolitic obsidian flows. Mount Oiau is located on the narrow peninsula (left center) forming the southernmost point on Fergusson Island. A large crater is visible on Dobu Island, southeast of Oiau. Young volcanic rocks are also found on Sanaroa Island (upper right). · Photo: NASA Landsat 7 image, 1999-2003 (courtesy of NASA Worldwind).

Type: Volcanic field
Country: Papua New Guinea
Region: Southwestern Pacific / Trobriand Volcanic Province
Elevation: 500m
Coordinates: -9.620, 150.880
Last eruption: 1350
Tectonic setting: Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform: Cluster
Major rock type: Rhyolite

Geological summary

The Dawson Straits, located between eastern Fergusson and western Normanby Islands in the D'Entrecasteaux island group, contains a volcanic field with several centers that define a possible partly submerged caldera.

Excerpt from the Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution · Read the full summary on GVP →