Kasuga Seamount

Kasuga 1, the northernmost of three seamounts in the Kasuga seamount chain SE of Fukujin, rises from a depth of 3,000 m to within about 600 m of the ocean surface. A series of flank vents are located low on the southern side of the edifice. The summit does not have a caldera or display hydrothermal activity, and is largely covered by volcaniclastics. Altered basaltic and andesitic rocks dredged from the summit suggest that it is the oldest of the three seamounts, although delicately preserved lava flow lobes and toes from a flank eruption suggest a very youthful age. It is listed as an active volcano by the Japan Meteorological Agency, and floating pumice attributed to a submarine eruption was seen south of it in the summer of 1959. Water discoloration from a possible submarine eruption was reported near the seamount in November 1975.