Event Name : Okmok 1824
Start: | 1824 | Observed |  |
Stop: | 1830 | Observed |  |
Lava flow: |
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Radial fissure: |
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Eruption Type: | Explosive | |
Duration: | Perhaps up to 6 years |
![Information derived from: Grewingk's geology of Alaska and the Northwest Coast of America [edited by Marvin W. Falk, translation by Fritz Jaensch published 2003] BibCard](/images/icons/report.png) |
Description: From Grey (2003): "According to Grewingk (1850, translated 2003 by Fritz Jaensch), Lutke reported an eruption on the northeast end of Umnak Island, during which a 'mountain ridge opened up' in 1824 and was still 'smoking' in 1830. He also says that Postels (in Lutke, 1836) erroneously reported the activity as stretching along the northwest coast, but does not mention on what basis this presumption of error is made - perhaps the eruption was merely viewed from off the NW coast and appeared nearer than it was. I interpret these two reports as describing a linear (fissure) eruption and postulate that it may have taken place along the chain of small vents within the caldera that extends west from Cone B. This assumes fire fountains reaching above the caldera rim (500 m or more in height)."
Grey (2003) explains that fire fountains this high are unlikely, and then continues as follows: "Perhaps the observer saw the red glow of the eruption reflected on the underside of a low cloud deck. The relative freshness of the deposits from this arcuate fissure supports a historic time frame. There is also a young lava flow from Cone B that is so fresh it was originally mistaken for 1958 lava during field work in 2000 and could have been erupted in this time frame as well."
Powers (1958) also states that he believes a lava flow likely occurred during this eruption.