"The summit of Kurikoma volcano is cut by a 4-km-wide
caldera
breached to the north that is partially filled by the Tsurugi-dake
central cone.
The complex andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcano was constructed
over a relatively high basement of welded and unwelded Tertiary
dacitic tuffs and sedimentary rocks
and thus has a smaller volume than its height suggests.
Early stage eruptions beginning about 500,000 years ago produced
lava flows to the north and south,
followed by growth of the Higashi-Kurikoma (East Kurikoma)
stratovolcano.
Magusa-dake volcano on the western side of the complex was
active until about 100,000 years ago.
Construction of the main cone concluded with lava flows to
the east, SE, and west.
Daichigamori lava dome and Aguroshi-yama pyroclastic cone
are located on the southern flank.
Minor phreatic eruptions have occurred in historical time
from the central cone."
From the Smithsonian web page.
The stamp below was issued June 20th, 1972
Click here to return to
map of Japan
Click here to return to home page