The volcano probably formed during the early
Holocene[4] and aside from the summit crater also features an explosion crater on the southwestern side of the summit.[6] Three large collapses of the edifice occurred around 6300
BP; between the first two volcanic activity restored the cone, while the third occurred on the ridge on which Kambalny was constructed. The longest of these
landslides travelled 20 kilometres (12 mi).[5] The total volume of these landslides, 5–10 cubic kilometres (1.2–2.4 cu mi), is the largest of all Holocene landslides, but it was buried at Kambalny proper by later volcanic activity. The collapse scar in the ridge is still visible and was the site of later landslides when Kambalny volcano was active.[5]
Kambalny is part of a group of volcanoes from the late
Pleistocene and the
Holocene that surround the
Kurile Lakecaldera. Other volcanoes in that group are
Diky Greben,
Ilyinsky,
Koshelev and
Zheltovsky.[7] Kambalny itself is constructed on a ridge which formed in the
Quaternary during the uplift of the central part of a
trough.[8] This trough is also the site of the Pleistocene
Pauzhetka Caldera and Kambalny formed on this caldera rim.[9] Other volcanoes in the area include Thermalny, North Kambalny and Chernye Skaly.[10] The position of Kambalny is also controlled by the margin between the Kurile
island arc and the South Kamchatka block.[11]
The cone rises about 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) above the surrounding terrain.[12] The Pauzhetsky
geothermal field is associated with the Kambalny volcanic ridge,[13] and Kambalny may be the heat source for this system.[14] The geothermal energy output at Kambalny is about 320 megawatts (320,000,000 W).[15]Fumarolic activity along with the emission of CO 2, H 2S and CH 4 occur in the area of Kambalny.[16] These fumaroles have left
efflorescences that are derived from compounds leached from rocks and which have yielded novel minerals.[17] The volcanic rocks have been weathered to form
clays and secondary minerals.[18] The geothermal field is subdivided into three sectors, Severo-Kambalny ("North-Kambalny"), Central'no Kambalny ("Central Kambalny") and Yuzhno-Kambalny ("South-Kambalny").[17]
Recent eruption history
The last eruption from Kambalny occurred on March 24, 2017[19] when ash emission was observed that continued for six days.[6] Ash emissions hindered
air travel over the Pacific Ocean.[10] The ash originated in a funnel in the western crater flank; it formed mud streams[20] and appears to have originated in a
phreatic eruption.[21] The last known volcanic activity prior to 2017 was in 1769. Future volcanic activity from the volcano may be a threat to the
Mutnovsky geothermal operations.[22] Further, additional large collapses of the edifice are possible, which may endanger hunters, fishermen and tourists.[23] As of June 2012[update], the volcano has no associated
seismic station[24] but it is monitored by the Kamchatkan Volcanic Eruption Response Team since 2002.[10] Before the 2017 eruption, three days of increased seismic activity were noted.[10]
The volcano began to grow 8,000-7,500 years ago.[10] Other eruptions took place 8,000, 7,500, 600 and possibly 200 years ago;[6] before 2017 it had been inactive for two centuries.[25] The ash erupted during a
phreatic eruption 564–686 years
BP is a marker ash that has been found as far as
Paramushir island in the northern portion of the
Kuril Islands.[26]Tephras younger than this date have been identified as well.[27]
^Averiev, V. V.; Ivanov, V. V.; Piip, B. I. (December 1960). "Problems of using volcanic thermae of the Kurile-Kamchatka island arc for power". Bulletin Volcanologique. 23 (1): 261–262.
Bibcode:
1960BVol...23..257A.
doi:
10.1007/BF02596653.
S2CID129657826.
^Malahoff, Alexander (1969-01-01). "Magnetic Studies over Volcanoes". In Hart, Pembroke J. (ed.). The Earth's Crust and Upper Mantle. Geophysical Monograph Series. American Geophysical Union. pp. 436–446.
doi:
10.1029/gm013p0436.
ISBN9781118668979.
^Kiryukhin, Alexey V; Yampolsky, Vladimir A (August 2004). "Modeling study of the Pauzhetsky geothermal field, Kamchatka, Russia". Geothermics. 33 (4): 423.
doi:
10.1016/j.geothermics.2003.09.010.
^Ivanov, V. V. (December 1959). "Present-day hydrothermal activity within the Kurile-Kamchatka Island arc and its relation to volcanicity". Bulletin Volcanologique. 20 (1): 141.
Bibcode:
1959BVol...20..137I.
doi:
10.1007/BF02596575.
S2CID130923707.
Ismagilova, Rezeda M.; Nuzhdaev, Anton A.; Shilovskikh, Vladimir V.; Belakovsky, Dmitry I.; Siidra, Oleg I.; Zhitova, Elena S. (2018). "Ammoniovoltaite, (NH4)2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12(H2O)18, a new mineral from the Severo-Kambalny geothermal field, Kamchatka, Russia". Mineralogical Magazine. 82 (5): 1057–1077.
Bibcode:
2018MinM...82.1057Z.
doi:
10.1180/minmag.2017.081.083.
ISSN0026-461X.
S2CID133719658.