Context: According to reports from Live Science (LS), the Taftan Volcano in southeastern Iran appears to have shown renewed activity after nearly 700,000 years of dormancy. Scientists have detected increased geothermal emissions and seismic tremors in the region, suggesting reactivation within the long-dormant volcanic system.
About Taftan Volcano:
- Location: Situated in Sistan–Baluchestan Province of southeastern Iran, near the Pakistan border, Taftan is the highest volcano in Iran and one of the few active ones in the Makran volcanic arc.
- Elevation: Approximately 3,940 meters (12,927 feet) above sea level.
- Volcano Type: Stratovolcano (Composite Cone) — built up by successive eruptions of lava flows, ash, and pyroclastic material.
- Tectonic Setting: Lies within the Alborz–Makran volcanic belt, where the Arabian Plate is being subducted beneath the Eurasian Plate.
This subduction process generates magma that feeds volcanoes like Taftan. - Geological Features:
- Active hydrothermal vents and fumaroles continuously emit sulphur gases.
- Presence of sulphur deposits, hot springs, and altered rocks around the summit indicates ongoing geothermal activity.
- The last confirmed eruption occurred around 710,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch.
Understanding Stratovolcanoes (Composite Cones):
- Structure: Tall, steep-sided cones composed of alternating layers of lava, ash, and tephra.
- Magma Composition: Typically andesitic, sometimes basaltic to rhyolitic — rich in silica, causing viscous magma and explosive eruptions.
- Eruption Style: Highly explosive, often producing pyroclastic flows and ash clouds that can travel large distances.
- Tectonic Environment: Common in subduction zones — regions where an oceanic plate sinks beneath a continental plate.
- Famous Examples:
- Mount Fuji (Japan)
- Mount Vesuvius (Italy)
- Volcán de Fuego (Guatemala)
- Mount St. Helens (USA)
Significance of Taftan’s Reactivation:
- Geological Insight: Offers rare evidence of volcanic reawakening in the Makran arc, a region otherwise known for earthquakes and subduction-related hazards.
- Regional Impact: Increased geothermal activity could pose risks to local settlements and infrastructure but also offers geothermal energy potential.
- Scientific Relevance: Helps in studying the Arabian–Eurasian plate interaction, crucial for understanding seismic and volcanic hazards across Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.
Conclusion:
The potential reawakening of Taftan Volcano underscores the dynamic nature of the Earth’s lithosphere. While dormant for nearly a million years, its renewed activity reminds us that even ancient volcanic systems remain geologically alive — warranting close monitoring and regional preparedness.