Volcano World

Zhupanovsky is a compound volcano. It rises ~8850 ft (2700 m) from its base. This volcanic mass has four summits, stretched in the WNW direction. The two eastern summits are part of the old crater rim. This crater is now filled with ice. The two western summits are cones that stick out of the body of the main volcano. The slopes of the main volcano are cut by deep canyons. The summit closest to the center is on the west side. It has an active crater associated with the lava flow channel of the main volcano. The extreme western summit is an independent volcanic vent.

Zhupanovsky has a big, half-destroyed crater on its summit. The volcano itself is built of andesites and basalts. The crater depression on the main summit of the volcano has a diameter of about 0.6 miles (1 km). Near the southern rim of the crater are cylindrical openings in the ice. These have a diameter of about 250 ft (75 m). Large quantities of solfatara gasses come from these holes. There are also solfataras on the outer slopes of the summit. These solfataras deposit great amounts of sulphur.

The first parasitic cone to the west has a crater about 490 ft (150 m) around. It is open to the east. The outer slopes of the crater are covered by fresh lava streams. In 1940, there was fumarolic activity in a number of places. Fumaroles have also been found inside the crater. Fresh streams of lava are found only on the west side of the summit of the first parasitic cone. The surface of this lava is blocky.

Zhupanovsky has vulcanian eruptions. It has erupted 12 times. The most recent of these was in 1959. Lava from these eruptions is composed mainly of andesites and basalts.

Sources of Information:

Vlodavetz, V.I. and Piip, B.I., "Catalogue of the Active Volcanoes of the World Including Solfatara Fields: Part VIII, Kamchatka and Continental Areas of Asia," International Volcanological Association, Napoli, Italy, 110 pp., 1959.