Newer Volcanics Province

Newer Volcanics Province
Mount Buninyong, the highest peak in the Newer Volcanics Province.
Highest point
Elevation745 m (2,444 ft)
Coordinates37°39′S 143°56′E / 37.650°S 143.933°E / -37.650; 143.933
Geography
Map
LocationVictoria and South Australia, Australia
Geology
Mountain typeVolcanic field / Cinder cones / Maars / Crater lakes
Last eruptionHolocene
Climbing
First ascentBCE

The Newer Volcanics Province is a geological area which is a volcanic field, formed by the East Australia hotspot across south-eastern Australia. It covers an area of 15,000 square kilometres (5,800 sq mi), with over 400 small shield volcanoes and volcanic vents. The area contains the youngest volcanoes in Australia.[1][2]

The volcanoes date from the Late-Pleistocene to Holocene ages. The area is characterised by flat lava flows, forming a plain above which rise numerous small scoria cones, tuff rings, and maars. The most recent eruptions in the region took place at Mount Schank and Mount Gambier, estimated about 5000 years BP, when several maars were formed and associated lava flows spread around the cones.[3][2]

  1. ^ Rawlinson, N.; Sandiford, M. (2012). "Illuminating the upper mantle beneath the Newer Volcanics province, southeast Australia, using seismic body wave tomography". AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. 2012. Bibcode:2012AGUFM.T31B2594R.
  2. ^ a b "Newer Volcanics Province". Volcano Discovery. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  3. ^ Selina, Kate; Green, Webber (27 May 2016). "Long time to wait for Australia's next volcanic eruption". ABC News. Retrieved 18 March 2020.