Introduction

There is only one active volcano on Australian Territory. Big Ben is located on Heard Island, an Australian territory in the southern Indian Ocean. Big Ben has erupted as recently as 2001.

Read more about Big Ben from these web sites:

• Big Ben: the fire beneath the ice
  - from Australian Antarctic Division
• Heard Island, Big Ben
  - image of Big Ben
• Volcano erupts in Southern Ocean
  - from Science in News, ABC

Within Australia, the last eruption of an active volcano was about 5000 years ago in the area around Mt Gambier in South Australia. There are many areas in Australia which have experienced volcanic activity in geologically recent times.

Task

Your task is to select four areas in Australia that have experienced recent (less than 40 million years) volcanic activity.

Identify

the area,

the nature of the volcanic activity,

when the volcanic activity took place,

the current landforms resulting from the volcanic activity

and any other evidence of the volcanic activity.

Besides the web sites listed below, some useful references are:

• Hann, C. (2002) Hot Spot Volcanoes. Science Education News, 51(4), 169-171.
• Branagan, D. & Packham, G. (2000) Field Geology of New South Wales, NSW: Department of Mineral Resources.
• Birch, W. D. (1994) Volcanoes in Victoria, Vic: Royal Society of Victoria.

Process and resources

Visit these webs sites to complete the tasks. It may not be necessary to access all the web sites. You may find a good answer by visiting one site, and other resources such as photographs and sketches at some of the alternate web sites. You may find additional information, explanations and different points of view, by visiting a number of the sites. Be sure to read all the questions before starting because you may find the answer to later questions in some of the web sites for earlier questions.

1. On a map of Australia, mark and name locations of recent volcanic activity. Select four volcanic areas to explore in more detail and use these links to help you complete your task. You can also use the links below to specific volcanic areas.

• Free Blank Outline Map of Australia
  - save the image to use electronically or click below the map to access a printable map of Australia
• Images Archive: Volcanoes
  - images of Australia Volcanoes including map from Gesocience Australia
• Volcanoes in Victoria
  - from Museum of Victoria
• Images of Volcanoes in the Australian Region
  - from Volcano World
• Volcanoes of Australia
  - from Volcano Live
• Igneous Landforms
  - from ROCK LANDFORMS of Australia & New Zealand, from Villanova College, Queensland

2. Specific Volcanic Areas

1. Undarra
   • Undara Volcanic National Park
     - fact sheet from Australian Heritage Commission
   • The Virtual Lava Tube - from The Good Earth
   • Undara Lava Tubes
     - reprinted from Geo Australasia
   • Undara Lava Tubes
     - from Australian Museum
   • Undara, Queensland, Australia
     - from Volcano World
   • Undara Lava Tubes (More) Photos - (Queensland)
     - from Australian Explorer
2. Glasshouse Mountains
   • .pdf file
     - diagram, map, cross section, from Queensland Government
   • Glass House Mountains National Park
     - from Environment Protection Agency, Queensland
   • Panorama of the Glasshouse Mountains
     - from Project Atmosphere
   • The Official Glasshouse Mountains Tourism Website
     - from Glasshouse Mountains Tourism Committee
   • Glass House Mountains
     - from Australian Museum
3. Bunya Mountains
   • THE BUNYA MOUNTAINS
     - from Geological Society of Australian Queensland Division
4. Tweed Volcanoes - Mt Warning
   • GREEN MOUNTAINS - O'REILLY'S
     - from Geological Society of Australian Queensland Division
   • Volcanic Influence on Lamington National Park
     - from Lamington National Park web site, The University of Queensland
   • Continental Drift and Lamington National Park
     - from Lamington National Park web site, The University of Queensland
   • The Caldera of the Tweed Volcano
     - from Wollumbin Visitor Guide
   • Geology of Mt Warning caldera
     - from Wollumbin Visitor Guide
   • Cross section
     - diagram of Mt Warning Caldera from Wollumbin Visitor Guide
   • Mt Warning
     - from Australian Museum
5. Warrumbungles
   Warrumbungles Field Studies Centre
   - from NSW Department of Education
   • The Breadknife
     - image
   • Warrumbungles National Park, NSW, Australia
     - images
   • Warrumbungles National Park: Geology and landscape
     - from National Parks and Wildlife Service
   • Case study: Warrumbungle Volcano
     - from ROCK LANDFORMS of Australia & New Zealand, from Villanova College, Queensland
   • The Warrumbungles
     - from Australian Museum
6. Organ Pipes, Keilor Victoria
   • Organ Pipes National Park - Geology
     - from FRIENDS OF THE ORGAN PIPES NATIONAL PARK
   • Organ Pipes National Park
     - from Parks Victoria
   • Year 8 Organ Pipes Excursion
     - from students at Northcote High School
   • ORGAN PIPES NATIONAL PARK
     - from Friends of Organ Pipes National Park web site
7. Camperdown, Victoria
   • Volcanoes Discovery Trail
     - includes maps, photos and information
   • Volcanic landforms in the Camperdown area of Victoria
     - prepared by UniServe Science
   • Mount Leura and Mount Sugarloaf
     - from Corangamite Shire
   • Explore Camperdown
     - .pdf file with cross section diagrams
8. Mt Eccles
   • Volcanoes Discovery Trail
     - includes maps, photos and information
   • Mount Eccles National Park
     - from Victoria's ParkNet
9. Tower Hill
   • Image of Tower Hill
   • Tower Hill, near Warrnambool, western Victoria
     - aerial photograph of Tower Hill
   • Treasures of Tower Hill
     - photograph and information
   • Tower Hill State Game Reserve - from Parks Victoria
10. Mt Schank
    • Mount Schank, Newer Volcanic Province, South Australia
      - from Volcano World
    • Mt Schank
      - from Volcano Live
      
    • Phreatomagmatic Eruptions
      - from Volcano World
    • VOLCANOES OF THE MOUNT GAMBIER AREA
      - Division of Minerals and Energy Resources, South Australia
11. Mt Gambier
    • VOLCANOES OF THE MOUNT GAMBIER AREA
      - Division of Minerals and Energy Resources, South Australia
    • Mount Gambier, Newer Volcanic Province, South Australia
      - from Volcano World
      
    • Australian Volcanoes Mount Gambier - South Australia
      - from Geoscience Australia
    
    

3. Use the links below to check the meaning of terms so you can accurately describe the types of volcanic activity and features of your four volcanic areas.

• Volcano Dictionary
  - from Enchanted Learning
• Glossary of Volcano and related terminology
  - from United States Geological Survey
• Volcano Facts
  - from Volcano World
• Types of Volcanoes
  - from Volcano World

4. Describe the distribution of recent volcanic activity in Australia. Where did it occur? Where is the most recent activity? Why are there no active volcanoes now? Use the links below to give an explanation of the location and age of the recent eruptions.

• Hotspots: Mantle thermal plumes
  - from This Dynamic Earth, USGS
• The long trail of the Hawaiian hotspot
  - from This Dynamic Earth, USGS
• The Formation of the Hawaiian Islands
  - from the Hawaii Center for Volcanology
• Volcanoes of Australia
  - from Volcano World
• Young Volcanoes Hold Key to Australia's History
  - from University of Queensland
• Volcanoes & Earthquakes in SE Australia
  - from University of Western Australia

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Conclusion

Your task now is to prepare a brochure or web page on one area in Australia that has had recent volcanic activity, highlighting its scenic features and origins.

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For further information contact Kaye Placing

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