Geological survey on Chokai volcano in northeastern Japan has been carried out to construct the volcanic history and structure of the volcano. During this survey a detailed geological map of the volcano has been completed. The volcanic history of Chokai volcano can be divided into three stages as follows.
Stage I: In the middle Pleistocene eruptions of major lava flows and associated pyroclastic flows and falls started from a central vent to form a large stratovolcano, circa 1, 000m high above the base. and 47km
3 in volume. After completion of the stratovolcano, the north sector of the volcano seems to have collapsed, leaving dry avalanche deposits on the northern foot. The rocks are mainly talc-alkaline andesite with augite, hypersthene and rarely olivine phenocryst, which is accompanied by a small amount of basaltic rocks.
Stage II: After the collapse, eruptions of lavas and pyroclastics occurred from a number of vents aligned E-W for 14km. The E-W trending of the crater alignment and normal faults cutting the volcanic edifice may be related to the regional stress field. The volcanic products covered the western and eastern flank of the volcano, although no prominent cone was built, The estimated volume of the volcanic product is 22km
3. Finally, a part of the western flank collapsed, resulting in formation of a horseshoe caldera. Calc-alkaline andesite with abundant olivine phenocrysts including chromian spinels was erupted in the early period of this stage, which is followed by eruptions of hornblende-bearing andesite.
Stage III: A small stratovolcano was built on the eastern flank, and minor lava flows covered the western flank. About 2600 years B.P. the northern part of the stratovolcano collapsed, leaving a horseshoe caldera opening to the north and dry avalanche deopsits on the northeastern foot. Subsequently, two lava domes were built in the caldera, one of which was formed as lately as 1802. The erupted materials in this stage amounted roughly to 4km
3. They are calc-alkaline andesite containing augite, hypersthene and frequently olivine phenocrysts.
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