Evolution of the Ciomadul Volcanic Field—Lava Domes and Explosive Eruptions

Abstract

Ciomadul (Csomád) is the youngest volcano in the Carpathians and the Carpatho-Pannonian Region whose latest eruptions may have been witnessed by Palaeolithic people. It is the only volcano in the region where, although with little probability, future eruptions may occur. Ciomadul was a lava dome complex, and its volcanic activity included both effusive (lava) and explosive (pumice and ash) eruptions that lasted almost one million years, terminating less than thirty thousand years ago. This makes Ciomadul an important target for future investigation to determine detailed volcanic stratigraphy and eruptive scenarios for long-lived lava domes. Here, we present the state-of-art of the research of this unique volcanic activity and the related volcanic landforms.