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Dabbahu Volcano

Dabbahu Volcano is a stratovolcano located in the Afar Region of northwestern Ethiopia, at the triple junction where the Nubian, Arabian, and Somalian tectonic plates diverge as part of the Afar Rift system.^[1] Rising to an elevation of 1,401 meters above sea level with a base diameter of approximately 10 kilometers, it forms a prominent topographic feature above the surrounding Teru Plain and is composed primarily of felsic lavas, obsidian flows, pyroclastic deposits, lava domes, and pumice cones.^[1] The volcano's structure includes a N-S trending fissure-vent system up to 500 meters long and 60 meters deep, cutting through older basaltic-to-trachyandesitic lower layers and upper felsic materials, highlighting its role in the region's ongoing continental rifting processes.^[2] Geologically, Dabbahu represents a composite edifice built over multiple episodes of magmatic activity, with evidence of at least four generations of rifting associated with obsidian flows and explosive pyroclastic deposits containing pumice and lithic fragments.^[3] Its felsic upper flanks feature pantelleritic obsidian flows and resorbed sanidine phenocrysts within pumice, indicating magma evolution influenced by fractional crystallization and possible basaltic influx into shallower chambers.^[2] Situated along the Dabbahu-Manda-Hararo segment of the rift, the volcano serves as a key site for studying slow-spreading ridge dynamics, where tectonic extension is accommodated by dyke intrusions and volcanic eruptions.^[4] The most significant historical activity at Dabbahu began on 26 September 2005 with a minor explosive eruption from a fissure vent about 5 kilometers northeast of the summit, producing an ash plume that rose to form an umbrella-shaped cloud and deposited up to 5 centimeters of ash over 500 meters, with finer ash reaching 40 kilometers away.^[2] This event was preceded by a swarm of over 130 earthquakes (magnitudes 3.9–5.6) from 14 September to 4 October and involved the formation of a 30-meter-diameter aphyric pumice dome containing rare resorbed sanidine phenocrysts.^[2] The eruption displaced approximately 6,384 people and was part of a broader rifting episode featuring a 60-kilometer-long dyke intrusion, totaling 2–3 meters of extension and marking the onset of ongoing magmatic-tectonic unrest in the Afar Rift; this episode continued with additional dyke intrusions through 2010.^[4] Subsequent monitoring has recorded continued seismic activity, intense degassing, and sulfur dioxide emissions, underscoring the volcano's potential for future eruptive episodes.^[1]

Physical Characteristics

Location and Morphology

Dabbahu Volcano is situated in the northern Afar Region of Ethiopia, within the Afar Triangle at the northern end of the Manda-Hararo rift segment.^[1] Its geographic coordinates are approximately 12°36′N 40°29′E, placing it near the western topographic margin of the Afar Depression, about 330 km east of Lake Tana and 320 km north-northwest of Djibouti City.^[1] As a stratovolcano rising to an elevation of 1,401 m (4,596 ft) above sea level, it forms a prominent axial range in the Pleistocene-to-Holocene volcanic landscape of the region.^[1] The volcano exhibits a composite morphology typical of stratovolcanoes, with a base diameter of approximately 10 km that anchors it as the largest topographic feature in the northern Manda-Hararo segment.^[5] Its summit area includes fissure vents trending north-south, a small pumice dome about 30 m in diameter, and associated ash and ejecta deposits, contributing to a rugged surface with semi-circular pits up to 100 m wide and approximately 100 m deep.^[1] These features highlight its role as a volcanic massif amid the rift's faulted terrain, without a large encompassing caldera but with localized depressions from past activity.^[1] Dabbahu is embedded in the broader rift topography of the Afar Triple Junction, adjacent to the Danakil Depression and approximately 110 km north-northeast of Erta Ale volcano, with the Dallol hydrothermal field located farther southeast in the depression.^[1] The surrounding landscape consists of remote desert terrain characterized by active faults, fissures, and basalt flows, making access challenging due to extreme heat, aridity, and isolation in this tectonically active zone of the East African Rift.^[1]^[5]

Geological Composition

Dabbahu Volcano is classified as a composite stratovolcano, characterized by layered deposits of mafic to felsic lavas, pyroclastic materials, and ignimbrites that reflect episodic magmatic activity within the Afar Rift. The foundational layers consist primarily of mildly alkaline basaltic to trachyandesitic lava flows forming a shield-like base, overlain by intermediate trachyandesites and trachytes, and capped by peralkaline rhyolitic units including pantelleritic obsidian flows, lava domes, and pumice cones on the summit and upper flanks. Pyroclastic deposits, such as pumice fall layers up to 10 meters thick and associated ignimbrites, are interbedded throughout the edifice, indicating explosive phases interspersed with effusive eruptions.^[6] The magma composition at Dabbahu is dominated by mildly alkaline basalts derived from partial melting of a mantle source beneath the rift, with evolved silicic differentiates including rhyolitic pantellerites formed through extensive fractional crystallization. Whole-rock geochemical analyses of over 90 samples reveal a continuous differentiation trend from basalts (approximately 45-50 wt% SiO₂) to rhyolites (up to 74 wt% SiO₂), marked by increasing alkalinity (Na₂O + K₂O > SiO₂) and peralkalinity (Na₂O + K₂O > Al₂O₃) in the felsic end-members, supported by mineral assemblages of olivine, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, and alkali feldspar showing solid solution series. Petrological models indicate closed-system fractionation under low initial water contents (<1 wt%), progressing in shallow crustal reservoirs at depths of 1-5 km (pressures ~40-200 MPa), where protracted crystallization (up to 70%) enriches residual melts in volatiles, facilitating both explosive pyroclastic and effusive dome-forming events.^[6]^[7] Internally, the volcano features a shallow magma chamber system at 1-5 km depth below sea level, inferred from seismic hypocenters during intrusive events and petrological constraints on volatile saturation (43-207 MPa), connected by a network of stacked sills and dyke systems that channel magma ascent. These structures align with models of rapid differentiation in small-volume magma batches, where dyke propagation facilitates lateral transport influenced by the regional rifting dynamics. The formations span Holocene to late Pleistocene ages, with volcanic deposits exceeding 67 ka and at least four prehistoric eruptive episodes within the past 10,000 years evidenced by distinct tephra layers of pantelleritic pumice and obsidian.^[6]^[1]

Tectonic Setting

East African Rift System

The East African Rift System (EARS) represents an active divergent plate boundary that is progressively separating the African continent into the Nubian and Somali plates, with the Arabian Plate also contributing in the northern sector.^[8] This extensive ~3,000-km-long rift zone extends from the Afar region in northern Ethiopia southward through Kenya and Tanzania to Malawi, forming a complex network of fault-bounded basins driven by mantle upwelling and lithospheric extension.^[9] At its northern terminus, the EARS converges at the Afar Triple Junction, a unique tectonic feature where the Red Sea Rift, Gulf of Aden Rift, and the continental Main Ethiopian Rift meet, marking the transition from continental breakup to incipient oceanic spreading.^[8] Dabbahu Volcano occupies a strategic position within this framework, situated on the Somali Plate at the northern extremity of the Manda-Hararo rift segment in the Afar Depression.^[1] This segment spans approximately 60-65 km in length and exemplifies the zone where continental rifting is evolving toward seafloor spreading, characterized by thinned crust (18-25 km thick) and intense magmatic activity.^[8]^[4] Over millions of years, continued extension in the EARS is projected to fully split the Somali Plate from the Nubian Plate, potentially forming a new ocean basin analogous to the Red Sea.^[8] This long-term evolution is evidenced by geodetic GPS data indicating extension rates of 1-2 cm per year across the Afar region and seismic monitoring revealing ongoing dyke intrusions and faulting.^[10]^[11] The EARS significantly influences regional volcanism by providing pathways for mantle-derived magma to ascend, fostering the development of rift-related volcanoes such as the persistently active Erta Ale stratovolcano and Dabbahu itself in the Afar Triangle.^[1]^[8] The EARS hosts numerous volcanoes, with continental rifts accounting for ~10% of the world's volcanoes, underscoring the system's role in shaping the East African landscape through basaltic fissure eruptions and silicic dome formation.^[8]

Rifting Dynamics at Dabbahu

The rifting dynamics at Dabbahu are primarily driven by magma intrusion through horizontal dyke propagation, which induces surface faulting and localized subsidence. During the 2005 rifting episode, a dyke extended approximately 60 km horizontally at depths of 2-10 km, with maximum opening of 8 m, as inferred from geodetic modeling of interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) and seismic data.^[12] This mechanism exemplifies magma-driven rifting, where ascending basaltic magma from deeper crustal reservoirs propagates laterally along the rift axis, exerting tensile stress that triggers normal faulting and accommodates extensional strain without immediate eruption in many cases. Subsequent dyke events in the Dabbahu-Manda Hararo segment have shown similar propagation patterns, with dykes often curving toward volcanic centers like Dabbahu, promoting focused deformation.^[13] Strain accommodation at Dabbahu occurs predominantly through magmatism, with approximately 70% of extensional opening attributed to dyke intrusions and 30% to fault slip, based on analysis of InSAR and global positioning system (GPS) observations across multiple intrusion events.^[14] These data reveal characteristic uplift along the rift flanks and subsidence within the axial zone, reflecting the interplay between intrusive volume and fault reactivation; for instance, unclamped rift sections during dyke emplacement exhibit mean openings exceeding 50% of total strain in over half of documented cases. This magmatic dominance contrasts with fault-dominated rifts elsewhere in the East African Rift, highlighting Dabbahu's role as a transitional zone toward oceanic spreading, where dyke-induced faulting controls much of the surface geomorphology.^[15] Rifting at Dabbahu interacts closely with volcanism by channeling mafic magma into a shallow crustal chamber at 3–5 km depth beneath the edifice, facilitating fractional crystallization and differentiation toward silicic compositions. InSAR and seismicity patterns indicate that dyke propagation replenishes this reservoir, enabling the production of rhyolitic melts observed in associated eruptions, without requiring extensive mantle upwelling for each event.^[8] This process sustains the volcano's activity by maintaining a dynamic balance between intrusive recharge and eruptive output. Ongoing monitoring from 2005 to 2025, using continuous GPS and InSAR, records a steady extension rate of approximately 2 cm per year across the Dabbahu segment, consistent with broader Afar spreading and showing no significant acceleration as of late 2025.^[16] These observations underscore the segment's stable, magma-assisted rifting, with deformation localized to the axis and minimal propagation beyond historical bounds.

Eruptive History

Prehistoric Activity

Geological evidence from tephra layers and extensive lava flows documents prehistoric volcanic activity at Dabbahu Volcano, with at least three confirmed prehistoric eruptions occurring during the Holocene epoch, spanning the past approximately 10,000 years.^[17] These deposits include basaltic lavas from fissure vents and rhyolitic materials associated with dome formation, reflecting a progression from mafic to more evolved compositions over time.^[18] Radiocarbon and potassium-argon (K-Ar) dating methods, including ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology, have established ages for key volcanic units, with the oldest exposed rocks dated to around 67,000 years ago and pantelleritic eruptions occurring approximately 8,000 years ago.^[18] Specific Holocene flows on the northern flank yield radiocarbon ages of about 5,450 ± 1,800 years, 6,450 ± 2,700 years, and 7,850 ± 4,300 years before present, indicating heightened activity peaks between roughly 2,000 and 5,000 years ago.^[17] Eruption styles during this period were predominantly effusive for basaltic events, producing fissure-fed lava flows, alongside explosive silicic activity that generated tephra falls and pumiceous domes from closely spaced vents.^[18] These events were relatively modest in scale, consistent with rift-related volcanism. No confirmed historical eruptions are recorded prior to 2005, underscoring a prolonged dormancy phase after the late Holocene activity.^[1]

2005 Eruptive Crisis

The 2005 eruptive crisis at Dabbahu Volcano marked the first documented eruption in modern history for this remote feature in the Afar region of Ethiopia, triggered by a major magmatic-tectonic event within the East African Rift System. This episode, beginning in mid-September 2005, involved intense seismicity, ground deformation, and a brief explosive eruption, highlighting the linkage between rift propagation and volcanic activity. It represented the initial phase of an ongoing rifting sequence that has since continued intermittently.^[1]^[19] The crisis commenced with an earthquake swarm on 14 September 2005, recording 131 seismic events through 4 October, with magnitudes ranging from 3.9 to 5.6 Mb/Mw and a peak of activity between 24 and 26 September that included multiple events exceeding magnitude 5. Ground swelling preceded the main phase, accompanied by the opening of a north-south trending fissure approximately 500 m long and up to 60 m deep on 26 September, about 5 km northeast of the volcano's summit. The fissure eruption lasted roughly three days, featuring two semi-circular vents that produced a small rhyolitic explosive event, forming a pumice cone. Ashfall reached thicknesses of up to 5 cm near the vent and extended over 40 km to the southwest, sufficiently dense to darken daytime skies in nearby areas.^[2]^[1] This eruption was closely associated with significant rifting processes, including the intrusion of a ~60-km-long dyke with an estimated volume of 1.5–2 km³, sourced primarily from beneath Dabbahu and propagating southward along the Manda Hararo-Dabbahu rift segment. The dyke emplacement caused up to 8 m of surface extension across the rift, with average fault slip of ~3 m and reactivation of normal faults displacing the ground by 0.5 m over 3 km. This event constituted the first silicic eruption in Africa in over a century, involving rhyolitic magma likely heated by underlying basaltic influx. New fractures, spaced 10–20 m apart and extending 700 m, further evidenced the tectonic strain release.^[19]^[20]^[2] Impacts from the crisis were minor in terms of human casualties, with no reported deaths, though it displaced approximately 6,384 local residents and caused limited disruption to pastoral communities through ash deposition and ground cracking. Relief efforts provided food aid totaling 121,500 kg, along with utensils and blankets. The event was monitored using a combination of seismometers from the USGS and Addis Ababa University, satellite interferometry (InSAR) for deformation mapping, and field observations of degassing and thermal activity, which recorded pumice dome temperatures up to 400°C as late as 16 October.^[2]^[19]

Post-2005 Magmatic Events

Following the 2005 rifting crisis, the Dabbahu-Manda Hararo rift segment experienced a series of 13 subsequent dyke intrusions between 2006 and 2010, each involving subsurface magma migration without major surface eruptions, though three smaller basaltic fissure eruptions occurred in 2007, 2009, and 2010.^[21] These events included notable intrusions in August and November 2007 (volumes ~0.05 km³ and 0.15 km³, respectively), several in 2008 (March-April, July, and October; volumes 0.07-0.17 km³), February and June 2009 (volumes ~0.05-0.08 km³), and May 2010 (~0.08 km³).^[21] The dykes propagated laterally at rates of 0.5-3 km/h, primarily northward or southward from a central magma reservoir near 12.3°N, contributing to cumulative rift extension of approximately 1.5-2 m across the segment by 2010.^[21] Seismic activity associated with these intrusions consisted of short swarms lasting 24-48 hours, with magnitudes up to Mw 4.9, concentrated along migrating crack fronts and reflecting stress changes from dyke emplacement.^[22] Post-2010, persistent low-level seismicity continued, including thousands of volcano-tectonic earthquakes below M 3, but no further dyke intrusions or surface eruptions have been recorded as of 2024.^[8]^[23]^[24] Advances in monitoring have utilized Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) to detect cm-scale subsidence and uplift patterns linked to magma recharge and dyke-induced deformation, complemented by GPS networks measuring rift widening.^[13]^[8] Geodynamic models indicate ongoing magma supply from a deep reservoir (~20 km), sustaining low-rate intrusion and predicting continued magmatic activity over decades, though at subdued levels.^[8]^[22] Risk assessments highlight the potential for future dyke intrusions or effusive basaltic eruptions, driven by the rift's tectonic-magmatic setting, but estimate low probability of significant events in the near term due to the absence of accelerating unrest since 2010.^[8]^[25] Limited local monitoring infrastructure underscores the need for enhanced seismic and geodetic networks to mitigate hazards in this sparsely populated but geologically active region.^[25]

Hydrothermal and Biological Aspects

Hydrothermal Features

The hydrothermal features at Dabbahu Volcano, also known as Boina, consist of numerous fumaroles, hot springs, and associated alteration zones concentrated around the volcanic massif, particularly east and south of the pantelleritic dome and along the 2005 Da'Ure fissure.^[26] These manifestations, locally termed boina for the steam vents used by Afar pastoralists to condense water, reflect geothermal activity driven by heat from shallow magmatic intrusions beneath the edifice.^[1] Following the September 2005 rhyolitic eruption and associated dyke intrusion, hydrothermal activity intensified, with audible boiling sounds and visible degassing reported from vents along the fissure, indicating fluid temperatures approaching 100°C.^[2] Gases emitted from these fumaroles include sulfur dioxide (SO₂), consistent with magmatic contributions to the system.^[2] The features are localized to rift-related structures, differing from broader fields like Dallol by their confinement to Dabbahu's axial rifts and lack of extensive geysering or large-scale pools.^[26] Subsequent dyking episodes in 2006–2010 further enhanced fluid circulation, leading to widespread steam emission and silica-sinter deposits without forming major new geothermal fields.^[26]

Extremophile Ecosystems

The 2005 eruptive crisis at Dabbahu Volcano produced a prominent fissure system with hydrothermal features creating polyextreme conditions, including elevated temperatures near vents and high salinity in some fluids, part of the broader Afar Rift system that fosters niche ecosystems for polyextremophiles. These environments mirror subsurface conditions where liquid water persists despite surface aridity. Limited surveys in the Afar Rift, including sites near the Dabbahu segment, suggest potential habitats for extremophiles such as thermophiles and halophiles adapted to multiple stressors. These findings represent initial investigations into microbial life in African rift hydrothermal systems, highlighting possible adaptations to osmotic and thermal stress, although research at Dabbahu specifically remains preliminary. The potential for resilient microbial assemblages in Dabbahu's vicinity holds astrobiological significance as terrestrial analogs for early Earth habitats and extraterrestrial environments like the subsurface of Mars or Enceladus. Research remains constrained by the site's extreme remoteness and logistical challenges, with limited studies conducted to date, leaving gaps in understanding community dynamics and functional diversity.

References

[1]
Dabbahu - Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program
An eruption began on 26 September 2005 in the Afar triangle region of NW Ethiopia, near the Afar's W topographic margin, a spot ~ 330 km E of Lake Tan'a (the ...
[2]
Report on Dabbahu (Ethiopia) — September 2005
Late-stage pantelleritic obsidian flows, lava domes, and pumice cones form the summit and upper flanks. The volcano rises above the Teru Plain and was built ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[3]
The Magmatic Evolution of Dabbahu Volcano, Afar, Ethiopia - ADS
At least four generations of rifting have been identified, each associated with obsidian flows and pyroclastic deposits, some of which contain pumices and ...Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[4]
[PDF] Geodetic observations of the ongoing Dabbahu rifting episode
A 2–3-km-wide central zone subsided by up to 2 m, with a further 2–3 m of subsidence occurring around Dabbahu and Gabho volcanoes at the northern end of the.Missing: facts | Show results with:facts
[5]
Dabbahu Volcano, Ethiopia - Facts & Information | VolcanoDiscovery
Dec 13, 2021 · Summit height: 1442 m / 4,731 ft. Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5). Last update: 13 Dec 2021 (Smithsonian / USGS Weekly Volcanic ...Missing: elevation | Show results with:elevation
[6]
https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/gsabulletin/article/125/1-2/128/125828/Magmatic-history-of-Dabbahu-a-composite-volcano-in
[7]
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0012821X14006839
[8]
Spatial and temporal evolution of magma supply in the Dabbahu rift ...
Unravelling the volcanic history of the Dabbahu/Manda Hararo rift segment in the Afar depression (Ethiopia) using a combination of cosmogenic (36Cl and 3He) ...Missing: caldera | Show results with:caldera
[9]
Volcanic activity and hazard in the East African Rift Zone - Nature
Nov 25, 2021 · A key control on eruptive processes is tectonic setting, which determines how magma is generated, the pathways by which it reaches the ...
[10]
[PDF] Seismicity of the Earth 1900–2013 - USGS Publications Warehouse
Dec 18, 2014 · The East African Rift system (EARS) is a 3,000-km-long Cenozoic age continental rift extending from the Afar triple junction, between the horn ...
[11]
[PDF] Rheologic controls on inter-rifting deformation of the Northern ...
The long-term local plate spreading rate is 1.8 cm/yr in the direction N106°E according to the NUVEL-1A model (De Mets et al., 1994) in good agreement with GPS ...
[12]
[PDF] InSAR observations of 2007 Tanzania rifting episode reveal mixed ...
1.1 Evolution of East African rift As extension increases, the lithosphere thins and spreading rate and melt supply increase. The spreading rate is <1 mm yr−1 ...
[13]
Geodetic observations of the ongoing Dabbahu rifting episode
1). The Dabbahu segment forms part of the larger Manda-Hararo rift segment, which, unlike the more northern magmatic segments, is characterized by a 35-km-wide ...2 Methods · 2.1 Insar Data · 3 2006--2007 Dyke Sequence
[14]
https://www.nature.com/articles/ngeo967
[15]
Capturing magma intrusion and faulting processes during ...
An elliptical-shaped cluster lies beneath the Da'Ure vent site to the east of Dabbahu volcano (Fig. 3). The small rhyolitic domes and cones of the Da'Ure region ...
[16]
Volcanism records plate thinning driven rift localization in Afar ...
May 21, 2025 · Geodetic observations of the ongoing Dabbahu rifting episode: new dyke intrusions in 2006 and 2007. Geophys. J. Int. 178, 989–1003 (2009) ...Introduction · Results · Temporal Evolution Models
[17]
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/dabbahu.html
[18]
September 2005 Manda Hararo‐Dabbahu rifting event, Afar ...
Aug 18, 2009 · A two-stage intrusion scenario is proposed, whereby rifting in the northern Manda Hararo Rift was triggered by magma upwelling in the Dabbahu area.Missing: timeline | Show results with:timeline
[19]
Fault growth at a nascent slow-spreading ridge: 2005 Dabbahu ...
The brief event consisted of a 60-km-long dyke intrusion, 163 earthquakes (5.6 > mb > 3.9), and the emplacement of ∼2.5 km3 of magma (Wright 2006; Ayele 2007).
[20]
Comparison of dike intrusions in an incipient seafloor‐spreading ...
Jun 24, 2011 · [5] Since September 2005 the Dabbahu-Manda Hararo (DMH) rift segment within the Afar Depression experienced 14 major dike intrusions, and three ...
[21]
Seismicity during lateral dike propagation: Insights from new data in ...
Apr 27, 2011 · ... earthquakes accompanying magma intrusion seem to migrate at a decaying velocity during dike growth. ... Dabbahu rifting episode: new dyke ...
[22]
Dabbahu Volcano Earthquakes: Latest Quakes Since 2008
Since 2008, the area near Dabbahu volcano has had 16 quakes of magnitudes above 3 and up to 4.9: 4 quakes above magnitude 4; 12 quakes between magnitude 3 and 4.
[23]
https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/53/2/161/650061/Throw-distribution-across-the-Dabbahu-Manda-Hararo
[24]
Gardo, I.A. & Varet, J. (2018) Dabbahu (Teru Woreda) in Northern ...
Nov 29, 2018 · al., 2012). Dabbahu (also known as “Boina” for this reason) is also the site of intense hydrothermal. manifestations, with innumerable steam ...
[25]
Unveiling microbial communities along the polextreme ...
No trace of microbial life has been found in the most polyextreme environments (salinity 20-78%, pH -1 to 3). For some sites, we interpret that the ...