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Convention Bandung 2004 (CB2(M)

33d Annual Convention & Exhibiiion 2(X)i

lrdoresian As6iatim of G@logist
Horircn Hotel, 29-30 Nov. 1 Oct

THE VOLCANIC ACTIVITY OF RINJANI, LOMBOK

ISLAND, INDONESIA DURING THE LAST TEN
THOUSAND YEARS, VIEWD FROM ,UC AGE
DATINGS
Asnawir Nasutioni), Akira Takada2), Rosgandika Mulyanai)
1)D

rccto rate of vo ca no osyoa

I

n:ftil;:f

:i:ffiX'f

iti g ati

on,

nd ones i a

ABSTRACT

The eruptive history of Rinjani voclano

during the last 10 ky before the caldera
formation was studied. The eruption rate
of Rinjani volcano was kept constant (0.6
km'/ky) during
stratocone building
stage between 12-6 ka. lt decreases
becoming 0.15 km3/ky for the last period
ol 5.2 ky before the caldera forming
eruption (6-8 ka). During the low activity
stage, three eruptions occured; Propok
Pumice and Lembar Lava Flow (DRE: 0.1
km3 and 0.4 km3, respectively), Rinlani
Ash and Rinjani Pumice (DRE: 0.3 km3).
The magma path shifted 5 km toward the
eastern flank to grow Rinjani volcano.
The volcanic activity migrated more 5 km
eastward for low activity stage, erupting
Propok Pumice and Lembar Lava Flow.
The activity migrated back to Rinjani
summit yielded ash and pumice. Syncaldera staqe startedwith plinian pumice
(DRE: 3 km') and a huge pyroclastic flow
(DRE: >7 km"), and, finally, Segara Anak
caldera of 6 km x7 km was formed at the
center
Central Lombok Volcanic
Comptex. 1aC datings indicates that the
climax of caldera forming eruption was
the periode of AD 1210-1300 years 8.P.,
which is the third youngest caldera in
lndonesia.

of

Keywords; caldera, pyroclastic flow, Plinian eruption,

eruptiion rate, Rinjani volcano, Lombok island'

INTRODUCTION
Possibility of caldera forming eruption is
very low
one volcano. However,
caldera-forming eruption gives a large
impact worldly on human activity. During
the last 200 years, human being in the
world have been sutfered from several

at

huge eruptions. The eruptive history of

the volcano just before caldera-forming
eruption give an important information for
developing methods to evaluate a
potentiality of caldera-forming eruption.
Pinatsubo volcano had a 500 year's
dormacy before 1991 eruption (Newhall
et al, 1996). The activity of Krakatau
volcano before 1883 eruption had been
low during historical age (Simkin and
Fiske, 1983). laplqa voclano has a low
activity period of about 10 kys before
.1815 eruption (Takada eIE[l-in Frep.).
There are many stratovolcanoes more
than 3000 m high in the Sunda arc from
Java to Sumbawa islands (Fig. 1). Some
of them have already undergone calderaforming eruption. The others have not
yet. Some of the others have become
quiescent. What does the quiescence
mean? The eruptive history of young
caldera gives an probable answer for the
question. Rinjani volcano, Lombok island,
lndonesia has
young caldera with
widespread pyroclastic flow deposits.

Qrd*: tu it*
oLz4-O 1z1r

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The

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2004, Bandung

ft

However, the stratigraphy of volcanoes in

Lombok island has not been made clear.
The purpose of this paper is to determine
age of pyroclastic flow deposits, and
make clear the eruptive history just
before the caldera-forming eruption of
Rinjanivolcano.
TECTONIC SETTINGS AND GENERAL
GEOLOGY
Lombok island is located in the east
Sunda arc on the cust of about 20-km
thick (Curray et al, 1977\. PleistconeHolocene volcanic complexes on the
island are caused by the northern
subduction of Australian plate benearth
Eurasian plate (e.9., Cardwell and lsacks,
Calkalikaline Quarternary
volcanoes (Foden, 1983) develop on the
begemen.l_of TeltelLsedjnnentary rocks,
volcanics, and intrusives (Mangga et al.,
1 ee4).

1978).

Figure 1 lndex map (upper) and general geological

map (middle) with volcanic sequence (lower) of Lombok
island, lndonesia. VC = volcanic complex.

Older volcanic complexes of the Lombok

island than Rinjani volcano (Fig.

1),

consist of bSsalt and edegtle]ava flows

and pyggleslics, dividing into

Uest

Lombok volcanic complex with a peak Mt.

Meninting (1418 m) and with total voluffie
d-Thiledifice estimated to be 170 km3;
Central Lombok volcanic col1rXlex (CLy)

w
eastern caldera rim, showing the volume
to be about 850 km'. East Lombok
volcanic complex in the eastern part, is

from one
anolher, haMng an estimated volume 900
km". The total volume of the present
edifice
volcanic complexes in the
Lombok island is estimated to be about
topographically separated

of

2000 km3. As an addition, tn"(6t-7)

products are charac{erized by strongly
altered edifice as old eruption centers.
One of thenl gave an approximate age of
10.8-0.9 t\4a \( Nasution et al., 1996).
Rinjani volcano (3726 m) grew on the
eastern flank of Central Lombok volcano
complex. The activity is divided into:
Stratocone building stage, Lory_gctlvr!}L
$gge, Syn-caldera stage and PostEa-eg_{gge. The present caldera is 6
km x 7 km in size of rim to rim, and, in its

eastern part,

is

to

connected
a
horseshoe-shaped caldera of 3.5 km long
and 3.5 km wide (Fig. 1). The postcaldera activity built a post-caldera @ne,
2400m-high Barujari valocano with lava
flows of basaltic andesite in the caldera
Iake (The subareal volume: 0.3 km3). The
volcano erupted in 1884, 1904, 1906,
1909, 1915,1944, 1966 (Kusumadinata,
1979; Simkin and Siebert, 1994) and
1994. The caldera floor elevation is
approximately 2000 m above sea level
and has a lake called as "Segara AnaK.
The average depth of the lake was
measured to be 125 m (Kusumadinata,
1e79).

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eastern flank of EVL. The total volume of

the upper most part, composed of scoria
falls and flows, is estimated to be 3.5 km3
(DRE), using Hayakawa (1985).

'ffi4

\q^to a
\' asoom

m
t

Figure

to

km

ooa

Stratigraphic sections of Rinjani volcano. The

stippeled thick curve is the road from SumbalunJawang
to Suwela.

STRATIGRAPHY OF RINJANI
VOLCANO
Strato-cone building stage
Rinjani is built on the eastern flank of
CLV and may have shifted itg5unmilto
form an east-west crater chainlFigl;.

r Thickness

Figure

two scoria flows, three-Jcofri--Ells

ages

o(Jfelo =Lj9)ears

B.P.

1aC

ages of 6250

in table 1), a

40 years B.P. (RJC-2

scoria fall containing

charcoal which gave 1aC ages of 5990 +

50 years B.P. (RJC-3 in table
ascending order.
are
observed along the northern foo'! of the
volcano (loc.1 of fig.2). Seven scoria fall
overlie on the lava flows of ELV in the

@flows

--

an(te89J

+ 40 years B.P. (RJC-S, 6 in table 1), a

gggle-flow including charcoal which gave

1[lffie

(e.ml

TABLE

500 m deep. The volume of the edifice is

estimated to be 100Jm3. The SiO2 range
of eruptive profiI-cts is 45-57 wt%. A
continuous stratigraphic sequence above
lava flows in the lower part of Rinjani
voiEEoTs observed at the northern flink:
14C

-Thickness

lsopack maps of major airhll deposits during

Low activity and Syn-caldera stages of Rinjani volcano.

Theyoun@wideand

containirlglshqrcoels which gavg-

(cm)

SUMMARY OF 14C DATES

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Notes: 14C ages were measured by Beta Analytic lnc.

All the samples are charcoal. * The Libby's i4C half life

No. S
RJC.

Latitude Longitud
116"

0go

of 5,568 years is used. ** 14C age is correlated by d

13C value."** The calendar calibration were calculated

using "INTCAL98 Radiocarbon Age Calibration".
S=Stratigraphy, Sc=Stratocone, Rp=Qinfini pumice,
Py=Segara Anak pyroclastic flows, M=Method, A=AMS,
R=Radiometric.

Low volcanic activity stage

The low volcanic activity stage consists
"Propok Pumice", "Lembah Lava floW',
"Rinjani ash" and "Rinjani Pumice".

Propok Pumice: Propok Pumice is

stratified small-scale, sub-plinian fall
deposit (Fig.3), and consists of six
alternated fall units of coarse-grained
lapilli and stratified fine-grained to coarsegrained ash.
overlies aeolian ash
deposit above scoria fatl deposits during
stratocone building stage
Rinjani
volcano. lt crops out at restricted area,
along the road frqm Q.$qtmbalun-lawang
to S-uweta (to@
come from the eastern part of the fissure
vents of Lembah Lava Flow (Fig.3).
Propok Pumice
biotite bearing
hornblende dacite (SiO2=64 wty%). The
total volume (DRE) of Propok Pumice is
estimated
be 0.1 kfl1", using the
method of Hayakawa (1985).

lt

of

otTft]lffiicffiay
is

to

Lembar Lava Flow: Lembar Lava Flow

is 7 km in length, and about 50 m in

average thickness (Figs.1,3), originated
from a 1.5 km long fissure on the eastern
fool of Rinjani (Fig.1). lt trendd-ENEWSW termi!{ifrg in the Sembalunl-awano village (lo@ of Fig.Z).TE-e7ffi
long lobes from the eastern segment of
the eruptive fissure are composed of a
few lobes. The western lobe from the
western segment of the eruptive fissure is
1.5 km long. The lava (0.4 Kmt) is
hornblende dacite (SiO2=65 My%), which
was @vered by Rinjani pUhice

Rinjani Ash: Rinjani Ash is composed of

poorly sorted coarse-grained ash with

M n"C Conven- 2n
(per- tional Calendar
mil) 1aC age age*
(v BP)'"

5 Sc 22'31.9" 27'27.6 A -23.7 1 1980r408C 1 3060-1294

BC 1217G1187

6 Sc 22'31.9" 27'27.6"

,/ z s" 21'3a.7" 2B's2.4

3

$c

A -24.2 1194cE408C

121 50-1 1 86
BC 11780-1171

A -25.8 6250140 BC 5310-5070

21'42.9" 28'16.8"

-24.4

5990150 Bc 4990-4740

4 Rp 23'19.7" 26'33.2"

-25.6

2550150 BC 81G520

't py.

36'53.5" 29'30.6"

-26.4

960150 AD 99G1190

15py. 33'05.2' 14'28.9'

-26.6

860140 AD 104G1260

11py. 36'35.0" 3010.6"

A -25.3 840140 AD 1060-1080

AO 1150-1270

13py. 17'12.5" 24'52.5" A -25.6 830i40 AD 116U1270

14py. 35'02.5" 1429.1" A

-18

800140 AD 118G1280

10py. 36'11.3' 28'05.9' A -24.4 nO*.40 AD 1200-1290

w.

21'(fi.2" 30'57.1"

R -26.3

740150 AD 1210-1300

lithic fragments in the lower part and

stratified well sorted medium grained ash
in the upper part. The deposit along the
road from Pass GPusuk (Sembalunlawang) to S'aieii6Js TGts cm't6icr 6o-@

ofFwT-

Rinjani pumice : Sub-plinian Rinjani

Pumice fall deposit is composed of four
units; stratified ash, thick coarse-grained
lapilli, thin fine-grained lapilli , and relative
thick coarse-grained lapilli in ascending
order. lt is distributed in the eastern part
of Lombok island, and thin atonglGrim
of Sgara AfraR-caldera (Fig. S;lA tnicf,
big pumice and lithic fragments
distributed along the lsllhwest ridge of
Rinjani volcano. Jhey probably derived
from the present crater of Rinjani summit.
Rinjani pumice is hornblende bearing
biotite dacite (SiO2=63-65 wt%). The total
volume (DRE) is estimated to be 0.3 km3.
The charcoal obtained below Rinjani
pumice gives 1ac age(255oEF0years
B.P (RJC-4, table 1).

Syn-caldera stage
- stage, several
Puring the caldera forming
eruption products are emplaced,

consistingof@,

Gonvention Bandung 2fi14 (C82004)

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33d Annual Convention &Exhibiiion 2(X)i

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Segara Anak Pyroclastic Flow, Lokok

Putih Pyroclastic Flow, and Segara Anak
Collapsed Breccia and Debris flow.

flows climax period of caldera forming

eruption. The calendar_calibration age of
the youngest oneir(@10-j-19QD}L"rt
B.P.

West Rinjani Pumice: Plinian West

Rinjani Pumice is a triple-layered fall
deposits of relative thick well-vesiculated
lapilli, thin coarse-graind ash and thick
stratified fine-graind lapilli. lt is emplaced
just below Rinjani pyroclastic flow,
croping out 65eriaD(loc.8 of Fig.2). lt is
spread out over-Ilideastern part of
Lombok (Fig.3). The pumice is composed
of cli nopyroxene-hornblende dacite
(SiO2=52 wt%).The total volume (DRE)
is estimated to be 3 km'.

Segara Anak Collapsed Breccia and

Debris Flow: Segara Anak Collapsed
Breccia and Debris Flow cut LPPF and
SPF along the northern coast of caldera
lake. lt also cover the caldera wall. The
western horse-shaped sector of the
caldera, that is, the eastern wall of Rinjani
volcano collapsed into caldera associated
with its depression, indicated by this
collapse deposit.
DISUCUSSIONS

Lokok Putih Pyroclastic Flow (LPPF):

LPPF is distributed near the entrance of
Lokok Putih river from lake of Segara
Anak and emplaced on lava flows of older
volcanoes with unconformity. LPPF
shows more than 5 m thick cliff with
columnar joint and gas segregation pipes.
The lower part of cliff is lithic rich layer,
the upper cliff is partialwelded, lapillituff
with essential hornblende dacite
fragments.

Segara Anak Pyroclastic Flow (SPF):

SPF spreads over five flow divisions and
entered the ocean (Fig.1). Small hill with
craters due to secondary explosion
develop along the northern coast. A
reworked deposit composed of pumice
derived from Rinjani pumice underlies
SPF on the northern foot of Rinjani

volcano (loc.1

of

Fig.2; Sembalunlawang). This relation suggests that there

is a time gap between Rinjani Pumice
and SPF. The pumice is clinopyroxene
bearing hornblende dacite (SiO2=62-63
wt%). The avarage thickness of SPF is
about 20 m in the lower stream, with the
SPF subareal total volume approximately
km3 (DRE). The seven charcoal
samples were obtained in SPF deposits,
giving ages from 960 + 40 years B.P. to
740 x 50 years B.P (Fig.1; Table 1). We
adopt the youngest age as the pyroclastic

We can detect the change of volcanic

activity before caldera-forming eruption,
such as eruption rate, interval of eruption,

type of eruption, and magma chemistry.

lntermediate to small eruptions occurred
the last 5200 years in Rinjani volcano. lt
is difficult to know when the climax will
come. The magma plumbing system
beneath the volcano reaches to the
critical condition during the last 5200
years. Vent locations are easy to shift in
Lombok island, may be, due to the larger
differential stress condition compared
with the other volcanoes in lndonesia.

Vents shifted from CLV

to

Rinjani
volcano, and furthermore, from Rinjani to
vents on the eastern foot. The collapsed
area was not Rinjani volcano, but the
center of CLV. The evidence suggests
the model that, the magma chamber
beneath CLV developed bypass toward
Rinjani summit vent and the vent on the
eastern foot (Fig.4). The migration of
vents toward the center of CLV may
indicate that volcanic adivity approach
the climax of large-volume eruption.

During the historical time, three calderaforming eruptions occurred in the Sunda
arc: Krakatau 1883, Tambora 1815, and
Rinjani AD1210-1300.
should
evaluate the potentiality of larg+volume

We

/{

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33d Annual Conrrention & Exhibii&rn 200i

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eruption in lndonesia. There are several

dormant stratovolcanoes more than
3000m high in Java and Bali islands.
Moreover, some caldera volcanoes may
have the possibility of recurrence of
large-volume eruption.

It is not easy to find historical records in

Lombok island, compared with those of

Java and Bali. The history

of

East

Lombok (DPP, 2001) suggests that the

two oldest historical records in Lombok
are not inconsistent with the caldera
forming eruption of AD1210-1300. A
traditional Sasak village, Dasan Bilo, on
the northern foot of Rinjani volcano is
600 years old, and has a 579 years old

mosque. The oldest lslam kingdom,

Selaparang, on the southern foot of
Rinjani volcano, was constructed at the
beginning of 1sth century. They are

located neither on the area covered with

West Rinjnai pumice, nor on the area
covered with Segarra Anak pyroclstic
flow deposit.
We can detect the change of volcanic
activity before caldera-forming eruption,
such as eruption rate, interval of
eruption, type of eruption, and magma
chemistry. lntermediate
small
eruptions occurred the last 5200 years in
Rinjani volcano. lt is difficult to know
when the climax will come. The magma
plumbing system beneath the- volcano
reaches to the critical condition during
the last 5200 years. Vent locations are
easy to shift in Lombok island, may be,
due to the larger differential stress
condition compared with the other
volcanoes in lndonesia. Vents shifted
from CLV
Rinjani volcano, and
furthermore, from Rinjani to vents on the
eastern foot. The collapsed area was not
Rinjani volcano, but the center of CLV.
The evidence suggests the model that
the magma chamber beneath CLV
developed bypass toward Rinjani summit
vent and the vent on the eastern foot
(Fig.a). The migration of vents toward the

to

center of CLV may indicate that volcanic

activity approaches the climax of largevolume eruption.
During the historicaltime, three calderaforming eruptions occurred in the Sunda
arc: Krakatau 1883, Tambora 1815, and
Rinjani AD1210-1300. We should
evaluate the potentiality of large-volume
eruption in lndonesia. There are several
dormant stratovolcanoes more than
3000m high in Java and Bali islands.
Moreover, some caldera volcanoes may
have the possibility of recurrence of
large-volume eruption

-.**

l9

km-3

roo

lEol
l=EI
lEst

0.6 0.15 =
rmsny E

d
!

50

lESl

ct
f

ltm
ro

i- 5l i
;
lEgl
t>-t
I

t,3

,t
o
t -l!

-t

Segara Anak

caldela-:

wlth

Tnl-l
tot
l,,j

oo

ffi

#fi'fr6r8jl
50

iLombok

fl/c
c
kmmwS

lstaEl

r0

lo
ka

-l>Rinjani

Stratoconebuilding $yn-calderagetage

etage

Propok pumice
Lembah lava flow

to

Low ac{ivigr
Figurc

dage

Post-caldera stage

Summary of eruptive history of Rinjani

volcano, and one possible model for its evolution.

SUMMARY OF ERUPTIVE HISTORY

BEFORE GALDERA FORMATION
The end of Stratocone building stage of
Rinjani volcano is represented by the rate

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of eruption which was kept constant (0.6

km'/ky) during a strato building stage
between 12000-6000 years B.P. (Fig.4).
The eruption rate decreases becoming
0.15 km'/ky during the last period of 5200
years before the caldera forming eruption
(6000-800 years B.P) which is recognized
by a low activity stage, During the low
activity stage, the eruption interval
becomes longer than the previous stage:
three eruptions; Propok Pumice and
Lembar Lava Flow (DRE: 0.1 km'and 0.4
km3 respectively), RinjaniAsh and Rinjani
Pumice (DRE:0.3 km") occurred during
the last 5200 years before the caldera
forming eruption (6000-800 y B.P.). The
magma path shifted 5 km toward the
eastern flank of Central Lombok Volcanic
Complex to grow Rinjani volcano (Fig.a.).
After stratocone building , the volcanic
activity migrated more 5 km eastward for
low activity stage. Propok Pumice and
Lembar Lava Flow erupted. Next, the
activity migrated back to Rinjani summit.
Rinjani Ash and Rinjani Pumice erufied.
Syn-caldera stage started with plinian

we$ Rinjani Pumice (DRE: volume 3

km") at the center of Central Lombok

Volcanic Complex. Segara Anak caldera

collapse with eruption of huge pyroclastic
flow (the subaereal DRE volume 7 km3).
The date results of seven charcoals
indicate the climax of caldera forming
eruption is the periode of AD 1210-1300
years B.P.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors wish to thank Dr. T.
Yamamoto of GSJ, AIST forfield work
funding, and Dr. lshizuka of GSJ for
analyzing rock samples.

REFERENCES CITED
Cardwell, R.K., lsacks,8., 1978,
Geometry of the subduc{ed
lithosphere beneath the Banda sea in
Eastern lndonesia from seismicity and

faults plane solutions: Journal of

Geophysical Research, v. 83, p.28252838.
Curray, J.R., Shor Jr., G.G., Raitt, R.W.,
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refraction and reflection studies of
crustal structure of the Eastern Sunda
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Foden, J.D., and Varne, R.,1980, The
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Hayakawa, Y., 1985, Pyroclastic geology
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p. (in Indoenesian).
Mangga, S.A., Atmawinata, S.,
Hermanto, 8., and Amin, T.C., 1994,
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Jr., R.A., and Umbal, J.V., 1996,
Eruptive history of Mount Pinatubo, in
Newhall, C.G., and Punongbayan R.,
eds., Fire and Mud, eruptions and
lahars of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines:
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Seismology, and University of
Washington Press, Seattle, p.165195.

*"*'*x:ffi
.

and
ldentifikasi
tomtrox.
report)
lndoenesian).
1983,
Smithsonian
D,C.,
p.

Nasution, A. Sulaiman, B.,

Peramulyana, s., 1996,
Bahaya gunungapi Rinjani,
(Dit. Vulkanologi, Unpublihed
(in
Simkin, T., and Ficke, R.S.,
Krakatau 1883:
lnstitntion Press, Washington ,
4O4

\,

Convention Bandung 2(x,lt (CB2fll4)

Simkin, T., and Siebert, L., 1994,

volcanoes of the world, 2 nd ed.:
Geoscience Press tNC, Tucson, 1349 p.
Takada, A., Yamamoto, T., Kartadinata,
N., Budianto, A., Munandar, A.,
Matsumoto, A., Suto, S., Campos
Venuti, M. (in Prep) , Eruptive history
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