Hydrotherms and Volcanoes of Kamchatka

Abstract

Hydrotherms and volcanoes of Kamchatka occurs in Mid-Kamchatsky, East-Kamchatsky volcanic belts, striking NE ~50º, sub-parallel to Kurile-Kamchatsky trench, within area of 9-10 points of seismic activity in a map of seismicity zonation. Those orientation is also typical to modern open zones of faults, following Planetary Fault on the east coast of Kamchatka (Utkin, 1989) [11]; and corresponds to direction of thermal rift [6] and zones of depressions, which controls geothermal features. This is not occasional, but reflects simultaneous processes. To explain joint distributions of hydrotherms and volcanoes we used data from Paratunsky geothermal field, that is under exploitation conditions during last 55 years. Based on data above mentioned it was shown the possibility of formation of Paratunsky geothermal field due to post-caldera volcanism, manifested on the boundary of crater paleo-structure of the Paratunsky-Bystrinsky volcano-tectonic system. Using Paratunsky as anologue, formation of volcanic belts of Kamchatka considered in a framework of post-caldera volcanism, manifested on a rim of crater structure of the forming linear fracture modern super-volcano. We hypothesized formation of peninsula as a result of junction of the two super-volcanoes, which have joint telescopic structure in area of Kluchevskoy group of volcanoes.