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Magma type and tectonic position of the Una-Una Island,

Indonesia.
JOHN A. KATILI *, L. KARTAADIPUTRA *, and SURIO **

Abstract
On April 29, 1960, 19h. 32m. 13s. G . M . T . an earthquake t o o k
place originating SE of the Una-Una volcano, Celebes. In July 1960
an expedition visited the island to record the continuous aftershocks,
its volcanology, and petrology. Due to the lack of a vertical c o m p o n e n t
in the seismograph the exact direction of the epicenter could n o t be
determined with certainty, b u t correlation between the seismograms
in Djakarta and those recorded in the island, reveals two values for
the epicenter, viz. 00 21" S - 121 38' E and 00 15' S - 121 40' E with
SE-NW direction. The absence of pP waves on the seismograms of
Djakarta, Lembang and Medan stations suggests that these are shallow
earthquakes. The survey for a new topographic m a p of the island
of Una-Una reveals nine solfatara fields, one fumarole and six secondary, probably phreatic, eruption holes. The recent t e m p e r a t u r e s
of the solfatara fields are somewhat higher than those before the
earthquake. The collected samples are biotite andesite vitrophyres,
biotite hypersthene andesites, and microdiorites. The difference
between the Una-Una rocks, the andesites f r o m other orogenic areas
and trachytes f r o m the hinterland volcanoes in Indonesia is clearly
demonstrated on a Niggli-Becke projection diagram. The Una-Una
rocks show transition between trachytes and andesites. The p value
of the rocks according to Rittmann's m e t h o d places t h e m in the med i u m alkaline series. The petrology and chemistry of the volcanics,
geological data f r o m Una-Una and Togean islands, and the bathymetric
m a p of the region suggest that this volcano lies outside the orogenic
belt and that it occupies the intersection of two basement fissures
of NE-SW and SE-NW directions. S u m m i t observations of the volcano
show similar directions for the volcanic fissures. The close relation* Geological Department, Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia.
** Geological Survey of Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia.

432

ship between tectonic earthquakes and volcanism was also demonstrated during the activity in 1898 in which the eruption was
I,~I.AND OF U N A - UNA
AND CR~TE~OF 6 TJOLO
~,utr Qr "lo.i,~

~LEBES

~R~FILt A - B
, - -

Z--

J
P~Ftt[ - O

Fig. I
prcceded by tectonic earthquakes. This, plus the presence of several
epicenters SE of Una-Una indicate that both volcanic and seismic

m 433 m
features m a y be associated with weak zones c.q. faults. The extinct
volcanism in the Togean ridge can be explained by thickening of the
earth crust caused by strong and continuous tectonic stress which
is active since Tertiary time. The same tectonic condition was also
responsible for the en 6chelon arrangement of the islands and the
convexity of the Togean arc toward the hinterland.
Introduction
On April 29, 1960 at 19h. 32m. 13s. G. M. T. an earthquake took
place originating SE of the island of Una-Una in the Gulf of Gorontalo,
Celebes. Since a volcano is situated on the island (fig. 1) it was soon
believed by the local population that the earthquake w a s caused by
an eruption of the volcano. Local landslides along the coast caused
panic among the inhabitants, thinking that the island would sink.
On July 1960 an expedition was sent to Una-Una consisting of
m e m b e r s of the Volcanological Section Geological Survey of Indonesia, the Meteorological and Geophysical Survey in Djakarta and
the Department of Geology, Bandung Institute of Technology.
The purpose of this expedition is to investigate the destructions
caused by the earthquake, to carry out observations on the top of
the volcano, to see if there is any relation between seismic and volcanic activity in this region and to collect samples of the Una-Una
volcanic rocks.
This paper gives a review of the results of the seismic and volcanological investigations, and the petrography and chemistry of
the effusive rocks. The tectonic position of the Una-Una island is
discussed in a special chapter.
Thanks are extended to the Indonesian military air t r a n s p o r t
Survey, the local authorities in Gorontalo, Una-Una and Posso and
to the population of Una-Una for their friendly assistance to the
m e m b e r s of the expedition during the fieldwork in this island.
Location and former investigations
Between the East and North Arms of Celebes a partly s u b m e r g e d
ridge is situated, called the Togean ridge. Offside this Togean ridge,
on its n o r t h western side, the volcanic island Una-Una (syn. OenaOena or Nangoena) is rising from the sea floor at 2000 m to about

434
500 m above sea level. Una-Una is a r a t h e r isolated volcano, about
27 k m from the island Batudaka, the nearest island in the Togean
ridge, and separated f r o m it by a sea of almost 2000 m depth. The
geographical position of the island is 0 10" southern latitude and
121 36" 30" eastern longitude.
F o r m e r investigators of the islands are WICHMANN (1902), KOP~mBERG (1928) and UMBGaOW (1930), whereas KOOM~S (1934) has
published the results of the petrography and chemical analyses of a
sample taken f r o m the island.
UMB~OV~ (1930) showed some similarities between the Una-Una
and the Kelud in Java, e. g. their irregular profile, suggesting a complicated history of eruptional activities, their deep Iahars w i t h steep
walls, and the rising lava plug which probably occurs beneath the
crater bottom.
Corals are growing a r o u n d the island (in contrast with the atols
in the Togean island), b u t no reef has been f o r m e d yet, due maybe
to the fact that the island is still in a very young stage of erosion.
The erosional products m a y have buried the corals before reefs have
been formed.
An eruption has taken place in 1898; the volcano has produced
lahars and ashes, covering an area of about 303.000 square kilometers,
whereas the ashes were blown up over a distance of about 750 Km
in the western direction until they fell in the places Muntok and
Muara. According to UM~ROVE (1930) they even reached a distance
of 800 Km away from the volcano. This. and the fact that no ash
at all fell in the North and East Arms of Celebes and not even in
the Togean island, 40 K m east of the crater, led KOPEm3Ea6 (1928) to
believe that the diatrema of the crater m u s t be directed to the west;
he did n o t believe that only the wind has caused this irregular spreading of the ashes. The central cone of the crater m u s t have been formed
between 1898 and 1900. This eruption p r o d u c e d mainly lahars and
ashes whilst the products of eruptions before this are mainly lahars.
KOPERBER6 (1928) predicted that the next eruption will be one of the
~volcanian-type ~, and later on eruptions of the ~ Strombolian type ~
will take place.
Petrographically the rocks of Una-Una differ f r o m those in the
other parts of North Celebes by the occurrence of biotite. The rocks
are all of andesitic compositions, as also their ashes. KOP~RBERC(1928)
found that m a n y of t h e m contain calcite, believed by h i m to be formed

435
s i m u l t a n e o u s l y w i t h t he o t h e r m i ne r al s , due to t he c o n t a c t of t he still
fluid m a g m a b elow w i t h g r o u n d w a t e r .
Up to n o w only t w o c he m i cal analyses have b e e n c a r r i e d o u t on
rocks f r o m Una-Una, viz. one on ash b y WICHMANN (1902), a p r o d u c t
of the 1898 e r u p t i o n a n d one on a s a m p l e of a n d e s i t e by KOOMANS (1934).
T h e 1960 U n a - U n a e a r t h q u a k e

A s h o r t r e p o r t on t he Una-Una e a r t h q u a k e of April 29 has a l r e a d y


been p u b l i s h e d b y t he M e t e o r o l o g i c a l a n d G eophysi cal Survey, Djak a r t a (1961). Th e e a r t h q u a k e was r e g i s t e r e d in t he seismological
stations o f Diakarta, L e m b a n g a nd Medan. According to t he Meteorological an d Geophysical S u r v e y of D j a k a r t a the fol l ow i ng a r e t he
a p p r o x i m a t e latitudes and Iongitudes of the e p i c e n t e r of the earthquake:
I. 00021 " S - 121o38 , E (main shock)
II. 00 15' S - 121 40' E ( a f t e r s h o c k )
III. 00 56' S - 120 44' E ( a f t e r s h o c k )
The first e a r t h q u a k e on April 29, 1960 was felt by a l m o s t all
towns w h i c h ar e s i t ua t e d a r o u n d t he Gulf of G o r o n t a l o . In Una-Una
and Kololio at the first e a r t h q u a k e , vertical shocks w e r e felt, f o l l o w e d
by waves, d i r e c t e d f r o m s o u t h to n o r t h , w h i c h suggests t hat the epic e n t e r was n o t f a r f r o m this island.
The n u m b e r of v i b r a t i o n s , a c c o r d i n g t o r e p o r t s by local civil
a u t h o r ities , can be listed as follows:
Time
April 29 - April 30

Number of vibrations

Number of vibrations which


are felt by a]l the inhabitants

193

20

,,

30 - May

76

I0

May

1- ~

50

12

2-

,,

43

I0

3-

28

29 - ,,

30

,,
,,

April 29 - May 30

4O
402

52

436

--

The intensity scale, according to observations by the Meteorological and Geophysical Survey of Djakarta, are as follows:

Location

Scale, a c c o r d i n g to M M I

Gorontalo

II

Posso

II

IV

Una-Una

VII - VIII

Kololio

VII - VIII

Due to the thin population and the position of the island, in the
middle of the Gulf of Gorontalo, macroseismic data could hardly be
obtained, hence no isoseist m a p could be made.
During the expedition a two-component NS- and EW- accelerograph of the type Spinder and Hoyer was used. However, there was
no vertical component, which, if present, would enable to determine
the direction of the earthquake.
The obtained seismograms were interpreted by the Meteorological
and Geophysical Survey in Bandung. A m o r e detailed description
about this is being prepared and will be published in due time.
The main shock on April 26, 1960 was followed by aftershocks
which continued during a very long time. The last shock was registered on September 1961.
The diagrams only revealed the epicentral distance f r o m Kololio,
whereas the exact direction could not be determined. The relative
position of the epicenter to Kololio, where the seismograph was
installed, could not be located on a map, since no exact determination
of location was carried out, which was actually necessary to minimize
the mistakes in the calculation of the distance from the station.
However, a mistake of 0.05 in the determination of the epicentral
distance f r o m Kololio can be neglected, considering the fact that the
epicentrum comprises a relatively large area.
The n u m b e r of earthquakes which were registered between July
1960 and October 1960 was 181, whereas 210 earthquakes were registered between March 1961 and September 1961; of these earthquake some were strong enough as to cause the seismograph needle
to go off.
Of 25 readings of first P waves impulses, 23 show a m o r e or less

N 437
SE-NW direction. These readings were r a t h e r difficult to be obtained.
The absence of pip waves on the seismograms of the stations at Lembang, D j a k a r t a a n d M e d a n suggests t h a t these are shallow earthquakes.
In general the secondary (S) waves are d i s t i n c t ; their a m p l i t u d e s
as well as their directions could be determined. These are in generaI
SE-NW, w h i c h is the m o s t accurate m e a s u r e m e n t possible, due - - as
m e n t i o n e d before m to the lack of a vertical component.
The epicentral distances, which can be read f r o m the seismograms, are as follows (only if the S a n d P waves are very distinct in
the seismograms, the epicentral cLt'stances are determined):
a. (0.134 -

0.005 )

b. (0.100 :_- 0.010 )


c, (2.6

+ 0.05 )

d. (0,06

,_-' 0.005 )

a. read 25 times, m o s t l y between July 1960 and August 1960.


b.

,,

17

5~ , also between July 1960 and August 1960.

c.

,5

30

,~ , m o s t l y between March 1961 and S e p t e m b e r 1961.

d.

,5

19

,7 , mostly between July 1960 and August 1960.

The directions of a. a n d b. in general are SE-NW. According to


a p r e l i m i n a r y r e p o r t on the Una-Una e a r t h q u a k e by the Meteorological a n d Geophysical Survey of Djakarta, the e p i n c e n t r u m is s i t u a t e d
SE f r o m the island of Una-Una (I and II). Plotted on the map, taking
Kololio as center and a. and b. as radii, the focus of t h e epicenters
goes exactly t h r o u g h epicenter I (00 15' S - 12140 " E), whilst t h a t
with b. as radius passes epicenter II (00 21" S - 121 30' E) w h e r e a s
c. is a little distance f r o m III (00 56' S - 120 44" E). By this interpretation and by o t h e r d a t a the SE directions of a. and b. can be
ascertained.
In d e t e r m i n i n g the epicentral distance, the velocities of the P
and S waves in the upper layer of 15 - 3 K m have been used, following the table by H. JEFFREYS and K. E. BULLEN (1948).

438
Volcanological observations during 1960-1961
The Una-Una crater (fig. 2) has a flat b o t t o m and an altitude of
about 250 m above sealevel. The b o t t o m has probably been that of
a crater-lake, s u r r o u n d e d by a m o r e or less circular wall, consisting
of hills with varying heights. The highest a m o n g these i s G. SEKOR~
(+ 507 m) - - formerly called G. URar~Oar,a - - which is situated at the
n o r t h w e s t e r n side of the crater a n d f o r m s the highest peak of the
entire island of Una-Una. Unlike m o s t craters, which usually are bare,
the Una-Una has a dense vegetation; the crater b o t t o m as ,well as
the walls are covered by plants and trees, especially cocosnut-trees
(fig. 3).
The East-West diameter of the crater is roughly 1750 m, whereas
in the north-south direction it is about 1350 m. Off center, in the
crater, a little at the n o r t h e r n side, a lake occupies a depression,
which has an elongated form, with a length of ca. 600 m and a width
of ca. 200 m. The middle part of this lake is narrower and shallower
than the remainder, so in dry seasons it becomes two separate lakes.
The southern side of the lake has a depth of ca. 1 m, whereas at the
north side it is very shallow and full of waterplants. On rainy seasons
the waterlevel rises about 1/2 m.
South of this lake a bare hill with a fiat top, the size of which is
about 300 400 m and a height of 40 m is forming the only place
in the island which shows volcanic activities. This hill is called G.
Tjolo or G. Belerang by the inhabitants, and is apparently not a lava
plug, since it is built up, like the crater bottom, of ashes, fine sands
and volcanic rock fragments. This is probably a p a r t of the crater
b o t t o m which has been pushed up by forces f r o m below, caused
by the rising up of a lava plug, as is already suggested by UMa~OVE
(1930).
Nine solfatara fields are observed on this plain, mostly producing
SO2, in the f o r m o f white smokes with a rather low pressure. Around
these solfatara fields precipitates of sulfur have been formed. Beside
these solfatara fields, a fumarole was encountered, producing CO~ at
the n o r t h wall of this hill (field no. I in fig. 4 and 5).
The main part of G. Tjolo has suffered a rather high degree of
weathering, chiefly on account of the actions of these solfatara and
fumaroles. T h e highest point of the hill is found on the south side,
viz. 298.9 m whereas this fiat plain dips slightly to the north with
an angle of about 10".

439

cRATER O~ &, UOL0


ISL*XD Cf ~ -

"t!"

"----"Profile
./ Sedqe-grass

E a c aS o

A
8 50KOFIA

u~

Pra/~de A - ~

Pro~de C - 0

Fig. 2

5ample

pQlm

5N

440 m
On the top part of this hill six eruption holes have been observed.
Two of them are larger than the others, viz. nos. 2 and 3 of which
the bottoms have diameters of resp. 15 m and 12 m, whereas the

SKC T C H M A P 6. TJOLO
March 1961

....

Cracks

e~

ad slide

Fig. 4
other holes have diameters varying between 3 and 5 m. Three of
these six holes still have their original circular form, whereas the other
have been more or less destroyed by erosion. The existence of these

441
eruption holes have never been m e n t i o n e d by KOPERBERG (1928),
UM~ROVE (1930) and by other previous investigators. However,
PnTROESCH~VSKY in 1948 for the first time has observed them, so that

....
.....
June

1961

Cracks
Land slide
B o r d e r of
~ol/atara [ield

Fig. 5

these holes m u s t have been f o r m e d between 1928 and 1948. Very


probably they are the results of phreatic eruptions, since no new
volcanic products have been found around the solfatara fields. As

442

will be seen later, after the earthquake, which was followed by


aftershocks, fissures wehre f o r m e d in the solfatara fields. Probably the
phreatic eruptions were due to steam action f o r m e d f r o m rainwater
which penetrated along fissures evaporated by the heat of the magma.
The t e m p e r a t u r e of the solfataras and fumaroles .on May 4, 1960,
shows a m a x i m u m of 100C and a m i n i m u m of 98C; this does not
show m u c h difference f r o m the t e m p e r a t u r e s observed by PaTROv SCnEVSKY in 1947 and ADNAWmJAJA in 1952, which are respectively:
98C as m a x i m u m and 95 as m i n i m u m and 98 C as m a x i m u m and
88 C as m i n i m u m .
To obtain a figure of the changes in t e m p e r a t u r e of the fumaroles,
which might be caused by earthquakes still felt continuously at that
time, m e a s u r e m e n t s have been done from the beginning of August
till the end of November 1960 and between March and June 1961.
The m e a s u r e m e n t s carried out f r o m August to November 1960 show
many changes in temperature. During that time the average temperature rose to 99-100 C. After an earthquake on June 13, 1961, it
even was increased by 2.8C c o m p a r e d with that in May 1961, and
two weeks after that it again was increased by ca. 0.6 C.
Measurements on June 14, 1961, showed a m a x i m u m temperature of 103C with a m i n i m u m of 101 C, whereas 2 weeks later the
m a x i m u m t e m p e r a t u r e became 104 C and the m i n i m u m temperature
101 C. Although the changes are not very large, it is evident that
the earthquakes, which have their center southeast of the island UnaUna, are of influence on the t e m p e r a t u r e of the solfataras in G. Tjolo.
On March three fissures were observed in the solfatara field of
G. Tjolo, with lengths of about 50 m and some centimeters wide. The
direction of these fissures are NNE-SSW. Also landslides were observed in the solfatara field (fig. 5). After the earthquake of June 13,
1961 it was soon observed that these fissures have been lengthened
by about two times (see sketch), whereas the landslides increased in
number.
The smoke became thicker after the earthquake, whereas blowers
of solfataras and fumaroles nos. 1, 3 and 4, which were only faintly
heard in June 13, were very clearly heard in the time of observation.
As m e n t i o n e d before, the last eruption of the Una-Una took place
on May 1898, preceded by earthquakes which started already on
April 10, 1898. After that no activity of the Una-Una was reported.
The 1960 and 1961 earthquakes, however, were not followed by
eruptions, b u t - - as already stated - - are only of influence on the

m 443 - -

solfatara fields of G. Tjolo, in the f o r m of an insignificant increase


of activity.
Petrography

and chemistry of the Una-Una volcanic rocks

Geological investigations in the island of Una-Una was done by


studying outcrops which in a relatively small n u m b e r occur along
lahars m called ,~ dead river ,, by the inhabitants - - viz. Kali Una-Una,
Kali Awu and Kali Air Panas. The best outcrops are found along the
Kali Awu near the s u m m i t of the volcano. Due to the small n u m b e r
of outcrops it was not possible to study the field relation between
the various types of the igneous rocks in the island.
Beside the already known rocks, viz. biotite andesite, hornblende
andesite and augite andesite, also biotite andesite vitrophyre, biotite
hypersthene andesite and microdiorite have been found. It is very
probable that this microdiorite originated f r o m a dike which connects
the m a g m a c h a m b e r with the diatrema of the volcano. The relation
between this hypabyssal rock with the other andesites can hardly
be determined.
The augite andesites have been found to contain xenoliths and
according to previous investigators these xenoliths consist of plutonic
rocks, possibly peridotites, which have been carbonized (UMBCROVE,
1930). In general these extrusive rocks are covered by ashes, which
have been produced by the eruption in 1898. Whether the various
rocks belong to one eruption period or were p r o d u c e d by several eruptions, is sometimes which cannot be ascertained at present.
All rocks collected have a m o r e or less andesitic composition.
Very conspicuous is the ever presence of biotite, which is found in
all the samples, with the exception of rock no. U 6. In cases where
hypersthene (which has never been m e n t i o n e d in previous investigations) is the principal mafic mineral, biotite is found in m i n o r
quantities.
The colour of the rocks are variations in grey (biotite hypersthene
andesite and microdiorite) or very light grey (quartz bearing andesite).
Megascopically the texture of the rocks is holocrystalline, aphanitic or fine grained phaneritic (microdiorites).
Under the microscope the texture of the rocks is essentially
porphyritic, either with glassy or microlytic matrix. Fluidal texture
is not observed. The phenocrysts are feldspars, biotite, in some cases

--444-hypersthene and hornblende, whereas Iron ores and apatite are the
accessoric minerals.
Very characteristic of the rocks is the beautifully developed zonal
structure of the plagioclases, which are either oligoclase or andesine.
In general the plagioclases are euhedral, but altered.
Of the mafic minerals the pyroboles are euhedral or subhedral
but they all s h o w rounded crystal outlines or iron rims.
Calcite, which was mentioned by KoPEm3~6 (1928) and K o o k s
(1934) has not been found.
One rock differes from the others by its very small content of
quartz.

The Niggli-Becke values of the extrusive rocks from Una-Una.


Up to n o w only two chemical analyses have been made on rocks
from Una-Una, viz. one on volcanic ash by WICnMA~N (1902) and
another on an andesite by KOOMAtqS (1934).
Their deviation from the composition of the average Indonesian
andesite are very well illustrated by using the Niggli-Becke projection
method for rock analyses. The second author has computed the
Niggli-Becke values of the average Indonesian andesite, being the
average of 210 existing analyses. For a more detailed explanation
of this method one may refer to BACON (1947). In fig. 6 these
values are plotted of the average Indonesian andesite, of the Una-Una
rocks and of trachytes which are found in the Maros area. The percentages of their oxides and the calculations to their respective tetrahedral values are given below.
Andesite

after KooM~s 1935)

Weight

Niggli
values

SiO2

61.70

TiO2

0.38

PzO~
A1~O3
Fe~Os

0.22
15.16
3-58
123
0.09

FeO
MnO
MgO
CaO
K~O
Na~O

1027

149

Tetrahedral
values

Weight

218

61.65
0.67

31.8

3.20 34
5.63 91

(after WICnM~N 1902)

1027

_56

82
I25

17.5
26.7

-65

157

32.9

121

25.3

t
79

29
92

215

24.1

2.63
4.41
2.75
5.69

Tetrahedral
values

Niggli
values

15.98

4.49_

Sl

2,07
4.60

Volcanic ash

121

16-5
253

445
X = I7.5 + 24.1 = 41.6

X =

16.5 + 25.3 = 41.8

Y = 17.5 + 31.8 = 49.3

Y = 16.5 + 32.9 = 49.4

Z = 17.5 + 26.7 = 44.2

Z = 16.5 + 25.3 = 41.8

si

= 218

si

= 215

= 34/125 = 27

= 29/121 = 24

m g = 51/113 = 45

m g = 65/121 = 54.

The ~ average I n d o n e s i a n andesite ~ has the following values:


X=55;

Y=54.7;

Z=31.5;

si=

129;

mg=24.

whereas the following are the values of the trachytes f r o m the Maros
area, being averages of 8 analyses:
X = 21.3;

Y = 50.8;

Z = 39.1;

si -- 210;

k = 48;

m g = 26;

The andesites f r o m Una-Una are showing some deviations f r o m


the average I n d o n e s i a n andesite. They have exidently less mafic minerals, a smaller c o n t e n t in a l u m i n i u m but is m o r e alkalic than the
average andesite of Indonesia, as is s h o w n by respectively their m u c h
lower X values, smaller Y b u t higher Z. Their c o n t e n t in silica is
r a t h e r high, si still fails in the ,, area of non-quartz bearing feldspar
rocks ~, (area II) b u t very close to the area of s u p e r s a t u r a t e d rocks.
Maybe this is due to the larger percentage in feldspars in the UnaUna rocks, as is also expressed by the high Z.
On the same d i a g r a m trachytes f r o m the Maros (S. Celebes) area
are plotted. Apparently the Una-Una andesites chemically are transitions between andesites and trachytes. The lower k in the Una-Una
rocks c o m p a r e d w i t h t h a t in the trachytes is as could be expected.

The p value of the Una-Una volcanic rocks according to RITTMANN'S


method.
Based on chemical analyses of the UnaoUna rocks according to
KOOMANS (1934), M. T. ZwN f r o m the Geological D e p a r t m e n t I n s t i t u t e
of Technologic B a n d u n g has calculated the p value of these rocks
as has been done by RITTMANN (1952) for m a n y I n d o n e s i a n lavas.
For the Una-Una volcano the following values have been o b t a i n e d

446
viz. An = 0.08; p = 48.2; k = 0.27; which means t h a t it is a medium
alkaline rock.
According to RITTMANN (1953, page 56), the following rule can
be applied to the Indonesian volcanoes.~ ,, In any given cross sections
t h r o u g h the Indonesian orogenic belt the calc-alkaline character of
the m a g m a of the active volcanoes decreases regularly in the direction
f r o m the fore-deep to the hinterland, becoming alkaline in the hinterland itself ~.
It is well-known that rocks of sodic suite generally occur outside
the orogenic belt mostly associated with fault zones. (non-orogenic
faulted regions). Regarding the Una-Una volcano we m a y s a y that
it is situated outside the orogenic belt and probably related to fault
zones in the Gulf of Gorontalo.

Extinction of volcanic arc in the Togean ridge and shifting of volcanic


activity towards the hinterland
The position of the Una-Una volcanic island is rather striking;
it is a solitary island and is the only active volcano in the Gulf of
Gorontalo and its surroundings. To which group of volcanoes does
the Una-Una belong and what type of structural relationship exists
between the Una-Una and its surroundings?
This p r o b l e m has already attracted the attention of WICHMANN
(1902, p. 157), w h o stated that ,, Nach der heutige Lage der Dinge
erscheint m i r ein Z u s a m m e n h a n g zwischen der Minahasa iiberhaupt
nicht m e h r gut denkbar. Es fehlen nicht allein die verbindenen Glieder,
sondern auch der petrographischen Character der Gesteine von UnaUna ist ein yon denen der Minahasa a b w e i c h e n d e r . . , etc ,,. Further
WICrtMANN (1902) has also expressed his opinion, that Una-Una, being
an isolated island in the Gorontalo basin, is taking the same position
as the volcano Api in the Banda basin. Also KOPERBER6 (1928) has paid
full attention to the isolated position of the island. He m a d e an
a t t e m p t to find some connections between the volcano Una-Una and
the already extinct volcanoes in the Gorontalo section of the North
Arm of Celebes, b u t did not come to any conclusion.
According to VAN BEMMELEN (1949) the Togean ridge was a nonvolcanic arc during Miocene time with the Gorontalo section as its
inner arc. With subsequent m o v e m e n t of the undation to the south
he assumed that the Togean ridge became the inner arc of a double

- - 447
arc of which the East Arm of Celebes is its corresponding outer arc.
The volcanism which h a d been active in the Gorontalo section until
the Aquitanian-Burdigalian times shifted to the Togean ridge, so that
at present the Gorontalo section is the hinterland of the double arc.
In Quarternary time the Togean ridge does not show volcanic
activities a n y m o r e ; instead the volcanism has shifted to the northwest,
to the direction of the hinterland, in the f o r m of the present Una-Una.
The following questions can n o w be asked: What is the cause of
the extinction of volcanism in the volcanic inner arc, i.e. the Togean
ridge, and what caused the shifting of the volcanism towards the
hinterland? How is the relation between Una-Una and the extinct
volcanoes in the Togean ridge?
UMaROVE (1930) has found some trachytes and andesites in the
islands of the Togean ridge and based on this he offered the idea
that other rocks beside andesites might be present in Una-Una, probably buried under other rocks, which f o r m the s u m m i t s on the
volcanic island. He further stated that he did not exclude the possibility, that future investigation on the Una-Una island would reveal
a close relation between this island and the islands of the Togean
ridge.
As has been shown before, the p value of the rocks calculated
according to RITTMANN'S (1953) method, show that the Una-Una volcano has produced rocks which are usually found outside an orogenic
belt. This is moreover strengthened by the fact that the Niggli-Becke
value of the rocks, as have been plotted on the diagram (fig. 6) show
deviations f r o m the values of the average andesite of other orogenic
areas in Indonesia. The bathymetrical m a p (fig. 7) shows that the
Una-Una volcanic island is n o t situated on the ridge which carries the
Togean islands, hence, the connection between Una-Una and the
Togean ridge is not so close as was thought before.
It can easily be seen on the m a p that the Togean ridge consists
of several islands which are arranged en 6chelon, its convex side
toward the northwest. The volcanic island Una-Una is situated on
the outer side of this convex ridge, whereas southeast of the Togean
ridge the East Arm of Celebes with its Nappe-structure (the Batui
nappe) is situated. Further southeast we find a consolidated mass
known as the Sula-spur.
Similar features also occur in the southern part of the Banda
basin, where the islands of Alor, Wetar and R o m a n g with extinct
volcanism, are arranged en 6chelon. Offside this ridge, also at its

Nil

i It~'

f I I, b4 /,1o L,,'I I I~ \
I
I 1 I~ :Io/]
I
Nil

I-N

lll:l?ili
ll
I t ,1o 11 V1-

iiiii.!.i!i,iI ,,

olk

ol olk

al

zoo

4oo

/rochyle fro/n/he/qaros areo{overa~e of Sana/F~s} 2L~ 508 ~91 ZIO 48

rn9

Z6

~5

Zce 54

e9.4 4~18 215

916 e~5 e~.2 218 27

el8

It

vokon#' os6 from ilna-Wno {A Wsc6#,,oun.1902)

SI

andestle from Uno-Uno ( C Koom~n~, /955)

Mq

SO 000 SO IO0

Fig. 6 The ~/l"~g//'-B~'c~'e volues o/" l,~e #no-L/no roWrs, the overaCe Indonesmn ondrsite androcks Ir,,,,n /V/oros area.

14o .o ,o.lo .Io .Io .0 .Io ,b~,J. ,Io .o .!o .Io .o .1o .o .Io\1

II I/I
I /

III I I I/I

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I
O0

4~

- -

449

- -

very convex side, the volcano Api is situated. This ridge takes a
position in the Banda basin (similar to that of the Togean ridge in
the Gorontalo basin) as the inner arc of a double arc of which the
island of Timor with its nappe-structure is its outer arc. Also a stable

F~

7,

6ul/ of 6oronfolo

Bolhyn~elri~ m~p o f lhe

Vo/conoes

-~.

Eptcenfer olrdce'p e'orlh~ttQIres

i . ~ Bo~eme~t ~ssures.

Ep/ceei/ero1" t~/lerme~oleeorlhquokes. . ~

Eplce'nler o [ ~hollo w

eorlh~uokrs.

Coulourhncs.

mass is encountered in this area, namely the Sahul Shelf f u r t h e r to


the south.
Both volcanoes, the Una-Una and the Api, are isolated volcanoes
rising up from a deep sea basin. The basins of Banda and Gorontalo
are classified by KUENEN (1935) into type I, characterized by a flat
horizontal bottom and steep walls. These basins have a positive gravity anomaly and are considered to be closely related to faulting
phenomena.
30

450 m
The analogy of these two areas is illustrated by the following
table:
Deep
basin

sea

Active
volcano

I n n e r arc w i t h extinct
volcanism, e n 6chelon
a r r a n g e m e n t of islands

Non-volcanic
arc w i t h
nappe structure

outer

Stable
I]9~ss

Gulf of Gorontalo

Una-una

Togean ridge

E a s t A r m of
Celebes

Sula-Spur

S. B a n d a b a s i n

Api

Alor-Wetar-Romang

Timor

Sahul Shelf

The similarities strongly suggest that the absence of recent volcanism in the Togean ridge and in the islands of Alor, Wetar and
Romang, plus the presence of active volcanoes viz. Una-Una and Api
could be explained in the same way.
BROUWER (1925) explained the absence of recent volcanism in the
islands of Alor, Wetar and R o m a n g by his theory of horizontal displacem e n t of geanticlines. These two volcanic islands are situated both on
places where the two arcs are the closest together. The extinction of
volcanic activity is caused by the Australian continent (continental
drift). If this theory is true, it can as well be applied to the Togean
ridge, but KOENEN (1935) and VAN BEMM~I~N (1949) have already put
forward objections against it. VA~ BEMMELEN (1949) was of the
opinion that the extinction of the volcanism in the inner arc like
Alor, Wetar and R o m a n g m u s t have been caused by a differential
vertical m o v e m e n t of the earth crust over large regions.
The present authors are of the opinion that the en 6chelon
arrangement of the islands and the arcuate form of the ridge with
its convex side towards the hinterland caused by the presence of a
resistant block are indications of strong compressional forces, which
have been continuously active during a certain period, on the earth
crust. This strong compression, which had its start in Tertiary times
caused thickening of the earth crust, which prevented the rise of
the m a g m a to the surface.
The shifting of the volcanism in the Banda basin to the northwest
was explained by VA~ BEM~mLEN (1949) in two ways. According to
h i m the volcanoes E m p e r o r of China and Nieuwerkerk are closely connected with a marginal fault system between the western part of the
South Banda basin and the inner arc of the Buton system, whereas
the Api volcano, Batutara and the Jersey rift are situated upon the

451

--

so called Batutara ridge, representing a crustal wave, which has


migrated to the hinterland f r o m the volcanic inner arc of the Timor
system.
However, the absence of such a submarine ridge as shown by
the bathymetrical map, prepared by the Shellius expedition, and as
was also already pointed out by KVE~N (1935), is an objection against
this theory.
VAN BEMMELEN (Geology of Indonesia, 1949, part IA, plate 10,
fig. 165) made a profile through the Gorontalo basin, b u t he did not
show whether a migration of crustal waves toward the hinterland has
taken place which might explain the origin of the volcanic island UnaUna. F u r t h e r m o r e it has been shown previously in this paper that
this volcanic island is not situated on a ridge.
The following is a tentative explanation about the occurrence of
the volcanic island Una-Una in the Gulf of Gorontalo.
The 2000 m and 3000 m contourlines on the bathymetric m a p of
Gorontalo basin show clearly that it is bordered in the west by steep
walls, which have a NE-SW direction (see fig. 7). The southwest
continuation of the margin of this basin passes t h r o u g h the island
Una-Una. UMB6ROVE(1939) has pointed out the occurrence of 2 systems
of faults which are perpendicular to each other, viz. the south and
west margins of the island Batudaka (Togean). These trends can also
be observed in the Togean ridge, as is m a r k e d by the 600 m contourline of the bathymetric m a p around the Togean ridge.
The Togean peak consists of andesite and it is quite possible
that this represents an old eruption center in the Togean island. Since
the line which connects the Togean peak and the island Una-Una is
also directed NW-SE, it is very well possible that this is the direction
of a system of basement fissures, which occurs in this area.
This NWoSE direction is also observed on the s u m m i t of the
volcano itself. The solfatara fields, the crater Tjolo and Gunung Sokoria, which is an old eruption center (KOPERBERG1928), are all situated on a straight line, which is directed NW-SE, indicating a
volcanic fissure in this direction.
F r o m the foregoing it can be concluded that the volcano UnaUna is situated exactly on the point where the two lines intersect and
through this weak point in the earth crust, the m a g m a canae to the
surface, forming the volcano Una-Una.
The occurrence of a n u m b e r of .epicenters of earthquakes in the
area southeast of Una-Una is indeed evidence for the weakness of

- - 452 - this part of the earth crust (map GUTENBERG and RICHTER, 1954, and
epicenter 1960). These epicenters probably are situated in the already
discussed system of basement fissures.
The close relation between the eruption of the volcano Una-Una
and the tectonic earthquakes in the area is suggested by the fact that
the eruption of Una-Una in 1899 was preceded by earthquakes. This
is expressed by WICHMANN in his report (1903, p. 16) as follows:
~, Zun~ichst berichtet der Assistent - Resident yon Gorontalo, A. H.
Westra das am 10 April 1898 die Erdstr~isse auf Una-Una ihren Anfang
g e n o m m e n u n d voile 24 Stunden, mit Ausnahme einer viertelstiindige
Pause, angehahen hatten ~. It is stated f u r t h e r that ,, Am 2 Mai, des
nachts u_m 1 Uhr, wird endlich eine m~ichtige schwarze, unbeweglich
sich iiber Una-Una erhebende Rauchs~iule beobachtet ~.
The earthquake, thus, started already 3 weeks before the eruption.
Observations during the expedition, which showed that the 1960
earthquakes were of influence on the t e m p e r a t u r e of the solfatara
of G. T olo, also indicated the close relation between tectonic earthquakes and volcanic activity in this area.
General conclusion
F r o m the foregoing discussions the following conclusions can be
drawn:
1. The Una-Una earthquake, which took place on April 29, 1961,
h a d its epicenter southeast of this island. The absence of pP waves
on the seismograms of the Djakarta, Medan and Lembang stations
suggest that these are shallow earthquakes.
2. Unlike that in 1898, this earthquake was not followed by
an eruption of the Una-Una volcano but has only caused a slight
increase in temperature of the solfatara fields.
3. There is a close relation between seismic and volcanic
activity in this area and both p h e n o m e n a may be associated with
weak zones, c.q. faults.
4. The small eruption holes which are found on the s u m m i t
of the volcano are probably formed by phreatic eruptions, which
m u s t have taken place between 1928 and 1948.
5. S u m m i t observations of the Una-Una volcano show that the
m a i n trends of the volcanic fissures are NE-SW and SE-NW.

453 - 6. Beside biotite andesites, hornblende andesites and augite


andesites, which have been described by previous investigators, other
rocks viz. biotite andesite vitrophyres, biotite hypersthene andesites
and microdiorites are also found in this volcanic island.
7. The Niggli-Becke values of the volcanic rocks f r o m Una-Una
show deviations from those of the average andesite f r o m other orogenic areas in Indonesia. The rocks from Una-Una show a transition
between andesites and trachytes.
8. Based on their p values, calculated according to R I T T M A N N ' S
method, the Una-Una volcanics could be grouped into the m e d i u m
alkaline series of rocks. Rocks of sodic suite like the Una-Una volcanics
are generally found in non-orogenic faulted regions.
9. The structural relationship between the volcanic island UnaUna in the Gorontalo basin and the Togean ridge is similar to that
between the Api volcano in the Banda basin and the sub-marine ridge
which carries the island AIor, Wetar and Romang.
10. The extinction of volcanic activities in the Togean ridge can
be ascribed to the thickening of the earth crust caused by strong
and continuous tectonic stress. The same tectonic condition was also
responsible for the en dchelon arrangement of the islands and the
convexity of the Togean arc toward the hinterland.
11. The mineralogical and chemical compositions of the Una-Una
volcanic rocks, geological data f r o m the island and those f r o m the
Togean islands and finally, the bathymetric m a p of the Gulf of Gorontalo, all indicate that this volcanic island is situated outside an
orogenic belt, and occupies the intersection of two basement fissures
of NE-SW and SE-NW directions.
REFERENCES
BACON, Jr., Ch. S., 1947 - Applications of the Niggli-Becke p r o j e c t i o n / o r rock analyses Amer. Mineralogist 32, pp. 257-295.
BEM~rEtZ.~, R. W. VAN, 1949 - The Geology of Indonesia - Vol. IA and IIB, G o v e r n m e n t
Printing Office, The Hague.
BRouw~, H. A., 1925 - The Geology of the N e t h . East Indies - Mac Millan Co., New York,.
BRouw~, H. A./a.o., ][947 - Geological explorations in the island o[ Celebes - North~
Holland Publishing Company, Amsterdam.
GUTEI~ERC & RIcnvmL 1954 - Seismicity o/ the earth a n d associated p h e n o m e n a .
Princeton University Press, Princeton.

4 5 4

- -

JE~-m~s, H..gr BULLF~, K. E., 1948 - S e i s m o l o g i c a l t a b l e s - British Association f o r the


a d v a n c e m e n t of Science, London.
KOPE~EaC, M., 1925 - O p m e r k i n g e n o v e r d e geologie v a n d e r e s i d e n t i e M e n a d o - Verh.
Kon. Mijnb. Gen. v. Ned. & Kol. Geol. series, VIII, pp. 311-329.
1928 - B o u s t o f f e n v o o r d e geologie v a n d e r e s i d e n t i e M e n a d o - Jaarb. v. h.
Mijnw. in Ned. IndiS, Verb. I and II.
Koor~ta~s, C., 1935 - Die t r a c h y t e n a n d A n d e s i t e n tier T o g i a n i n s e t n u n d Oena-Oena
( N i e d e r l i i n d i s c h O s t - I n d i e n ) - Leidsche Geologische Mededelingen, VI, pp. 119-122.
K t r E ~ , Ph. H., 1935 - Geological i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f t h e b a t h y m e t r i c a l r e s u l t s - The
Snellius Expedition, Vol. V, p a r t 1, Brill, Leiden.
KtrTM~N, A., 1952 - N o m e n c l a t u r e o f v o l c a n i c r o c k s - Bulletin volcanologique, Serie II,
Tome XII.
1953 - M a g m a t i c c h a r a c t e r a n d t e c t o n i c p o s i t i o n oF I n d o n e s i a n v o l c a n o e s .
Bulletin Volcanologique, serie II, Tome XIV, pp. 45-58.
UMa~ow, J. H. F., I930 - H e t v u l k a a n e i l a n d Oena-Oena in N o o r d C e l e b e s - Leidsche
Geologische Mededelingen III, pp. 250-260.
1939 - De a t o l l e n e n b a r r i e r e rilYen d e r T o g i a n e i l a n d e n - Leidsche Geolologisehe Mededelinget~ I, pp. 132-187.
WlCtaMaNN, 1902 - D e r V u l k a n d e r I n s e l Una-Una ( N a n g u n a ) in B u s e n y o n T o m i n i
C e l e b e s - Zeitschr. d. Deutsche Geol. Gesellschaft.
WILLEMS, H, W. V., 1940 - On t h e m a g m a t i c p r o v i n c e s in t h e N e t h e r l a n d s E a s t I n d i e s Verb. v. h. Geol. Mijnb. Gen. v. Ned. & Kol. Geol. Series XII, pp. 289-477.

PL.I
JOHN A. KATILI, L. KARTA~IPtTrl~A a n d SuRJo - - Magma type and tectonic position o[

the Una-Una Island, Indonesia.

Fig. 3 - T h e U n a - U n a c r a t e r w i t h s o l f a t a r a field a n d c r a t e r l a k e ,

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