Global geopark Mt Paektu area (5)

August 20, 2025

Volcanic neck No. 1

Volcanic neck No. 1 is Piru Peak curiously and magnificently standing in the middle part of the Piru Peak range that stretches northwest from Janggun Peak toward Lake Chon. It is about 300 metres round at the bottom and 70 metres in height.

In general, a volcanic neck is a cylindrical effusive rock formed by magma with high viscosity that flowed out through a volcanic vent to harden without going far away or harden inside the vent.

Volcanic neck No. 1 is a typical one as a plug, which was formed by magma rising through a volcanic vent and cooling down in the vent during the formation of Mt Paek and remained intact when the Paektusan volcanic body fell down after the Millennium Eruption. It is formed of porous brecciated trachyte and scoria.

Volcanic neck No. 2

Volcanic neck No. 2 is a plug stand about 250 metres away from Volcanic neck No. 1 toward Janggun Peak, and it is similar to Volcanic neck No. 1 in shape but small in circumference and height.

The volcanic neck was also a plug formed in the same way as Volcanic neck No. 1. It is formed of trachyte and scoria.

The northeast cliff of the volcanic neck clearly shows the boundary between the volcanic neck and country rocks.

Volcanic neck No. 3

Volcanic neck No. 3 is located in the small basin of the Hyangdo Peak, 2.3 kilometres north-northeast of Janggun Peak. It is about 10 metres in height and about 20 metres round at the bottom.

The volcanic neck is a plug which was formed by magma rising slowly through a volcanic vent and cooling down and remained intact when the Paektusan volcanic body fell down.

The volcanic neck shows alternating layers of obsidian and brown, brecciated porous trachy-rhyolite in the middle and alternating minute brown and white rock belts along the margin. Some parts show striped brecciated anorthoclase-liparite.

On the wall of the neck there exist several chalcedony conglomerations formed by rapid cooling of the lava.

Volcanic necks Nos 1, 2 and 3 are geological relics rare to be found in the neovolcanic area, adding to the pride peculiar to the Mt Paektu volcano, and they are of significance in the study of volcanic vent, plug, and radial crack.

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